I didn’t take many photos during the build, but I’ll explain how I made this butterfly chandelier for anyone who wants to try. It’s absolutely doable, but be prepared: this project requires patience and time.
The first time I saw a chandelier like this I knew I wanted one for a butterfly-themed party. When Olivia picked the butterfly theme, I was excited to finally make it.
I built the chandelier using a foam wreath form for the larger bottom ring and a smaller embroidery hoop for the top. I punched hundreds of butterflies out of patterned cardstock using three different craft punches (two of them were Martha Stewart punches). The process was simple but time-consuming: I hot-glued small butterflies to cover all sides of the forms. Covering the wreath form took the longest—if you want to save time, consider using a second large embroidery hoop instead of a foam wreath.
After the initial layer, I continued layering butterflies. Mixing small and large shapes adds depth and visual interest, so keep gluing until the form looks full and textured.
When both hoops were covered, I used three long ribbons to connect the top and bottom rings and knotted them at the top for easy hanging. I embellished the chandelier with leftover crystals from my craft stash to add sparkle. Then I sewed long strands of small paper butterflies and draped them around the outside and down the center for movement. I also added a few ribbons of varying lengths down the middle to create more dimension. The result felt light, whimsical, and layered.
The finished chandelier is delicate and charming—perfect for a birthday party or to brighten a bedroom. I’m planning to hang mine in the big girls’ room. How would you use yours?