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Bottle Butterflies!
by shortone on January 19, 2009 Table of Contents intro: Bottle Butterflies! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 2: Prepare the bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 3: The set-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 4: Painting the base layer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 5: Add the details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 6: The last details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . step 7: Uses for your beautiful bottle butterflies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertisements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Customized Instructable T-shirts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 5 5 6 6 7 8 9 9 9 9

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

intro: Bottle Butterflies!

Learn how to make beautiful, realistic butterflies from old plastic bottles. The curve of the bottle will make the wings of the butterfly look realistic and by using acrylic paint, you can make any kind of butterfly you want; real or whimsical!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

step 1: Materials
You really really need: *Old plastic bottles (esp 1 liter ones...they have a bigger surface for more butterflies, but any bottle with straight sides will do) *Push pins (thumbtacks) *A piece of wood that you are able to push the thumbtacks into *Acrylic paint *Sandpaper (220 works best for me! :D) *Polymer clay (browns and blacks mostly) *Strong glue (I have used hot glue, but it doesn't seem to be strong enough. I suggest gorilla glue or some kind of epoxy) *Paintbrushes *Sharp scissors or an exacto knife You only sorta need: *Clear spray varnish (preferably oil-based) *Pearl Ex-which is a mica-based powder that makes the wings shimmer! *Black wire *Small black seed beads *Gel acrylic medium (matte)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

step 2: Prepare the bottle

To prepare your bottle for being turned into a butterfly, first wash the label off. I do this by soaking it in my sink with some dish detergent, and then picking any bits off that don't come right off. If there is still a thin strip of gluey goo stuff, don't worry about it. Cut around the top of the bottle to get the top off-all you want to use is the straight part of the bottle-no curves. Do the same to the bottom. As soon as you have a cylinder of plastic, cut down the side with the gluey goo to create a rectangle of plastic. Now, you have to sand the plastic so that your paint will stick to it well. The side you will sand is the side that was on the outside of the bottle. I use 220 grit and sand in a circular motion until the bottle appears "frosted" or matte. You can also work to 400 grit, but I only use 220 because i want my bottle to be rougher, so that the paint sticks better.

step 3: The set-up

Now you want to figure out what kind of butterfly you want to paint. I just google imaged pictures of butterflies to get ideas...there are some incredible tropical butterflies out there! I have also made local butterflies, such as monarchs, as well. Once you get an idea of what kind of butterfly you want, print out some pictures of them. Then, cut out the outline of the butterflies, and trace them onto your plastic with a permanent marker, making sure that they are set up so that the tips of the wings are parallel to the top of the plastic, so that when you fold the wings, they wont be all funny! (see picture) To trace easily, weigh the ends of the plastic down with something heavy. Now, you need to pin your plastic to your piece of wood. To do this, lay it down flat on the wood and push in pins wherever you can find space-but NOT inside or on the butterfly shapes! You want your plastic to lie fairly flat so don't hold back on those pins! :D (Good workout for your thumbs too)

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

step 4: Painting the base layer

Now you will paint a base layer for your butterfly. If you have gel acrylic medium (matte), paint it on first. Your brushstrokes should always go from the center of the butterfly out towards the wings. Let this layer dry before moving on. Base layer: You will want a base layer to block some light and make a better surface to paint on. I suggest using a light color of paint, because white is a colloid and will look more solid. If you know the color of the bottom of the butterfly's wings that you want to paint, go ahead and use that color. Again brush from center to wings, but stay inside the lines! Some practice will make you better at this. Let your layer of paint dry before adding the next layer; I use a hair dryer set on LOW to speed this up because I tend to be an impatient artist. :D Next layer: background Look at the picture of your butterfly, and paint the butterfly on your plastic with that color. If your butterfly is 2 colors, like a monarch, paint it the lighter color (It's easier to paint over).

step 5: Add the details

To really make your butterfly look good, you should add some details. Veins, in particular, really add to the finished effect. Use a very fine-tipped paintbrush for your veins, and either a lighter tint or a darker shade of the color of your background to make the veins. Since I'm doing whimsical butterflies for this example, I just put dots wherever I felt like it, but if you're painting a realistic butterfly, it's best to look at your picture as a guideline. Again, using a fine paintbrush will make your butterfly that much better! While your masterpieces are drying, make your butterfly bodies: Look at your picture, and form a body like the one in the pic. I use a toothpick to add details like lines to it, but that's optional, depending on how realistic you want the butterfly to look. To make antennae, cut short lengths of the black wire and stick them in the body. To add eyes, use black seed beads and press them into the clay. You can also make eyes out of the clay as well. Fire your bodies; most polymer clays bake at 275 degrees F, but check the temp and bake time just to be sure.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

step 6: The last details

If you want your butterfly to shimmer like some real butterflies do, Use pearlex powder to add some sheen. Take a clean paintbrush and make it damp, and dip it into the powder. Then, in careful strokes, add some sheen to your butterfly. When your butterfly is dry, cut out the outline with sharp scissors. Then, you need to spray them. I use oil-based enamel spray to make them shiny, but if you don't want shine, you can use matte spray. DO NOT SPRAY BODIES!!! Oil-based finishes and polymer clay react in such a way that the polymer clay just stays sticky and it's really annoying. Anyways, when you get your butterflies sprayed, and they dry, you are ready for the last step: putting it all together. Use super glue or epoxy to glue the body too the area inside the wings. Ta Da!!! Lovely butterfly!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

step 7: Uses for your beautiful bottle butterflies

There are many uses for the lovely butterflies you have just created: glue a loop of wire onto the back and make an ornament or a gift wrap tag thing *glue a push-pin onto the back and make it a wall decoration-just push it wherever you want glue a dowel with a sharpened end to the back-awesome plant stake! glue it onto painting (what I usually do) It adds a great 3-D, whimsical touch glue it onto a picture frame glue a suction cup onto the back-window decoration! See? Your uses are limitless! Who knows what other wonderful ideas are out there... Anyways, hope you enjoyed this instructable, and please rate it as you see fit! :D Happy crafting

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

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Comments
23 comments Add Comment

Doc Holliday says:

Awesome! I was getting tired of the big snowflakes still hanging around the office. Now I have a colorful Spring replacement to suggest. Maybe even a competition!

Jan 22, 2009. 4:15 PM REPLY

thissideofgaudy says:

Jan 22, 2009. 2:20 PM REPLY These are so lovely and simple enough that I could cut them out and prime them for my 1st graders and then let them go wild with the details.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

noelle_tan says:
you are definitely gonna win

Jan 22, 2009. 10:27 AM REPLY

shortone says:
You think so?

Jan 22, 2009. 2:01 PM REPLY

Honus says:
Those look awesome! They would be great for store window displays where I work.

Jan 22, 2009. 6:10 AM REPLY

shortone says:
Ooh where do you work? If you're looking for shop displays, check out my fake cupcakes...if that's the right kind of thing..

Jan 22, 2009. 2:01 PM REPLY

sgsidekick says:
Great! Now I have to make some for my mother-in-law's garden! Really nice!

Jan 22, 2009. 12:42 PM REPLY

gracielynn2 says:
WOW! I love the butterflies! Can't wait to make one! Gracie

Jan 22, 2009. 12:05 PM REPLY

Creativeman says:
Very nice: artistic, creative, pretty....good going.! Cman

Jan 22, 2009. 11:13 AM REPLY

jdix says:
BEEEE U TEEEE FULLL in a flower arangement

Jan 22, 2009. 6:34 AM REPLY

mum says:
Love these! I am gonna make some 4 my garden soon!

Jan 22, 2009. 5:27 AM REPLY

hernanai says:
5/5 and Favorited!!! My girlfriend will love these...

Jan 21, 2009. 5:59 PM REPLY

shortone says:
Thanks! :D

Jan 21, 2009. 6:16 PM REPLY

Tintan says:
Oh, how lovely! Thanks for sharing. Are the there other re-purposed things used in your art?

Jan 21, 2009. 6:51 AM REPLY

shortone says:

Jan 21, 2009. 5:23 PM REPLY Oh I LOVE to use re-purposed things! Yes, the board in the painting was a scrap piece of plywood that would otherwise have been thrown away. The background of the painting is painted with leftover wall paint from several projects. I have also made glass beads out of bottles too (the glass ones, that is) and have many many other recycled projects. Send me a message if you want to know more! :D

gluless says:
Wow..just wow...I love this idea!!! I'm going to make a lot of these for my garden..would spray gloss work on them?

Jan 20, 2009. 6:17 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/

shortone says:

Jan 20, 2009. 7:17 PM REPLY Thanks! Be sure to vote for me! :D haha Yes, spray gloss should work well...I've used gloss before and I always use spray...just be sure to put a lot of coats on so they're nice and strong and the paint doesn't fade!

mynameisjonas says:
beautiful

Jan 20, 2009. 12:59 PM REPLY

canida says:
Those are gorgeous!

Jan 20, 2009. 11:58 AM REPLY

gmjhowe says:
Nice work, one of the most original bottle ideas i've seen! The method works a treat with the drawing pins.

Jan 20, 2009. 1:02 AM REPLY

mcraghead says:
Awesome!

Jan 19, 2009. 9:07 PM REPLY

itschrys says:
Beautiful! They would look really great in a garden!

Jan 19, 2009. 6:25 PM REPLY

shortone says:
Thanks! I think they would too...but if you did that, you'd have to be sure you put a LOT of protective gloss on it :D

Jan 19, 2009. 7:25 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/Bottle_Butterflies/