Today’s project is full of ribbons and paper butterflies–perfect for the first day of May!

I was inspired to make a butterfly chandelier for my daughter’s room when I saw one here.  I posted it to my Pinterest board and actually set about to make it.  Score one for me!  Pinterest: 5,062  Kristen: 1.  I’m catching up.  Here’s proof:

A chandelier like this is super easy to make (but it will take a little bit of time to punch out all. those. adorable. butterflies).  Here’s what I did:

1) Gather supplies

I purchased a package of foam pipe covers at my local building supply store for about $2.50.  The package contained 4 foam covers cut into 3′ lengths.  Two of these would become the wreath forms for the chandelier.

I also purchased a large monarch butterfly paper punch (Martha Stewart brand).  This was by far the biggest expense of the project.  The punch retails for over $16.  Fortunately, I had a coupon (woo hoo!).

I also picked up a stack of scrapbook paper since I’m not a scrapbook girl (don’t judge me) and didn’t have any on hand , various ribbons, and a roll of pink tulle.  I already had various crystal beads in my stash to decorate the ribbons.

2) Create wreath forms on the cheap

Wreath forms are expensive.  You can make some for waaaay less money using the foam covers I already talked about.  I created the biggest form from one piece of 3′ pipe foam.  Simply secure the ends with heavy-duty tape to form a circle.  The second form needed to be slightly smaller, so I cut the second piece down to 2′ and secured the ends.

3) Wrap the forms

I found it beneficial to wrap the foam wreaths with pink tulle because I didn’t want any gray to show through, and it was cheaper than ribbon and less time consuming than punching out a gazillion more paper butterflies to do the job.

4) Punch butterflies until your fingers fall off

You will need approximately 50 bazillion paper butterflies.  Somewhere around 20 bazillion butterflies, you will wonder what on earth you were thinking when you chose this project and you will curse Pinterest, even if you don’t normally curse.  Push through the pain.  You’re nearly there!

5) Assemble (in other words, glue, glue, glue!)

I strung crystal beads on some of the ribbons, wound more ribbon around the wreath forms, and connected the two wreaths with even more ribbon and tied all that ribbon into a bow around a big ring.  The cat was very interested in this whole process.

Then, I glued, and glued, and glued.  So. Many. Butterflies.  Then I punched out more butterflies (because apparently, 50 bazillion butterflies wasn’t quite enough) and I glued those on too.

Pretty soon (not really) it was done!

After soaking my hands in Ultra Strength Bengay and taking a couple dozen pictures of the chandelier, we hung it in my daughter’s room.

I’m still hoping to find some more crystal (read: plastic) chandelier beads to add to the final product, but for now, we’re enjoying the look of it in her room.  I would have hung it above my own bed but my husband had something to say about that.  He’s such a dream-killer.

Is this a project you’d like to try?  I have a butterfly punch you can borrow and a couple extra foam-thingies…if you dare.