On Sunday we took Clara on a little weekend adventure. One of our stops was a butterfly exhibit, where countless real butterflies floated and landed all around us.
Thanks to a small piece of printed material we picked up at the exhibit, I was able to turn that souvenir into new framed art for our built-ins as soon as we got home.
Before you worry: this project doesn’t involve real butterflies. I used the informational flyer we were given at the exhibit. I asked about buying extras and they didn’t sell them, but they were kind enough to let me take the one we received. That little favor made this DIY possible.
I’ve been inspired for a while by faux butterfly shadow boxes and faux taxidermy projects I’d seen online, so I wanted to try my own version using the flyer. The paper was double-sided, so I flipped it over and chose my favorite images from each side. If you want to replicate this idea at home and you don’t have a laminated flyer, print small butterfly images on glossy photo paper or laminate printed images to give them a natural sheen. Realistic craft stickers applied to cardstock could also work well.
I cut the butterflies out with sharp scissors, working slowly and carefully. I removed the antennae because they were too thin to survive cutting, but otherwise the shapes held up nicely. After cutting, I had a collection of paper butterflies ready for styling.
To give the paper butterflies more dimension and make them look lifelike, I folded each wing along the center crease so the wings angled upward like a “taco.” That simple fold created realistic shadows and gentle curves that made the butterflies read as three-dimensional when viewed behind glass.
With the butterflies folded, I hunted for a shallow shadow-box-style frame that had enough space between the glass and the backing to accommodate the folded wings. An old Ikea frame I had on our dining room built-ins was perfect. I laid nine of my favorite butterflies on the glass and experimented with arrangements until I liked the balance. A three-by-three grid gave a clean, modern look.
To secure the butterflies, I used a small amount of craft glue applied to the back crease of each piece, then pressed them onto a clean piece of white cardstock cut to fit the frame opening. I eyeballed the spacing and adjusted until I was satisfied. Letting the glued pieces dry flat overnight ensured nothing shifted while the adhesive cured.
In the morning I reassembled the frame and hung the finished piece back on our built-ins. I love how the white frame and mat pop against the moody teal paint behind them—the contrast really highlights the butterflies and blends well with the other faux-animal pieces we have on display.
Up close, the paper butterflies don’t look like a flyer at all. The folds and the glossy finish give them enough depth to fool casual observers, which for me is a fun little measure of success.
If you’re curious where the exhibit was: we visited Natural Bridge in Southwestern Virginia, about a few hours from Richmond. We chose it as a weekend outing partly because we’d never been and partly because it made a nice place to meet up with friends who live nearby.
The natural bridge itself was more impressive in person than we expected. The visit included a scenic, humid path that leads to a small waterfall, along with several impressive rock formations that captivated Clara—she was oddly obsessed with one particular stone the whole way.
The site also has a gift shop with polished rock specimens that caught my eye. While I didn’t buy any, their sparkle was hard to resist and they’d make striking natural accents in home decor.
We wrapped up the day enjoying the sights and appreciating a simple family outing. The best part: a free piece of printed material from the exhibit turned into a small, handmade work of art for our home. Have you tried any faux-butterfly crafts, mobiles, or shadow boxes? It’s an easy DIY that adds charm without harm to nature.
Psst—my friend is decorating her baby’s room, so I gathered a few nursery ideas to inspire her. There’s so much cute inspiration out there.