On Sunday we took Clara on a little weekend adventure. And one of our stops was a butterfly exhibit with all sorts of real live butterflies who were doing their thing:
And thanks to something that we picked up while there, I was able to make this new framed art for our built-ins as soon as I got home:
Wait, it’s not what you think. My little craft isn’t made from real butterflies. It’s actually cut from this information sheet we were given at the exhibit (I asked if I could buy it with this idea in mind and they said that they didn’t sell them but I was welcome to take the one I was given home with me – so nice of them, right?).
See, ever since seeing this post over on Little Green Notebook and a few cool faux butterfly shadow boxes on Pinterest (like this one) I was ready to try my hand at some faux butterfly taxidermy.
So my first step of the whole oh-heck-let’s-see-if-this-works process was to cut out the butterflies (the paper was double sided so I flipped it back and forth and picked out my favorites on each side. Oh and the little flier was laminated, so if anyone wants to try this at home, you might want to print out some small butterfly images on glossy photo paper and cut them out so they have the same butterfly-like sheen (or even get regular printer paper with butterfly images on it laminated at a place like Kinkos for the same effect). I was also thinking that folks might be able to get this look with realistic stickers from a craft store stuck to printer paper or cardstock and then cut out.
Oh and my cutting method was just to use my good sharp scissors and go slow. I wasn’t perfect or anything (and all of the antennas had to go since they were too thin to keep) but it worked out pretty well. And I was left with these babies:
They weren’t especially convincing at this stage. So in another fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-and-see-what-happens move, I decided they would look more convincing if I could get them to fold a little. So I very carefully folded each wing back like a taco:
When I released, they looked like this:
They were suddenly looking a lot more convincing. Then it was time to pad around the house to look for a shadow-box-like frame to use (something with some space between the paper and the glass so they’d have room for the whole folded thing). This old one from Ikea that was already sitting on our built-ins in the dining room fit the bill. And I had zero attachment to the green leafy print inside (an old Ikea poster) so I laid out my nine favorite butterflies atop the glass to play around with different layouts. I decided the three-rows-of-three approach was my favorite:
Then I just used Aleen’s Tacky Glue (it’s the same tube of craft glue that I’ve had since before making Clara’s nursery mobile 17 months ago) to adhere them to a piece of white cardstock that was cut to fit the opening in my frame:
All I did was dab it on the back crease of my butterfly (don’t be thrown off by the blue butterfly image that you see below – that’s the back since the flier was double sided)…
… and then I just stuck them in place (by eye, I didn’t measure but they look pretty good since I tweaked the spacing until I liked it beforehand, and then just glued them down):
I let them lay flat like that to dry overnight before attempting to hang them (I didn’t want them sliding or popping off before the glue had fully cured).
Then in the morning I put my little frame of faux butterflies right back up on the dining room built-ins:
I love how the white frame, mat, and backdrop pop with the moody teal paint behind them (sort of like how all of my other faux animal friends like Mr. Horse, Sir Rhino, and El Bird stand out).
And even if you get pretty close, they definitely don’t look like a free flyer from a butterfly exhibit. In fact I think they could fool my mom (which has been a measure of success for me since I was a tween).
And in case you were wondering where the heck this butterfly exhibit was, I’ll tell ya: Natural Bridge. It’s just shy of three hours from Richmond in Southwestern, Virginia. We picked it as a good little weekend activity because (1) we’d never been there and (2) it was a good place to meet up with John’s BFF Kevin (who’s currently teaching/in grad school at Virginia Tech).
The bridge was more spectacular in person than we had expected. If we understood the guide correctly, it’s what’s left of an underground cavern that collapsed on all other sides. It’s got cool history so it’s totally worth the visit if you’re ever in the area.
Seeing the giant stone bridge was only a portion of the visit. There was also a really beautiful (though humid) path that we all hiked (well, Clara got strollered). It led to a scenic little waterfall, but our only good pictures from that spot ended up being of this butterfly (foreshadowing of the butterfly exhibit to come later, perhaps?)…
We also learned that we have a future geologist on our hands. Seriously, Clara was inexplicably obsessed with this rock:
Speaking of rock obsessions, these beauties in the gift shop did catch my eye. Everyone say it with me: “Oooooooh, shiny.” I didn’t take any home with me (the big ones I loved most were around $80-100) but mark my words: giant shiny rock fragments are the new coral when it comes to natural decorating accents, methinks.
And since we hate to ruin the illusion that we rank up there with only the classiest of travelers, you’ll be glad to know that we most certainly did not visit “Foamhenge” while in the area…
Sure, visiting an all-styrofoam full-scale replica of Stonehenge for free right here in the Virginia mountains a would be tempting for less sophisticated sightseers, but not the Petersiks. No-siree-bob.
And even if we had, we definitely wouldn’t have taken pictures with a life-sized Merlin statue that was constructed to illustrate one of the theories of Stonehenge’s mysterious creation. Please, give us some credit people. We’re mature adults.
Good thing Clara doesn’t have embarrassing parents, right? I’m sure she’ll thank us for being so poised and level-headed when she’s 16 and treasure this picture always.
So that was our little Sunday adventure this weekend. Gotta enjoy summer while it’s still here, right? Especially when you can score a free souvenir-turned-project in the process. Has anyone else out there made any faux butterfly crafts? Mobiles? Art? Jewelry? Tattoos? Foam replicas? Speaking of foam, someone else out there has to have witnessed the hilarity that is Foamhenge. Anyone…?
Psst- My BFF Cat is working on her three month old son Edison’s room, so I dug up ten of my favorite nurseries to inspire her over on BabyCenter. So much cuteness, so little time.
Sarah in Indiana says
I’m sure you would never visit a tourist attraction so tacky that it uses Comic Sans for its signs…
Speaking of tacky, that glue brings back childhood memories of my mom’s neighborhood craft club, which was a fun idea. I don’t remember the detaild, but the women took turns hosting and presenting a craft project that everyone would make.
The butterfly art is really fun (and not tacky). It would make a great craft club project. :)
YoungHouseLove says
So funny you pointed out the Comic Sans. When sizing that picture I thought “Wow, they were tacky right down to their font choice.” Fitting, I guess.
-John
Katharine says
At least you managed to resist the civil war/ dinosaur attraction! Natural bridge is awe-inspiring, I’m amazed every single time I see it.
Kelly says
I love this idea. I totally am going to try this with some pretty butterfly papers I have!
Angie says
When Clara gets a little older, you guys should try growing some butterflies in a jar. We have found tons of Swallowtail caterpillars on the parsley in our garden. And monarchs live on milkweed. I got the idea from the series at the ‘art of doing stuff’. Kids love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Cute! We have some butterfly bushes in the back that Clara loves!
xo,
s
Anne says
Dang, we never made it to the Natural Bridge while we were in grad school at VT. We did hike the Cascades a few times though. Really easy hike.
Sara says
I took my girls last week to see some butterflies, at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News, that would make a great day trip too, the museum was awesome a lot of animals, fish, and a giant box turtle you can climb inside of and stick your head out. Super fun :)
Ashley says
The boyfriend and I often break out into this sequence from the Office for no reason whatsoever. Fantastic show.
I love your butterfly shadow box. I never would have thought of doing that.
Bob says
$herdog – This is the best thing I’ve ever seen posted on your blog. I think the framed fake butterflies are awesome. Nice work!
Emily M says
Absolutely love the butterfly shadow box – it definitely looks real until you get up close. I was wondering where you got the white rhino on the built-in?
YoungHouseLove says
He’s from zgallerie a while back. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
julianna says
Looks like a fun day! You’re so lucky she will still go in the stroller — that’s a month or two past the age my son started refusing the stroller (as in screaming and wildly bucking, so there was no parental overrule possible). Life’s a lot easier when you can strap ’em in and push ’em around!
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Love your butterfly art. Looks awesome.
And foamhedge looked liked fun….I mean it looks like it would be fun IF you had gone there. LOL! If you can’t have fun in life, what is the point. ;)
Christin says
Excellent!
In a suburb just outside of Chicago there is the Leaning Tower YMCA. And it has a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa outside. And yes we have taken pictures there. It’s awesome. :)
eileen marie says
I grew up not too far from that same Leaning Tower Y!
Kylie says
Love the shadowbox idea!
Tammy says
My hubby hails from Bassett, Virginia (yes, where the furniture used to be made before they sent all that production oversees). We drive past the signs for Natural Bridge every time we go down to visit and I always tell my hubby I’d like to go. Now I really want to go! It looks like you all had so much fun. And don’t worry, you’re not the only embarassing parents on the block! We’d be at Foamhedge too.
Stefanie says
Oh, man, I really can’t express how happy it makes my little heart to see you guys feature all these fun places from my home state, Virginia. As a Richmond-native-turned-Texas-transplant, I get super geeked out reminiscing about my favorite spots around town and these little field trips you take that remind me of home. My folks are in Roanoke now, and the natural bridge was most definitely the best part of our last visit.
Lindsey says
Who would have ever thought to use a flyer?!!! You really got me thinking outside the box this time:) It came out great.
Sayward says
My best friend and I went to Natural Bridge on our mini summer vacation last year. We did Foamhenge and the cave, went to the sketchiest petting zoo ever, but our FAVORITE part was the Haunted Monster Museum/Dinosaur exhibit. What’s not to love about animatronic dinosaurs fighting civil war soldiers?! When Clara’s old enough to find that funny and not scary, you definitely have to go back.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that sounded hilarious! We’ll definitely be back for the robot dinos!
xo,
s
Tash says
OMG!! I haven’t even read the post yet but had to comment on the Office video. My husband and I quote that ALL THE TIME!!!. “Which bear is best?” LOL!!! Good stuff.
Ok…going to read now.
Kristen says
That bridge looks very pretty! I’ve seen the 900 billboards for it when we drive from NC to CT and always wondered if it would be worth a side trip.
Sarah@StyleandCentsability says
This is probably my favorite project you have ever done- so simple but chic. I framed a sheet of stamps with monarchs which I love but this project blows it out of the water. I am an artist and am always looking for interesting wall decor….
You can see my new Etsy shop here
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SmithMarshallArts
Wendy says
http://www.roadsideamerica.com is an awesome site that lists those great tourist trap locations. Whenever we’re taking a road trip, we always check it out to see if we’ll be near anyplace fun! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip!
xo,
s
Julie (from Pocketful of Joules) says
I LOVE this project — so easy, pretty much free and so personal. And I’m totally jealous of your trip to Foamhenge and think I need to go soon.
Margaret Critz says
Totally thought the butterflies were real – great job!
On another note, I HAVE to visit Foamhenge….that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all summer!
Dani says
Ooo, I love the butterflies – off to pin it for our own Pinterest Challenge!
I really enjoy walking around Natural Bridge. It is a great place for an easy hike. Did you get up to the Native American village or Lace Falls?
YoungHouseLove says
We did! So pretty!
xo,
s
Sarah Hamilton says
I love it! A few months ago, Husband took out a Black Swallowtail with his truck. It was in such good condition, that I framed it for our hallway.
http://gettinby.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/free-art/
YoungHouseLove says
So pretty!
xo,
s
Mina says
That is such a great idea! I love it! No dead butterflies! I’ll have to try it
Jos says
love the butterflies! in an unrelated note i saw in a post from joss and main that you will be doing one of their new curator sessions. that is so cool. do you know when yours will be featured yet?
YoungHouseLove says
We have no idea but we’re so excited! We’re ready to pick out some white ceramic animals. Haha.
xo,
s
Lindsay @ A Design Story says
Love your butterfly artwork!! It makes a fun keepsake for sure. I recently made a fun butterfly chevron project… check it out http://adesignstory.com/diy-art-chevron-butterflies/
BTW, Clara is so cute!! She gets cuter and cuter by the post ;)
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!! Love that.
xo,
s
Sara says
Foamhenge looks AMAZING! I instantly told my boyfriend that we have to make Virginia our next roadtrip destination – for the sole purpose of seeing Foamhenge. I’m super bummed because I’ve definitely driven down that part of 81 on a roadtrip to Alabama and Mississippi a couple of years ago and never knew it was there! Now I can’t wait to go back!
If you are looking for another fun/cheesy thing to do in VA, you should definitely check out President’s Park near Williamsburg! I went about 5 years ago and it was absolutely worth it for all of the dorky pictures we got to take!
YoungHouseLove says
We’ll have to check it out! Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
gk says
hate to say it, but president’s park is currently closed. i had never even heard of it til i saw an article in the washington post about it closing:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/answer-man-learns-the-fate-of-virginias-colossal-commanders-in-chief/2011/05/11/AFKNRi3G_story.html
YoungHouseLove says
Oh mannn. That would have been so much fun.
xo,
s
gk says
i KNOW. i was thinking it would be a fun/cheesy thing to see when visiting family in williamsburg. oh well.
also fun/cheesy – dinosaurland (http://www.dinosaurland.com/gallery.html), up near winchester, va. i am trying to convince the husband to go with me some weekend. i guess some of the dinosaur pics look kinda scary, so maybe not great for small children, but i thought it was awesome when i was like 7 :)
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that looks really fun!
xo,
s
Jessica says
I don’t really even like butterflies, but for some reason all I want to do now is go home and make pop up butterfly picture.. way to make it irresistible.
Samm Spangler says
I just wanted to give a THANK YOU shout out for starting my day with the best line ever from the Office…. my fiance and I quote it all the time, but also slip in other words with the same vocal enforcement (ie. “Bricks, Bandana, Backyard planting party”)…
lol, we’re dorky new home DYIers too and LOVE reading your blog!
Thanks for keeping it fun and light!
carolinaheartstrings says
Love that. What a great idea! It looks just fantastic!
Laura says
I LOVE the butterfly art! I may have to steal that idea.
My grandparents were married at the Natural Bridge and took us on a trip there one summer. This post reminds me that I really should take a weekend and drive down there! I’m in Fredericksburg so it’s a totally manageable trip. :)
And Foamhenge? Ack! I did not know this existed! My proper grandparents certainly never took me there… ;)
Paige says
love the art! I almost got married at the Natural Bridge, but it was surprisingly pricey. Anyway, have you guys visited the Virginia Safari Park? It’s pretty close to the Natural Bridge…I think it’s a few exits south of there on 81. You can drive your car through the whole park with the windows down and at the front gate you can buy food and the animals will come up to your car and you can feed them–esp the llamas and the camels, and some ostrich-like birds–they are hilarious. I thought it was going to be lame, but it was really cool. I bet Clara would LOVE that. Here’s the link:
http://www.virginiasafaripark.com/geninfo.html
YoungHouseLove says
We did hear about that but didn’t have a chance to check it out! Sounds cool though- we’ll have to try to squeeze it in next time we’re out there!
xo,
s
Melissa E. says
Very cool butterfly craft. I love cheap beautiful things. They make me go squeeeee.
Katie, Interrobangs Anonymous says
I have something very similar to your butterflies, but mine are real (working as an entomologist will do that for ya). But any great insect display needs some identification! Let’s see, you’ve got:
(top row, left to right)Rice Paper (Idea leuconoe)(cousin to the Monarch in the bottom right, btw), a Blue and White (Heliconius cydno), a Blue Glassy Tiger (Parantica agleoides)
(middle row) a Great Mormon (Papilio memnon), one that I don’t know (argh – I hate when that happens!), a Tailed Jay (Graphium agamemnon)
(bottom row), a Banded Orange (Dryadula phaetusa), a Blue Wave (Myscelia cyaniris) and a (female) Monarch (Danus plexipus).
I’m jealous – I don’t have a Blue Wave (real or paper) in my collection!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s amazing that you can identify almost my entire faux butterfly collection! Love it!
xo,
s
Danielle says
LOVE this idea – what a great way to enjoy our animal friends without actually harming any!
This post brought back hilarious memories of my road trip to Asheville last August! We stopped at the Natural Bridge on the way from DC…boy, what a find! Though the bathtub-sized waterfall was a bit anticlimactic after the incredibly humid hike, there were some adorable baby goats playing on the rocks! Hopefully y’all got pictures with the random cowboy-riding-a-velociraptor by the gift shop. And it sounds like y’all skipped the super-creepy wax museum…wise choice ;)
Elizabeth says
Love the butterfly art! I actually did something very similar using a 3D butterfly sticker from a birthday card (it is like the lazy sister of your project). Oh and there is no way that a visit to Foamhenge is on my list of activities for my next VA trip to see my niece and nephew (well and their mom and dad) I mean really I am an adult woman who has zero interest in seeing giant foam blocks shaped like rocks (really!).
SingleMama says
I love doing things with my son that I know in a few years he will say is embarrasing…figure I need to get it out of my system! Looks like a fun trip!
Leslie Ann says
“mark my words: giant shiny rock fragments are the new coral when it comes to natural decorating accents, methinks.”
Sherry, that is SO WEIRD. I was just reading the same thing a few months back on Offbeat Home! They were discussing how the “put a bird on it” home decor trend had come and gone, and one of the editors “says crystals and minerals” will be the new decor trend! (http://offbeathome.com/2011/05/decor-trend-prediction) I’m convinced you home decor bloggers are in on something big… :P
YoungHouseLove says
No way! That’s too funny.
xo,
s
Bboss says
Natural Bridge is that wonderful balance between total tacky, cheesiness and VA history. Sometime you should try the drive thru zoo. Cute butterflies.
Mindy M. says
Sherry,
That’s my all-time favorite Office reference! My husband & I have so many inside joke moments with Office quotes. Love that show!
I also love your new butterfly art. It does look very realistic.
Madelaine says
Ha! My husband and I drove Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Parkway for our honeymoon and we stopped at the Natural Bridge. Unfortunately, Foam Henge was closed by time we got there, as was most everything else. We did eat at the Pink Cadillac Cafe and had great burgers. It was a location that we marked to revisit and spend more time.
SaraMcDaniel says
Brilliant! What a fantastic little DIY free souvenir!
Ruth says
Oh my gosh, as a Clara fan *and* geologist, that photo killed me. I often make the exact same expression when I encounter a new rock.
I also clearly agree with rocks are the new fake coral, since it justifies my rock hoarding habit. But I’m working with garnet right now — too pretty not to bring home from “the field.”
kristen says
Oh, pleasepleaseplease tell me you went to the creepy wax museum across the parking lot!?! You get a free ticket to the museum when you purchase your bridge ticket…actually I hope you didn’t – the Thomas Jefferson would traumatize Clara for LIFE!
When we went we tried to find pictures in the rocks. Good times: http://updownleftrightbastart.blogspot.com/2009/08/bonnies-30th-birthday-weekend.html
YoungHouseLove says
Sadly we didn’t- we thought Clara might be scared. Maybe next time though! So much to go back and do (like the caverns, etc).
xo,
s
Ashley J says
Wicked! I’ll have to try this!
Kim says
Your shadow box looks great! Awesome idea :)
Did anyone else notice the typo on the foamhenge sign?! Oops!!
YoungHouseLove says
We missed it! Tell us, tell us!
xo,
s
Meredith says
I think she’s referencing the “Stonehenge took 1500 years to complete complete…” ‘Complete’ is in there twice!
YoungHouseLove says
Oohhh, that’s so funny. My eyes just skipped right over it.
xo,
s
JennyB says
I noticed that, too. “It took 1500 years to complete complete using stones weighing…” I also laughed at the Comic Sans comment. Too funny!
Jan says
I really love this craft, I’m definitely going to have to do this with my fairy and butterfly obsessed seven year old. She would adore having a frame of faux butterflies on her wall, brilliant!
Ali says
It’s funny that you posted this because I was just considering doing the very same project. We were recently at the Reptile Gardens in SD, and I was taken by the gorgeous (but real) framed specimens they had for sale in their gift shop. Yours turned out great!