DIY Tutorial ~ Paper Butterfly

© Fete et Fleur Designs

Here's the paper butterfly tutorial I promised. You will need a few supplies before you begin:

1. Heavy card stock ~ for the template
2. Glue gun
3. Pretty paper for the butterfly
4. 26 gauge wire
5. Wire cutters

I recommend you read all the instructions first before starting this project.

Disclaimer
(Sorry, gotta have one.)

The author and publisher of this tutorial cannot be held responsible in any way for damages or injuries resulting from its use. This tutorial is for adults only or for children over the age of 14 with adult supervision. If you choose to create the project described in this tutorial, you accept all responsibility for injuries or damages that result from using any of the tools involved. You are using tools that can be dangerous. Please use them responsibly, according to the manufacturers' specifications.

Be safe and enjoy!

I've made three different wing templates for you to use. The first template contains both wings. The second and third templates contain the individual right and left wings. Choose a template below by clicking on it and print it out on the card stock. You can enlarge or shrink these templates to create a butterfly in any size you like.

Cut out the card stock wings and place them onto the paper you've chosen for your butterflies.

Trace 2 sets of wings and then cut them out. You should now have four individual paper wings.

Cut a long length of wire. You'll have to eyeball this because I'm not sure what size your butterflies will be. It all depends on how small or large you printed them out. Bend the end of the wire, making an oval loop. Compare this loop to a section on one of your butterfly wings. Make sure the loop fits inside one of the wing sections.

Now, leave about 1/2 inch of wire away from the end of your last twist. Create another loop and twist the wire again. You'll now have something that looks like antique spectacles. Again, make sure the loops will fit inside one of the wing sections.

Bend this wire frame so it begins to look like wings.

Now pull the wire straight about 1/2 inch and bend the wire in an upward 90 degree angle as pictured below.

Now create another loop on the other side and twist the wire around.

Here is a closeup of the last loop you made.

Now you will have three loops and you will bring the wire down to create the last loop.

Leave a bit of wire to match the length of the other side. Twist the remaining piece of wire around and snip the end with the wire cutters.You now have the internal wire structure for your butterfly!

Now glue one set of your paper wings together and then lay the wire structure on top of them.

You are now going to glue the wire to the wings. Place a small dab of glue from your glue gun on the center of butterfly. Please be careful not to burn yourself.

You now have assembled one side of your butterfly.

To assemble the other side, add another dab of glue in the center over the wire structure, then lay one wing side over the warm glue. Be careful not to burn yourself with the hot glue and press firmly together. It will look like this when you're done.

Do the same on the other side, placing the last wing over the wire and pressing firmly.

Now you will need to close up the wing sections. Place a small dab of glue on the tip of the wire wing structure and press both sides together. Do this on all the wing tips. Be careful not to burn yourself when pressing.

Now bend your butterfly to the desired flight shape. Voila! The finished butterfly.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Next spring I'm going to cover a whole wall in these.