Creativity inspires our conservation! Get your creative juices flowing and help build awareness about the plight of monarch butterflies, by making your own conservation art piece: wearable wings! Bonus: You can wear them to celebrate Earth Day!
Western monarch butterflies are in a drastic decline, but by working together to increase their habitat (planting showy milkweed and other pollinator plants) we can make a difference. Inspire others to think of the monarch butterfly by creating wings of your own with these easy steps:
You can use all kinds of materials to make these wings. We recommend reusing or upcycling something you already have! Find an old t-shirt, a garbage bag, a cardboard box, or even some large pieces of orange paper. Depending on the color of your materials you will need to find: orange, white, and black paints or markers (to create your designs), scissors, glue, and string.
Remember: get creative! If you don’t have something, create a new way to make your wings!
Step 2. Draw the outline of your butterfly wings:
Our wings are 2.5 feet wide and 1.5 feet tall, but make your wings whatever size you like (the bigger the better)! Monarch wings are generally wider than they are tall, but you can get creative. Don’t forget to draw the various parts of monarch butterflies: all four wing sections as well as the body.
After your wings are cut to the shape you like, it is time to decorate! Using paint, markers, glitter, or whatever you have handy, give the wings the famous monarch orange, black, and white patterned design. Don’t worry about being too accurate! Remember, these are your wings, if you feel like being a green and purple monarch… go for it!
Step 4. Allow to dry and try them on!
Once your wings have had the chance to dry, it is time to try them on! Hold both edges of your wings allowing the body to rest on your back. Now, using a safety pin, string, or rubber bands you can attach your monarch wings to what you're wearing, add straps so you can wear them, or attach loops near the edge of the wings for your hands to hold.
Step 5. Flutter, fly, and share with everyone about the fabulous monarch butterfly!
- Plant native milkweed for Monarch butterflies!
- Pollinator Plants to Grow
- Creating a Butterfly Garden
- Butterflies that are NOT Monarchs