Kelly’s butterfly party inspiration board also had me dreaming of Spring and how beautiful butterfly silhouettes can be in a little girls room. I figured that now is the perfect time to share with you a favorite DIY project of mine from reader Caroline Alarie who made her very own version of the impressive PotteryBarn Kids Butterfly Chandelier. There’s no longer the need to shed a tear because it’s been discontinued but rather jump for joy knowing you can make a replica for a mere $20!
What inspired you to create this project?
I saw a similar mobile in a store and it was very expensive but looked very simple. It inspired me to make my own with my own personal touches. This mobile cost me less than $20 to make.
Please share with us step by step, detailed instructions.
Supplies:
- 16″ embroidery hoop (bigger or smaller depending the size of your mobile)
- (2) strips of 1/2″ balsa wood
- White acrylic paint
- Card stock paper (I used a nice shimmer card stock)
- A butterfly template made of heavier card stock (I used a 3″ X 3″ sized butterfly shape)
- Nylon thread and needle
- (17) medium size glass beads
- (78) small glass beads
- (1) small metal or plastic ring
- Glue gun, scissors, cutting mat and pencil
Directions:
1 .Use only the inside ring if the embroidery hoop (the one without the screw system).
2. Cut balsa wood into (4) strips to fit across the diameter if the hoop.
3. Glue these strips across the diameter of the hoop like a pie.
4. Paint the hoop and wood white.
5. Draw (95) butterflies on your choice of card stock paper using a butterfly template.
6. Cut out each butterfly.
7. Cut (8) threads to your desired length to hang from the ceiling. Attach one end of the thread to the balsa wood and then attach the other end of the thread to the ring in the center.
8. Place a medium size glass bead onto the first butterfly. Tie a knot using a small size bead to thread the next butterfly leaving a space in between. Continue until all the desired butterflies are on one string.
9. Repeat process for each string. You should end up with (8) sections on the hoop attached to (8) strings on the outer circle with (5) butterflies on each string / (8) strings in the middle part of the hoop with (6) butterflies on each string / and (1) string with (7) butterflies attached to the center of the hoop. This creates the hanging chandelier effect.
10. Lastly, glue some butterflies on the outside of the ring for a finishing touch!
Tags: butterfly, butterfly theme, DIY, Mobile, paper, potterybarn kids
That is super cute, she did a great job! I’ll be linking to this.
I actually did this same project a year ago when i saw it in the potterybarn magazine and it was simple and mine looked somewhat different and exactly the same as the one in the magazine! i cut out 200 butterflies! i had some blisters but it was worth it! and i just bought a lamp shade and used the large round wire rim and the small one and spray painted them white..i also painted the butterflies on her wall.
This is beautiful. I made my version of this mobile over the summer for my daughter’s nursery(http://www.mandaleegifts.com/2009/08/butterfly-mobile.html)…but I really like the idea of using the beads. Great job! I admire anyone willing to cut out that many butterflies!
My daughter-in-law saw this last summer while pregnant with my granddaughter, who was just born 2 days ago: 8 lb, 6 oz; she is beautiful! Off track, I know, but I’m very proud! Anyway, we both fell in love with it, but were very dissappointed that it was no longer available. I am so happy to have directions for it. Must be a new grandma present!!
This is a great DIY project! I love finding inexpensive ways to recreate something seen in a store. If we have a little girl next, this will definitely be on my list of to-do’s! Great job!
Beautiful DIY project. Great to do with kids as well.
THANK GOODNESS!!
My niece is just transitioning into her crib and my mom and I have been in love with the potterybarn mobile – but refused to splurge that much for it. I even started to search to see if anyone locally did oragami, to make a more interesting mobile, in lieu of what we couldn’t get her…. So excited to find this on line. I’m definately making it my next project. Her room is light sage with white trim, white crib and faux silk sage curtains, a braided chenile sage and raspberry braided rug and raspberry cribsheet set with sage dragonflies – this will be the perfect addition to her beautiful room. Thank you Thank you Thank you!
[...] Butterfly Mobile: Create a feminine DIY mobile with the ideas found through this link. [...]
Hi all, i just came here when i did a fast yahoo search. Neat blog you have here! Keep it up!
I love your mobile! Nice work. Do you happen to have a template for the butterfly? Thanks!
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