How to Make Bee Wings for a Costume

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Homemade bee wings are a great finishing touch for a cute bee costume.
Image Credit: Puppa Fromm / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages

Things You'll Need

  • 6 black poster boards

  • 8 1/2 x 11-inch drawing paper

  • Pencil

  • Craft glue

  • White chalk

  • 1 roll of cellophane

  • 1 roll of parchment paper

  • Iron

  • Ironing board

  • Silver glitter

  • Staple gun

  • Staples

  • 6 black pipe cleaners

  • Hot glue gun

  • Glue

Generate some buzz and "bee" the center of attention in your homemade bee wings. These adorable incandescent cellophane bee wings are easily made in a short period of time. They are lightweight and suitable for adult costumes but can be used for older kids' dress-up gear too. These simple wings can also be adapted for other winged costumes or for cosplay.

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Cellophane Bee Wings

Position the Poster Boards

Make a poster board sandwich to create your homemade bee wings. Place one poster board onto a flat surface and cover the poster board with craft glue. Lay another poster board over the top of that one, and add more glue to its surface. Place the third poster board onto the glued surface. Let the poster board dry. Repeat this process to make the other side of the bee wings.

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Draw and Design the Bee Wings

Design your homemade bee wings. Draw several different wing styles onto a piece of drawing paper. Each wing can be a simple elongated oval shape, or more intricately shaped butterfly wings. The design is completely up to your imagination. Choose your favorite.

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Transfer the Drawings to the Poster Boards

Sketch one side of the bee's wings onto one of the poster board sandwiches with white chalk. Cut the pattern out and trace it onto the other prepared poster board. Cut the other wing out.

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Lay Out the Cellophane

Lay a sheet of incandescent cellophane over the top of the bee wings. Make sure that the shiniest side is facing upward.

Cover the Cellophane with Parchment Paper

Place parchment paper over the cellophane, waxy side down.

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Preheat the Iron

Turn on the iron to the cotton setting. Allow it to preheat so the base will be uniformly heated.

Press the Cellophane onto the Poster Board

Iron the cellophane onto the poster board. Press down evenly, and don't linger in any one place too long in order to prevent melting.

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Cool the Cellophane

Allow the cellophane to cool before adding more. Don't forget to add cellophane to the underside of the wings.

Add More Cellophane

Add more cellophane to the bee wings. Use as many or few sheets as you'd like to get your desired look.

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Add Embellishments to Your Bee Wings

Draw veins onto the bee's wings with craft glue. Add glue a little section at a time, and sprinkle silver glitter into the wet glue. Allow the glue to completely dry before proceeding.

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Staple the Wings Together

Staple the wings together in the center.

Twist the Pipe Cleaners

Twist the six black pipe cleaners together to make one large pipe cleaner.

Glue Over the Staples

Add a line of hot glue over the stapled section of the wings.

Hide the Stapes With the Pipe Cleaner Bundle

Center the twisted pipe cleaners over the hot glue and press down firmly. This will camouflage the staples.

Glue on the Barrette

Hot glue a French barrette to the underside of the wings.

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