How to Make a Butterfly With Pantyhose
Butterflies lend an ethereal, fairy-like feel wherever you see them. Gardens abounding with butterflies always seem to feel more magical than those without. Butterflies turn an ordinary hairstyle into a princess's "do" and transform a simple cake into a fairy's pastry. Whether you love the look of butterflies in and around your home or need fast and cheap decorations for a party, nylon butterflies can work magic. These colorful, diaphanous decorations require very few supplies and very little money to make.
Things You'll Need
- 18-gauge craft wire
- Wire nips
- 3-inch diameter cylinder: pill bottle, perfume bottle, rolling pin, etc.
- Pantyhose: many colors and designs.
- Paper tape that matches the pantyhose
- Paint pens: glitter, iridescent, metallic, etc.
- 3-inch twig pieces
- Hot glue
Instructions
-
-
1
Nip as many 12-inch pieces of 18-gauge wire as you want to make butterflies. For instance, if you need 30 butterflies, you need 30 feet of wire.
-
2
Pull each wire piece through your fingers before working it. This warms the wire and makes it more malleable. Find the center of the wire.
-
-
3
Place the center of the wire against a 3-inch diameter cylinder. Anything you find in your home will do. If working with kids, stick to things like plastic perfume bottles instead of pill bottles or glass.
-
4
Wrap the wire around the cylinder and twist it together where the sides of the wires cross. Slip the wire circle off the cylinder.
-
5
Wrap the loose ends of the wire around the cylinder and twist them together also. Nip away any excess wire and fold the twisted wires down against the edge of the wire circle. You should have a 4- to 6-inch long figure eight.
-
6
Cut a pantyhose square one half the length of the total figure eight. For instance, if the figure eight is 6 inches long, the square should be 3 inches square.
-
7
Wrap the square around one of the circles in the figure eight, bringing all the corners to the center of the figure. Secure them with paper tape and cover the other circle with nylon as well.
-
8
Gently manipulate each circle, pinching and tugging the wire into the shape of butterfly wings. Push waves and pinch points into the wires with your fingers; the nylon will conform to the shape.
-
9
Paint and color your butterflies with paint pens, especially if your pantyhose aren't patterned. Color in the edges of the wings first, then add spots, stripes and scrollwork. Mix iridescent, metallic and glitter paints for very colorful butterflies. Let them dry for an hour.
-
10
Hot glue a twig to each set of butterfly wings for the butterflies' bodies. Let the glue dry for at least 10 minutes.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Goodshoot RF/Goodshoot/Getty Images
