- Make see-through fairy wings by bending coat hangers into ovals and sliding mesh stockings or tights over them.
- Create cartoon-like fairy wings for kids by cutting a piece of cardboard into the shape of butterfly wings, painting it beautiful colors, and attaching ribbon straps.
- Build realistic fairy wings for cosplays or theatrical productions by melting cellophane onto a thick wire frame with an iron.
Coat Hangers and Stockings
Cut the hook off of 4 wire hangers with wire cutters. Make sure to cut the hook down to where the triangular base begins, but avoid snipping the twisted part. If the hangers came wrapped in cardboard, cut it away with a box cutter. If you can't find wire coat hangers, use some 12-gauge wire instead. Cut and twist the wire to make 4 large loops. Keep the twisted part 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) long.
Bend the hangers into oval or circular shapes. Make 2 pairs of the same shape with the 4 hangers—a bottom and top part for the left and right wings. Don't worry about making the shapes perfect, as you can alter them later.
Overlap and tape 2 of the twisted parts together to make each wing. Lay your first set of wings on a flat surface with the twisted parts facing each other. Overlap the twisted parts and fan the loops away from each other to create a wing shape. Tightly wrap a piece of duct tape around the overlapping twisted ends. Repeat this step for the second set of wings. If you can’t find duct tape, try electrical tape or florist’s tape instead.
Join the 2 sets of wings together with duct tape. Set the wings down on a flat surface so they’re parallel to each other. Bring the taped twisted parts to touch. Connect each wing by wrapping the twisted ends together with duct tape. Don’t worry if the wings overlap, as this will be fixed shortly. Try to avoid getting tape on the inside of the wire loops by wrapping the duct tape around itself horizontally.
Bend the top wings upwards and the bottom wings downwards. Adjust the wire loops to reach your desired shape. The more stretched out the loops are, the less the wings will overlap. Try bending the wire in different directions to achieve different shapes. For instance, create a triangular point at the end of each wing for a more angular look.
Stretch a knee-high stocking over each wing and then secure it with tape. Slip a knee-high stocking over each wing. Pull the stockings toward the center of the wings until they’re stretched thin. Twist the ends, and wrap floral wire or duct tape around them to secure them in place. Choose bright stockings for a vibrant cartoonish look. Opt for neutral colored stockings if you’re planning on painting your wings. Pick a black or dark colored stocking for an edgier fairy look. Can’t find knee-high stockings? Use tights instead—just cut them off at the thighs first.
Trim off the excess stocking and readjust the wing shape if needed. Depending on how tightly you pulled the stocking, some extra material may be sticking out from under the tape. Use sharp scissors to cut the excess off as close to the tape as possible, and then readjust the wiring to your desired wing shape.
Mist the wings with spray paint if you’d like. A light coating of spray paint can add extra color and whimsy to your fairy wings. Step outside or into a well-ventilated area, and place the wings on a piece of newspaper. Gently coat them with spray paint. Once the wings have dried, flip them over and repeat. Try spraying each wing a different color for a multicolor effect. Spray the bottom of the wings heavily and use a lighter touch as you move to the top for an ombre look. Use regular spray paint or fabric spray paint for this project.
Decorate the wings with glitter and/or rhinestones for more glamour. This step is optional but can add depth and extra flare to your fairy wings. Try drawing designs on the wings using glue and then sprinkling the glue with loose glitter, or stick large rhinestones on the edges of the wings with fabric glue or hot glue. Cover the tips and edges of the wings with glitter to mimic the iridescence of real fairy wings. Attach a pattern of rhinestones to the center of each wing to copy the polka dot pattern of butterfly wings. Let each glued section dry completely before moving on to the next step; otherwise, glitter or gems may run down your wings.
Cover the taped center with felt. Cut a 2 in (5.1 cm) rectangle out of a felt or fabric that matches your wings. Fold it over the wire, sandwiching it in the middle, then secure it with fabric or hot glue. Try using a ribbon in a matching color for a more elegant look. Cover the felt part of the wings with a large fake flower for a fancier look.
Loop 2 long pieces of ribbon around the wings’s center. Cut 2 long pieces of ribbon that match your design. Fold 1 ribbon in half and place it behind the center of the wings, with the looped part sticking out by about 1 inch (2.5 cm). Pull the 2 loose ends of the ribbon through the loop, then tug on them to tighten the knot. Repeat this process with the second ribbon. These ribbons will be the straps of your wings, so make sure they’re long enough to tie over your shoulders.
Use the ribbons to tie the wings onto your shoulders. Think of these ribbons like backpack straps. You can tie the top and bottom ribbons together to form shoulder straps or try crossing the ribbons over your chest to make an “X.”
Cardboard and Ribbon
Sketch out your wing design on a large sheet of paper. Use a large sheet of paper, such as poster paper, or tape several sheets of paper together to make a larger one. If you’re not sure what design to draw, look up “fairy wings” online for inspiration. This step isn’t necessary, but it can help you plan your design.
Cut out your template and trace it onto cardboard. Use a pair of scissors to cut out your design. Set the template onto a sheet of cardboard, and trace around it with a pen or pencil. If you don't have a piece of cardboard, use a thick piece of poster board instead—just be aware that your wings won’t be as durable.
Cut along the outline of your wings with a box cutter or craft blade. Trace the blade along the outline you just made. Stay slightly inside the line so that your pen marks won’t be seen on the finished wings. If you’ve traced your wings on a poster board, use scissors to cut them out instead. Ask a parent or guardian for help using a box cutter or craft blade, as they’re very sharp and can be difficult to work with.
Score and fold the wings down the middle. Find the center of your wings, and then lightly run your craft blade down the center to create a shallow cut. Fold the wings in half along the score, then unfold them. If you used poster paper, simply fold and unfold the wings.
Paint your wings a bright color with acrylic or spray paint. Giving your wings a coat of paint helps bring them to life! Mist them with spray paint or brush on acrylic paint. Paint one side, wait for it to dry, and then paint the other side. If you like the color of your wings already, feel free to skip this step. Focus darker paint at the bottom of the wings and work up to a lighter color for a gradient effect. Pick a paint color that matches your costume or outfit to tie your fairy look together.
Add details to your wings to match nature or your own fantasies. Use a finer paintbrush or paint pen to put swirls, polka dots, and other designs on your fairy wings. Look up pictures of butterfly wings to mimic nature’s designs, or follow your own intuition to make the wings of your dreams. Paint designs on both sides of your wings for a cohesive look—just make sure one side dries before moving on to the next.
Draw on designs with glitter glue for a fantastical touch. Glitter is a wonderful way to add a bit of magic to your fairy wings. Simply go over your painted designs with glitter glue or sprinkle a bit of loose glitter over a line of craft glue. Iridescent glitter is a great choice if you want to mimic a dragonfly’s sparkle. Try using multiple colors or glitter for a rainbow color scheme. Make sure the glue is 100% dry before moving your wings.
Decorate the wings with other craft items if you're feeling creative. The possibilities are endless when you’re making your own fairy wings! Fake flowers, rhinestones, and charms can be great additions to your wings. All you have to do is follow your imagination. Glue rhinestones or gems onto the wings for extra sparkle. Put paper doilies on the wings’s tips for a snow fairy look. Place fake leaves or vines on the wings’s edges to complete a nature fairy look.
Allow the wings to dry completely. How long this takes depends on what you used to decorate them. Paint typically dries within an hour, but glitter glue can take up to a day to dry. Help speed up the process by setting the wings out to dry in a sunny location.
Punch 2 holes on either side of the fold line. Once the wings are dry, use a hammer and a nail to punch 2 holes on the left and right sides of the wing about 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) from the center fold. Position the holes to create a box-like shape, with each hole representing a corner of the box.
Cut 2 pieces of ribbon and thread them through the holes to make straps. Thread the first ribbon through the top-left and bottom-left holes. Then, weave the second ribbon through the top-right and bottom-right holes. Make the ribbons long enough so that you can wrap them around your shoulders and tie them into bows. If you don’t have ribbon, use a thick string instead.
Tie the ribbons together to wear the wings. Have someone hold the wings against your back. Then, wrap each pair ribbons around each of your shoulders and tie them together to form a bow so you’re wearing your wings like a backpack.
Wire and Cellophane
Sketch a fairy wing on a sheet of poster paper. Start with a basic outline, then add some veins and/or swirly shapes inside it. Make sure the veins or swirls connect to the bottom corner of the wing, where it will come out of your back. This will be your template for shaping the wire, so if you want your wings to be symmetrical, you only need to draw one wing shape. This style of fairy wing is meant to be worn with a corset or any other garment with a tight-fitting bodice.
Bend heavy-duty wire to match your wing's outline. Place some heavy duty 50 to 55 lb (23 to 25 kg) wire on top of your poster paper. Shape it until it matches your wing's outline. Leave a long stem about the length of your hand sticking out of the bottom corner of the wing. Cut the excess wire off with wire cutters. Use a piece of foil tape to hold the outline together, if needed. Opt for heavy duty wire that’s between 50 to 55 pounds (23 to 25 kg); otherwise your wings might get bent out of shape.
Add the inner shapes using 24 to 28-gauge wire. The size of wire you use for this step is entirely up to you—just keep in mind that the thinner the wire, the less visible it’ll be. Use the same technique as you did for the outline: bend the wire to match your sketch and cut it using wire cutters. Secure the ends of the wires to the outline with more foil tape. Curve the thinner wire in between the thicker wire to mimic the petal pattern of butterfly wings. Bend the wire into a swirl and attach it to the inner base of a wing for a fantastical cartoon design. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to help you shape the thinner wire into delicate shapes and designs.
Roll out the cellophane, spray it with adhesive, and set the wing on top. Roll out enough cellophane to cover the entire wing. Spray the cellophane liberally with spray adhesive, and then immediately place the wing on top of it. Pick a color of cellophane that matches your fairy’s look. For instance, a iridescent cellophane will mimic the wings of fairies like Tinkerbell and The Blue Fairy. Wear gloves to keep the cellophane from sticking to you. Weigh down the corners of the cellophane with extra crafting supplies or books to keep it from rolling in on itself.
Fold the cellophane back over the wing and cut it. Roll the rest of the cellophane back over the wing until it’s completely covered, creating a border around the wing. Press down on the cellophane with your fingers, making sure to smooth it down around the outline and between the inner shapes. Finally, cut the wing out, leaving behind a 1 in (2.5 cm) border. Try sprinkling some iridescent glitter between the cellophane for extra sparkle.
Let each wing dry beneath a stack of books. Set the cellophane-wrapped wing down on a smooth surface and stack some heavy books or boxes on top of it. This way, the cellophane will dry flat to the wing. Consider doing this while you prepare to adhere the cellophane to your other fairy wing.
Cover the wings with a towel and iron on a low-heat setting. Place a clean white towel on top of your wings. Press a dry iron (no steam) on top of the towel, and work the iron from one side of the wing to the other. The cellophane will shrink with the heat and seal around the wire, so don’t be alarmed by a few crinkling sounds. The towel protects the iron from touching the bare wire and cellophane. If the lowest setting on your iron isn’t doing anything, try using the next lowest setting.
Trim off excess cellophane, leaving a small seam around the outline wire. Once the cellophane is sealed and cool to the touch, remove any excess material. Avoid cutting it down to the wire, as this could cause the cellophane to peel apart. Leave at least a ⁄8 to ⁄4 in (0.32 to 0.64 cm) border or cellophane around your wings.
Secure the wings to a U-shaped piece of wire for added support. Cut a strip of 50 to 55 lb (23 to 25 kg) wire and bend it into a narrow U-shape that’s 2 to 3 fingers wide and a little taller than your hand. Align each wing's stem with each side of the U. Wrap foil tape around the U-shaped wire, from one end to the next, to attach the wire to the wings.
Slide the wings into the back of a corset or fitted dress. Put on a strapless dress or corset, and slide the U-shaped harness down your back. The harness will hold the wings against your back and give the illusion that the wings are sprouting from your shoulder blades. If you opted against a U-harness, sew narrow pockets into your fairy costume to slide the wings's stems into.
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