How to Make a Wind-Up Paper Flying Butterfly

My plan to make a paper flying butterfly seemed a simple task.  Finding the right process was a little more challenging than I expected.  Remember the flip-top box I made for my granddaughter’s birthday?  I have planned to make wind-up butterflies for it.

You can find the instructions for the box ◄ here.

First Attempts

Several pins on Pinterest showed how to make these butterflies.  These are leftovers from my first attempts to make a butterfly using multiple directions.   You can find one here ► Instructables Wind up Butterfly.

I used 22 mm jewelry wire to create the base and light cardstock for the wings.  I thought a bag of rubber bands in different sizes should give the proper size.   However, I had to tie a knot in one to seemingly get the appropriate length.

This butterfly flopped across the table but did not fly.

Dave to the Rescue

After an afternoon of trying to get this right, I was frustrated.  Dave came in and asked what I was trying to do.  I showed him the flopping butterfly and another failed version I had made with large paper clips.  After twisting the top repeatedly, it kept getting hung up on the round loop at the top of the base.

He said, give me some pliers and I did.  He explained that it was a lot like some of his baits, being an obsessive avid fisherman I guess he would know about those.   The round loop was hitting on the edge.

He flattened it and said, “Try it now.”

Spinning Success

After winding up the rubber band, the thing twirled rapidly.  I repeated winding it up several times and then, it hung up again.  He suggested putting a bead at the top to hold it in place and keep it spinning.   Finding a bead with an opening large enough to accommodate the two bent wires took me a little bit.

At this point, I did not worry about attaching the paper wings.  If the thing doesn’t spin, there’s no point!  Get the mechanics down first. 

 

As you can see in the picture above, I made several attempts. 😒

The 20 gauge wire worked but was too pliable and the rubberband bent the wire too easily.  I tried a large paper clip with cardstock wings.  The wire seemed too heavy and the butterfly didn’t get off the table.  

At that point, it seemed that maybe the wings needed to be made from lighter paper, too.  Then, I remembered the faux rice paper I made earlier for gift tags.  There are leftover sheets of it.

In my search for a different wire weight, I discovered a 22 gauge florist wire in my stash.  It is lighter, yet stiffer than the jewelry and craft wire from the earlier attempts.

One of the how-tos I read suggested wrapping the wire around a wooden skewer.  The loop I created was too large and the bead slipped through it.  So, I used my round-nose jewelry pliers to make the loops.

I also used Chain-nose pliers, which are flat on the inside and round on the outside and are for holding small findings and pieces.  You could use small needle-nosed pliers instead.

Paper Flying Butterfly

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Supplies:

• 22-gauge florist wire
• Faux rice paper or lightweight paper
• Scissors
• Wire cutters
• Scotch tape
• Round-nose pliers
• Chain-nose pliers
• 6/0 Seed Beads

Cut the Wire:

First, cut one piece of wire 4 inches long for the top wings.  Then, cut a second piece of wire 5-1/2 inches long for the bottom wings.

Bend the 5-1/2-inch wire – Find the center of the wire and use round-nose jewelry pliers to form a loop.  Round-nose pliers are for making wire loops.

Keep the loop horizontal and bend the tails of the wire down so they are vertical.  It’s easier to bend the wires down if you hold the loop with the chain-nose pliers or needlenose pliers.

Next, use round-nose pliers to bend the tip of each tail outward to form a loop with an opening just large enough to accommodate the rubber band. 

Then, bend each tail inward to form two J hooks facing each other. 

Shape the Wires for the Upper Wings

Find the center of the shorter wire and bend it in half. This time, do not form a loop. Instead, pinch the wire to create a shape like a hairpin.

Then, loop the rubber band onto the wire shape.  Next, thread a bead onto the ends of the two wires.  Not all of my beads have a hole big enough to thread the two wires together onto the bead.  I had to try a few before I found one.

Pull the rubber band through the loop on the bottom wire (pull the bent center of the wire through the loop as well) and attach the rubber band to the loops at the end of the hooks.

Bend the tails of the wire outward to create the structure of the upper wings. 

Use the round nose pliers to create a loop at the end of both wires.  This will be safer if the butterfly accidentally hits someone in the face.

Cut Butterfly Wings

Click here for a free template for butterfly wings or create your own.  You’ll want to cut the templates from cardstock.  Then, trace around the templates and cut out two top and two bottom wings for each butterfly.

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EK precision scissors are small, very sharp, and work well for cutting out the wings. 

Attaching the Wings to the Paper Butterfly

Use Scotch tape to secure each wing to the body of the butterfly. First, apply tape to the edge of the wing.  Then, place the wing in position, wrap the tape around the wire, and press the tape onto the back of the wing.

The top wires should be taped to the top edge of the upper wings. Tape the bottom wires to the inner edge of the bottom wings.

Be sure that the top wires are angled so that the top wings don’t hit against the bottom wings.

You should now have what looks like a butterfly!

 

Hold the butterfly body 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 35-50 rotations to get it tight.  

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

Then, let it go!  Hopefully, it flies.

Positioning the Paper Flying Butterflies in the Flip-Top Box

For Mem’s birthday box, I made three paper flying butterflies.  If only three butterflies are placed in the box, the butterflies flap inside the box. 

It just so happens that I have a piece of Styrofoam that is 7/8 inch deep.  I cut two squares of Styrofoam to fit inside of the box.  Stacked, the two leaving just enough room for the butterflies.  Then, I wrapped pink tissue paper around the Styrofoam and placed it inside the box.  (You can see this in the video below.)

Then, I wound the rubber band on one of the butterflies and set it on top of the tissue paper.  I  placed a 6-inch metal ruler on top of the butterfly to keep it in place as I wound the rubber band on each of the other butterflies.

Next, I flipped the lid over to cover the butterflies and the ruler.  The ruler is easy to slide out from the side while holding the butterflies in place.

Revealing the Flying Paper Butterflies

In conclusion, these might more aptly be called fluttering butterflies, not flying butterflies.  One did seem to do pretty well…  However, I think our little granddaughter enjoyed them all the same!  She was surprised.