If you want double layered wings, draw the same wing shape out twice, but with one bigger than the other. For 3D wings, cut multiple layers of wings is descending sizes. You can also make the wings out of cardboard for sturdier wings. [1] X Research source
If you drew on white paper, color the wings. You can color them before or after you cut them out. Cutting them after you color may make it easier since you can color over the lines and then cut off the excess. Be creative with the way you draw or decorate them. Draw veins along the wings, glue flowers, or tape sequins to them. Try covering the paper with glitter, gold or silver paint, or gold trim. [2] X Research source If you drew them on cardboard, try painting the cardboard. Just make sure to let the paint dry before building the wings.
If your wings have points, each straw should run from the center of the wings towards the points. If your wings are rounded, place straws on the top, bottom, and middle. If you want 3D wings, tape the layers of wings together. You can leave just the wingtips untaped, or more of the wing to give it a fluttering look. Place the straws on the back of the bottom wing.
Use any wing shape you desire. You can have rounded tips or pointed tips. They can be large like angel wings or narrow like dragonfly wings. This is up to your imagination.
The wire should extend beyond the edge of the wings. Tape the wire down to hold it in place. Bend the wire so that it follows the contours of the wings.
Fimo gel is a craft adhesive. Squirt it onto the wings so it seeps beneath the wire, or use a sponge brush to dab under it. Just don’t lift the wires. Try to get the Fimo gel under the wires. Start with the outer wires and set that. Then, spread it over all of the wing. Use an embossing gun to set the gel. Fimo gel has to use heat to harden. Usually, Fimo gel is put into the oven, like when it’s used with polymer clay. Since you can’t put paper in the oven, use an embossing gun instead.
Add any embellishment to the wings. You can use glitter, paint, flowers, beads, or anything else to decorate the wings.
Use pliers to straighten the kinks in the hanger, especially where the hanger was wrapped around the neck to keep it together. You can also use the pliers to help you bend the hanger into the proper shape. For easy wing shapes for the hanger, try making long, narrow wings like dragonflies. You can also use 4 hangers and make four balloon-shaped circles. Attach two of them together, one on top and another on bottom, so that they look like butterfly wings. You can also draw the shape of the wing first, and then lay the hanger on top of the paper and bend it so it matches the outline of the wing. [4] X Research source An alternative to undoing the hanger is to bend the wide part of the hanger into a wing shape, leaving the hooks in tact. [5] X Research source
If you left the hanger in tact, twist the hooks together to connect the wings. Cover the twist with a piece of fabric or felt so it doesn’t poke you in the back.
If you are going to use this paper as the base, make sure you have colored it before attaching it to the hanger. If you try to color it while on the hanger, you could tear the paper. An alternate to regular paper is to use contact paper. Cut contact paper so that it fits the hanger. Make sure there is enough to bend over the edge to secure it. Decorate the sticky side of the contact paper with flower petals, leaves, glitter, fabric, or anything else. Place another piece of contact paper over the decorations, sticky side down. Smooth it down to seal the wings. Cut around the wire hangers and fold the ends over the edges. [6] X Research source
To make rows of feathers, cut smaller pieces of paper into half-ovals. You can make a lot of smaller individual ovals, or you can create a long piece of paper with one flat edge and one edge of half-ovals. These ovals should stack on top of each other so that your wings look like they have rows of feathers. You can cut them out of different colored paper, or color and decorate them after you cut them. When you have the feathers ready, tape or glue them to the paper wings. If you want to make paper wings that look like angel wings, try using paper fringe for feathers. Take tissue paper and cut into half. Then, fold those in half and staple along the folded crease. Cut along the paper, about 1 inch apart. You can cut it closer or further apart depending on your preference. You just want it to look like fringe. When you’re done, separate the fringed edges and fluff. [7] X Research source Use a hot glue gun to glue the fringe to the paper wings.
Before securing the straps, adjust them so they are short enough that the wings will not fall off.
