Butterfly Canvas Art tutorial

Today I have a tutorial posted on the Therm O Web blog to make these sweet Spring Butterflies.  Yep – they’re fabric!  And better still, it’s a great way to use up some of your favorite scraps.  These were so fun to make.  It’s an easy, no-sew project and you can use the butterflies for all sorts of other things. 

These are just a few of the fun butterfly ideas I’ve found around lately.  They’re all pinned here (along with some other spring-inspired décor!)

1: Butterfly collection pillow tutorial from Ruffles & Stuff

2:  Peach and pink paper butterfly garland found here

3:  Paper butterfly decoration found here

4:  hand cut butterfly garland found here

The pattern sheet that I created for the butterflies has four sizes on it (tiny, small, medium & large).  I thought the large size would make a lovely garland, and as it turns out, the medium size is perfect for making a butterfly canvas art!  Again – no sewing!

Here’s what you’ll need:

one 16” x 20” canvas

HeatnBond Ultrahold

Butterfly Applique Shapes pattern

fabric scraps

sharp scissors

iron

hot glue gun

I had a small pile of scraps leftover from the quilts I had made for my nieces – not enough to make anything, but just the perfect amount for a few butterflies! 

First you’ll need to print the butterfly applique shapes page from here.  Then trace the medium size butterfly 9 times on to some HeatnBond Ultrahold and then cut out roughly around each shape.

Using the instructions on the package, iron each butterfly to the wrong side of a fabric scrap.  Cut out along the lines, and peel off paper backing.

Then iron the butterflies to the wrong side of another fabric scrap.  It can be identical fabric, or a coordinating fabric.  Be creative!

Now carefully cut around the butterfly, just a bit inside of the first butterfly piece.  You now have a stack of pretty, two-sided butterflies!

To crease each butterfly, fold in half and press with iron for 6 or 7 seconds.  To keep the crease nice and crisp I picked up each butterfly with my scissors and held it there for a few seconds to let it cool.

Next, lightly mark on the canvas where you want the butterflies to go.  I measured and marked the canvas using a ruler and drew a thin pencil line where the butterfly body would be.

Using a hot glue gun, lay a bead of glue on the pencil markings and gently press the butterfly body (not the wings) onto the glue.  I used a pen lid to press it in place along the crease, just to make sure it was fully adhered.

Within just a few minutes my no-sew butterfly canvas was done!

This canvas will be going to my nieces to hang in their room.  The two little girls both have quilts made these same fabrics so this will be perfect!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story