I created DIY butterfly wings for my daughter when she was just shy of turning two. I made them the morning of Halloween, and they took me only a few hours to pull together!
I made the wings using felt, wire, iron-on vinyl, fairy lights, and my trusty glue gun.
My girl refused the wings all day — tears were even shed over the mere suggestion of trying them on. I thought maybe Halloween just wasn’t going to happen that year.
But thank heavens, at the very last minute, she tried them on.
And turns out? Mom’s creation was pretty cool. She ended up loving her mom-made wings and chanted “I’m butterfly!” all evening while trick-or-treating (complete with flapping her little hands, of course).
Almost a year later, she still wants to wear the wings for playtime or even a trip to the grocery store.
What I love about this project is that you don’t need any fancy tools or equipment. It’s a no-sew costume, with intricate iron-on details that can be hand-trimmed — no fancy machine cutter required.
KEEP READING FOR THE DIY BUTTERFLY WING TUTORIAL
Why You’ll Love This Project
These light-up butterfly wings are something special — simple enough to make in a morning, but magical enough to become a favorite for years to come. Plus they're:
- Quick and easy: Can be made in just a few hours.
- Budget-friendly: Crafted with basic, accessible supplies.
- Lightweight and wearable: Comfortable for hours of play.
- Magical: Fairy lights add a delightful “wow” factor.
- Totally no-sew: Just hot glue, vinyl, and creativity!
WHAT YOU NEED
For the DIY BUTTERFLY WINGS
- About 1 yard of felt (I used black)
- About 6-8 feet of 18-gauge aluminum wire (choose a color that blends with your felt)
- 2 strands of fairy lights (battery-powered)
- Heat transfer vinyl (I used iridescent pink and iridescent green)
- Wire cutters + pliers
- Iron or heat press (I love my mini Cricut EasyPress)
- Glue gun and glue sticks
Optional: tulle, sequins, or extra vinyl shapes for sparkle and detail
For the REST OF THE COSTUME
- Antenna headband
- Tutu black dress
- black leggings
- black shoes or sneakers
Step 1: Shape the Wings
Start by shaping your wings with wire. Using pliers, bend and twist 18-gauge wire into large butterfly wing shapes. You can sketch your design on paper first and follow it as a guide.
Make sure your wings are roughly symmetrical, but don’t worry if they’re not exact — that’s part of the handmade charm.
Step 2: Wrap with Fairy Lights
Once your wing frames are ready, it’s time to add the glow!
Wrap a strand of fairy lights around the wire of one wing, spacing the lights evenly. Repeat for the other wing. Secure the ends so the lights stay in place, and leave the battery pack free at the bottom.
Tip: Warm white lights give a soft, magical glow, while colorful lights add playful fairy energy.
Step 3: Cut the Felt Backing AND BUTTERFLY BODY
Lay each wire wing flat on your black felt and trace around it with a fabric pencil or chalk. Be sure to leave about ¾ inch of extra space around the edge — this border will make it easy to glue your wire frame in place later.
Cut out each wing shape carefully.
While you’re cutting, also cut out a long, slim oval shape from the same felt — this will be the butterfly’s body. Set it aside for now; you’ll glue the wings onto it later in Step 8.
Step 4: Decorate with Vinyl
Before you attach the wire frame, it’s time to decorate the wings!
Cut out small shapes from your iridescent heat-transfer vinyl to create a butterfly wing pattern — think spots, teardrops, and swirls. Arrange them however you like across each felt wing.
No cutting machine? No problem — hand-trim your shapes with scissors.
Once your pattern is ready, iron or press the vinyl pieces onto the felt (cover with parchment paper if needed). If you’re using adhesive vinyl instead, simply stick them on for an even faster option.
Step 5: Glue the WIRE Frame to Felt
Now it’s time to bring your wings to life!
Carefully hot glue the wire frame (with fairy lights attached) to the inside of the felt wings. Avoid gluing directly onto the bulbs — instead, add small dots of glue between the lights, along the wire itself.
Press firmly and work slowly so everything sticks securely. Give the glue a few minutes to set and cool before moving the wings — a little patience here makes all the difference!
Step 6: Add Shoulder Straps
Cut two strips of felt long enough for your child’s arms to comfortably slip through, backpack-style.
Hot glue or securely attach each strap to the top and bottom of the wings, creating two loops for wearing.
Step 7: Create Battery Pack Pouches
Cut small rectangles of felt to hold the battery packs for your fairy lights. Hot glue them to the back of the wings, near the bottom and close to where the body will be attached in the next step.
Make each rectangle slightly larger than the battery pack, and glue only the sides and bottom — leaving the top open. This creates a little pocket so you can easily turn the lights on and off while keeping everything neat and wearable.
Step 8: Attach the Butterfly Body
Grab the oval felt piece you cut earlier for the butterfly’s body. Position it vertically in the center of the wings and hot glue it down the middle, so the wings attach neatly on both sides.
Let the glue cool completely, then have your little one try them on to check that everything feels snug and secure!
Step 9: Light It Up!
Flip the switch on your fairy lights and watch your creation glow!
Whether your child is fluttering through the neighborhood on Halloween night or playing pretend on a Tuesday afternoon, these wings are pure magic.
There’s something so special about making your own costumes — especially when they come together with a little light, a little hot glue, and a whole lot of love.
These DIY light-up butterfly wings are proof that you don’t need perfection or expensive materials to make something your child will treasure.
Even if they resist at first (been there!), these handmade wings just might become their favorite thing to wear all year long.
ENJOY CREATING YOUR DIY BUTTERFLY WINGS!
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