Introduction: Wind-Up Paper ButterFLY

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Delicate! Enchanting! Magical!

This wind-up paper butterfly will flutter into your heart and make you want to create more! It is a perfect addition to a card or invitation, or can be placed in a book for a neat surprise. This butterfly doesn’t take long to make and can be created in your own unique way to show off your style.

In this Instructable I will show you how to create this fluttering wind-up paper butterfly.

Step 1: Materials

  • Coloured Paper, I used origami craft paper but cardstock or construction paper should do just fine.
  • 20 gauge wire
  • Small silicone rubber bands, I found mine in the hair aisle
  • Needle-nose pliers
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Skewer
  • Ruler
  • Pencil crayons or markers

Step 2: Measure and Cut the Wire

Cut one piece of wire to be 4 inches long. This will be used for the top wings.

Cut a second piece of wire 5 1/2 inches long. This be will be used for the bottom wings.

Step 3: Bend the Long Wire

Find the centre of the longer wire and wrap it around the skewer to form a loop. Keep the loop horizontal and bend the tails of the wire down so they are vertical. Next, use the needle-nose pliers to bend each tail inwards to form a hook. These hooks will hold the rubber band.

Step 4: Bend the Short Wire

Find the centre of the shorter wire and wrap it around the skewer. This time, do not form a loop. Instead, pinch the wire to form a circle. Bend the tails of the wire outward to form the structure of the wings.

Step 5: Assemble the Body of the Butterfly

Loop the rubber band around the top of the wings and set it in the centre. Pull the rubber band through the loop of the bottom wire (pulling the top wire circle through the loop as well) and attach it to the hooks.

This step may feel a little finicky, but you can do it!

Step 6: Cut Out the Butterfly

Take your piece of paper and fold it in half. Draw on a top wing and a bottom wing. Create any shape you’d like. They don’t have to be perfect!

Cut out the wings through both sides of the paper to create two equal top wings and two equal bottom wings.

Step 7: Draw the Wings

Using a black pencil crayon (or coloured pencil of your choice), draw lines onto the wings in your desired design.

Next, use accent colours (I used a deep yellow, light orange and white) to add shading and highlights for definition and detail.

Step 8: Assemble the Butterfly

Tape each wing to the body of the butterfly. The top wire tails get taped to the top edge of the upper wings. And the bottom wires get taped to the inner edge of the bottom wings. You should now have what looks like a butterfly! How exciting!

Step 9: Wind It Up

Hold the body of the butterfly with one hand and use your forefinger on your other hand to turn the top wings, winding up the rubber band.

It will take about 45-50 rotations to get it tight.

But be careful! If you over-wind it the rubber band might snap or the wire might bend.

Step 10: Insert Into Card or Book

Gently place the wound-up butterfly into a card or book. Closing the book after placing the butterfly.

Whoever opens it will get a fluttering surprise!

Thanks for reading this Instructable on how to create a Wind-Up Paper ButterFLY. Let me know in the comments below who you surprised with this enchanting butterfly.