Butterfly Pom Pom

Paper Pom Poms

Posted by Carlton Books

About

When summer is in full bloom, butterflies are welcome visitors to the garden. Celebrate the magic of these delicate creatures with this pom-pom project – a lovely, decorative idea that will brighten up a plain wall. These delightful butterflies can make a girl’s bedroom come alive in a joyous burst of color! Or create an unusual backdrop on a garden wall for a summer party or Fourth of July barbecue. Why not connect a string of butterflies in varying colors and sizes to create a dazzling garland and hang in front of an open window so that they flutter in the breeze.

While this project may look complicated at first glance, it is actually a clever adaptation of the technique used in the Simple Paper Pom-Pom. Take care when layering the tissue paper and you will end up with a neat finished look.

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You Will Need (6 things)

  • Tissue Paper in two matching colors – one light and one dark
  • Scissors
  • 26 -gauge (0.4 mm) Craft Wire
  • Thick black Wire
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • Black Glitter

Steps (8 steps, 60 minutes)

  1. 1

    Cut four sheets of lighter colored tissue paper to measure 14 x 9½ in. (35.5 x 24 cm) and another four sheets to 7 x 14 in. (18 x 35.5 cm). Then, cut two sheets of the darker paper to measure 7 x 10 in. (18 x 25.5 cm) and another two sheets to 5 x 7½ in. (13 x 19 cm)

  2. 2

    Layer the larger pieces of each color together and then the smaller pieces on top. Fold the layers in accordion folds at intervals of 1 in. (2.5 cm) and then separate the different sized stacks.

  3. 3

    Fold the larger of the dark colored pleated stacks in half and cut the ends to create a rounded shape.

  4. 4

    Layer this back over the larger pleated stack of the light colored paper. Fold in half and trim the ends of the light paper into a rounded shape.

  5. 5

    Repeat Steps 3 and 4 with the set of smaller papers in the two colors. Join both pleated stacks together at the center with a piece of wire and twist to secure.

  6. 6

    To make the butterfly antennae and body, cut a piece of black wire to the same length as the wingspan and fold it in half. Then coil each end around a pencil.

  7. 7

    Twist the wire up to the halfway point to create the butterfly body, leaving the two antennae separate.

  8. 8

    Fan open the wings. Apply a few lines of hot glue across the back to hold them open. Once dry, glue the wire body to the front of the wings. Add a sprinkle of black glitter to disguise the join and add sparkle!