How to Make Monarch Butterfly Wings

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6:00 AM

How to Make Monarch Butterfly Wings with xTool M1

Make the perfect Halloween costume butterfly wings using things on their way to the trash.

I love upcycling, reusing and thrifting for the perfect costumes.

These monarch butterfly wings were easy to make, took less than one hour, they look amazing and they were FREE!

Aren't these the perfect little butterfly wings!

My model friend was amazing and helped me model this Halloween costume for kids, which I paid her for her time...so that was my only expense.

Let me explain.

Aren't these the perfect little butterfly wings! My model friend was amazing and helped me model this Halloween costume for kids, which I paid her for her time...so that was my only expense. Let me explain.

FREE.

I mean, that's loaded. Nothing is free, right!?

I have an xTool M1 Laser Cutting Machine, that's not a cheap investment.

However, I refuse to buy a $50 garbage Halloween costume at the store that is nothing more than a glorified garbage bag. ($50 x 3 kids...$150 already!)

Therefore, justifying a big purchase is made easier in effect.

Buy the laser cutting machine...then make Halloween costumes, Christmas gifts, birthday presents, customized things for back to school, stuff to sell, etc.

It's the purchase that keeps on giving, whether or not you use it for a side hustle.

Save money on trash heap fodder and make your own costumes with...
CARDBOARD!

FREE. I mean, that's loaded. Nothing is free, right!? I have an xTool M1 Laser Cutting Machine, that's not a cheap investment. However, I refuse to buy a $50 garbage Halloween costume at the store that is nothing more than a glorified garbage bag. ($50 x 3 kids...$150 already!) Therefore, justifying a big purchase is made easier in effect. Buy the laser cutting machine...then make Halloween costumes, Christmas gifts, birthday presents, customized things for back to school, stuff to sell, etc. It's the purchase that keeps on giving, whether or not you use it for a side hustle. Save money on trash heap fodder and make your own costumes with... CARDBOARD!

Supplies Needed for Monarch Butterfly Wings:

Cardboard (4 pieces the same size)
xTool M1 Everything Bundle (Includes Air Assist)
Acrylic Craft Paint in Orange, Yellow and Black (I use this from Plaid)
Paintbrush
Hot Glue/Gun
1/4" Elastic (about 2 feet)
Black Felt Squares (4x4 inch)
3D Butterfly File (FREE)
xTool Creative Space (XCS)

Step 1: Cardboard Cut

Cut down pieces of cardboard to fit inside the xTool machine comfortably.

Then pick the butterfly 3D design you like the best--there are 10 to chose from!

In XCS import the DXF file.

Select half of the butterfly and delete it.

Then move the outline of the other wing to the side.

Select all the "holes" and click the "combine" button at the top and select "unify".

Then move the outline back around the holes.

Select all and click the "cut" option.

Then size the butterfly wing to fit nicely on your cardboard piece.

Screenshot or take a picture of the size of the wing, width and height.

Then send to the machine for processing!

It will cut all the holes and then cut out the outline.

Step 1: Cardboard Cut Cut down pieces of cardboard to fit inside the xTool machine comfortably. Then pick the butterfly 3D design you like the best--there are 10 to chose from! In XCS import the DXF file. Select half of the butterfly and delete it. Then move the outline of the other wing to the side. Select all the "holes" and click the "combine" button at the top and select "unify". Then move the outline back around the holes. Select all and click the "cut" option. Then size the butterfly wing to fit nicely on your cardboard piece. Screenshot or take a picture of the size of the wing, width and height. Then send to the machine for processing! It will cut all the holes and then cut out the outline.

After the delicate lacy wing cuts out, remove all the pieces and place down another piece of cardboard.

In XCS, delete the holes from the wings, leaving just the outline.

Then have the xTool cut the silhouette shape of the wings.

After cutting out the wing, repeat the process for the other side of the butterfly wing.

Open a new project or delete the wing completely.

Then import the DXF again, this time deleting the butterfly wing you just finished cutting.

Combine the holes, and replace the outline, set them both to "cut".

Then size them, to the exact size the other wing was...which is why the screenshot or picture is so helpful.

Then cut the delicate lacy wing and a silhouette wing for the other side.

After the delicate lacy wing cuts out, remove all the pieces and place down another piece of cardboard. In XCS, delete the holes from the wings, leaving just the outline. Then have the xTool cut the silhouette shape of the wings. After cutting out the wing, repeat the process for the other side of the butterfly wing. Open a new project or delete the wing completely. Then import the DXF again, this time deleting the butterfly wing you just finished cutting. Combine the holes, and replace the outline, set them both to "cut". Then size them, to the exact size the other wing was...which is why the screenshot or picture is so helpful. Then cut the delicate lacy wing and a silhouette wing for the other side.

Phew--in less than 20 minutes, I had the perfect pair of wings cut!

Now you have 4 pieces of intricately cut cardboard that you would not want to cut by hand.

I love my xTool!

The cardboard stacks together, 2 on each side, then slides together making the perfect 3D butterfly.

Phew--in less than 20 minutes, I had the perfect pair of wings cut! Now you have 4 pieces of intricately cut cardboard that you would not want to cut by hand. I love my xTool! The cardboard stacks together, 2 on each side, then slides together making the perfect 3D butterfly.

Step 2: Paint

Use yellow and orange paint to paint the solid butterfly wing silhouette on both sides, allowing it to dry between sides.

use DOODLECRAFT15 on Plaidonline.com purchases for 15% off

Really, use whatever colors you are excited about.

Finger paint them, mix them around, have fun.

Then let the cardboard dry completely.

My cardboard wings dried perfectly and didn't even bow the cardboard because of moisture.

The side of the colored wings that will be covered with the black lace cardboard, I didn't color to the edges completely.

But the back of them should be painted completely, these will show from the front.

Then paint the delicate cardboard cut out wings black.

Just one side is all that is necessary, just make sure they match up to the right orange pieces.

Step 3: Hot Glue

Plug in the hot glue gun!

Line up the cardboard butterfly wings so they are ready to glue together and make sure everything looks right.

Then turn over the black cut out cardboard piece and run hot glue around all the edges, especially the delicate parts, like antennae and side part.

Place the glue side down on the painted colorful silhouette wing and repeat for the other side.

They should slide together with not must coaxing.

If you are using too thick of cardboard, you can crush it gently in your fingers to compress the corrugation and make it fit a little better.

I had no issues.

Then turn over the black cut out cardboard piece and run hot glue around all the edges, especially the delicate parts, like antennae and side part. Place the glue side down on the painted colorful silhouette wing and repeat for the other side. They should slide together with not must coaxing. If you are using too thick of cardboard, you can crush it gently in your fingers to compress the corrugation and make it fit a little better. I had no issues.

Then turn over the butterfly and hot glue it down the middle.

This will prevent it from being able to slide apart.

If you'd rather skip this step, give it a try, it will be easy to store later!

Step 4: Elastic Straps

Cut a piece of elastic about 12 inches...this will vary based on the human that will wear it.

My model is a petite 6 year old.

Run hot glue over half of the 4x4 inch felt square.

Place the elastic loop around it and glue it in place.

Then fold over the felt.

Step 4: Elastic Straps Cut a piece of elastic about 12 inches...this will vary based on the human that will wear it. My model is a petite 6 year old. Run hot glue over half of the 4x4 inch felt square. Place the elastic loop around it and glue it in place. Then fold over the felt.

Then hot glue the felt squares on the back of the butterfly wings.

Hold the cardboard up against the child's back so you can see exactly where they should be placed based on the width of their back.

Let the hot glue set completely and they are ready to wear!

Help the child slide one arm through a loop and then the other arm.

Adjust the straps and the butterfly so it's laying straight.

That's it!

Ready to flutter through the garden!

This cute costume accessory piece would look darling with any outfit for any type of Halloween weather!

I love a great costume and these wings are my favorite for this spooky season!

It was so fun to watch my little model flutter around the yard!

Hope this tutorial was as fun for you as it was for me.

I absolutely love my xTool laser cutting machine and the endless list of things it can do.

If you haven't looked into one, check it out here!

xTool M1 Everything Bundle

Hope this tutorial was as fun for you as it was for me. I absolutely love my xTool laser cutting machine and the endless list of things it can do. If you haven't looked into one, check it out here! xTool M1 Laser Cutting Machine

That's it!

Can you believe this Monarch Butterfly Halloween costume was put together with stuff I already had?

It's basically free--just cardboard, paint, hot glue, elastic and felt...that transformed, like a butterfly, into the perfect costume and reason to have an xTool M1 in your craft supply!