Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
How To Make a Butterfly Tiara
Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved tiaras. My grandmother had one at her house in the top of a closet that I made a beeline to grab and wear anytime I was at her house. It belonged to my aunt in her youth, and was old and broken, but I loved it anyway. Despite its overall look, it still had a beautiful gemstone sparkle that I was drawn to, like a moth to a flame.
My DIY butterfly tiara
Tiaras, synonymous with elegance and grace, are exquisite headpieces that add a touch of regality to any occasion. These ornate crowns of beauty have been cherished throughout history, gracing the heads of queens, princesses, and brides alike. Adorned with shimmering gemstones, delicate pearls, and intricate designs, tiaras have the power to transform an ordinary moment into a fairytale or a very memorable moment.
Fascinators and tiaras are fun to wear
Whether worn on a wedding day, a prom night, or a special celebration, tiaras evoke a sense of enchantment and glamour, capturing the imagination of all who behold them. Symbolizing power, femininity, and timeless beauty, tiaras are the perfect accessory to crown any majestic ensemble. Over the years, I’ve collected quite a few.
I purchased one and wore it to my prom (there was no prom queen at the school I went to, so I suppose I crowned myself), I was gifted one for my 21st birthday by a dear friend (he nicknamed me “princess” due to my love of tiaras), and I have also made a few. My DIY crowns and tiaras have been mostly made out of flowers, tulle and most recently, butterflies.
Butterflies are known to be symbols of tranformation
Butterflies have long been recognized as symbols of transformation, growth, and the beauty that can emerge from struggle. They start their journey as caterpillars, confined to the ground, but eventually undergo metamorphosis to become vibrant and graceful creatures that can take flight. This transformation mirrors the human experience of personal growth, as we navigate challenges and evolve into our best selves.
I started adding butterflies, one at a time
The amount of personal growth I went through when I was kicked out my home at age 17, when I was a caretaker for my grandmother (and dealt with her estate after she died when I was in my 20’s), when I quit my corporate job to focus on my own creative business, when I moved to a new state 1,000 miles away from my hometown, and during my Hurricane Ian experience is more personal growth than I ever imagined I’d experience in my so far “short” lifetime, but I made it through. There were plenty of other struggles, losses, and pain, but these were some of the most difficult moments to navigate through.
My butterfly tiara before adding crystals
Butterflies also symbolize hope, reminding us that change is not only possible but often brings new opportunities and possibilities. They serve as a reminder to embrace change and have faith in the process, knowing that beauty and growth can bloom from even the most difficult circumstances.
Each time I struggle, I do try to imagine myself being a caterpillar undergoing a transformation that will be beautiful if I can just hang on for little while. I believe that having a heart full of hope is the only way any human can make it through life’s struggles. Having that and some great friends and family members to lean on too, truly helps.
My crystal adding process begins
Still being involved in my long, over 10-month battle to get insurance to pay for our Sanibel Island home damages (thank goodness for a good law team for their help!), I couldn’t think of a better symbol than a butterfly to place on a tiara right now.
See my DIY butterfly tiara come to life in our quick video below or via our YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
The struggles one goes through after a category 4 hurricane + severe flooding + a destroyed bridge (making it impossible to get back to our house post storm) can take a toll on your faith, but it can also make it stronger. I had never created a butterfly headpiece until now and it will always be a creation I’ll remember fondly as it turned out beautifully. Creating always eases my mind when I’m struggling, and I know it helps other too.
Using a mannequin head is helpful in tiara making
Here’s how I made my butterfly tiara.
To make a beautiful butterfly tiara, you’ll need a few supplies and a touch of creativity. While some of the butterfly tiaras on Amazon are cute, there is something wonderful about being able to create a custom tiara for yourself. Most are made from printed paper butterflies, which are great for something that you may need to grab and go to a last-minute casual event, but my DIY version is definitely a better quality and more “expensive” looking.
I selected Swarovski crystals for my tiara
I’ve known several people tell me they bought their headpieces, hats and fascinators on Amazon and let me tell you, the quality of one you buy on Amazon versus the quality of one created slowly on your own usually is not as good. Now, if you buy something on Amazon Handmade, it will be created by an artisan, and it will probably be good quality, but you’ll pay a little extra for it. Truly great quality can sometimes cost more.
The crystals added a bit of sparkle to the tiara
I was once sent a hat that came from Amazon (not Amazon Handmade), and there was glue oozing out from the embellishments, crystals were falling off and it had overall very poor craftsmanship. Another hat from Amazon had a patch that was literally stuck on like a sticker and fell off when I took it out of the package.
Needless to say, both hats were sent back. I made my own patch hat to replace them, which turned out much better than both. When you make your own embellished headpieces, you can ensure you go slow to create something clean and gorgeous.
See my DIY patch hat in my YouTube video below:
Completed butterfly tiara
Start by selecting a plain tiara base, preferably a headband, like I used. I buy skinny plastic headbands in multipacks because they always make their way into being a great base for many of my headpiece creations. Next, gather an assortment of colorful and lightweight artificial butterflies, preferably in different sizes. I used some multicolored feather butterflies, but paper or other small butterflies will work.
See my butterfly makeup look come together in my 15 second YouTube video below or via my channel @carolynjbraden.
This look inspired the tiara as these butterflies are “tucked” in my hair
My butterflies had wires attached, so I started by wrapping a wire around my headband to secure the butterfly. I could see the wire was not going to keep it extremely secure, so I used hot glue (on a low temperature setting) to glue the wire after wrapping it around the headband.
Try making your makeup match the tiara
Continue to arrange the butterflies using the wire and hot glue on the headband or base until you achieve a pleasing composition. I added 10 butterflies total, though the pack came with 12. I used the two other butterflies in a cowboy hat creation. Each time I added a butterfly and allowed the hot glue to cool, I placed the tiara on my head to get a good idea of what it would look like.
Butterflies inspire me
I made sure to add a few butterflies to what would be the “backside” of the headband to hide any wires, and to make it look good from all directions. Once you're happy with the arrangement, use a hot glue gun to secure the butterflies in place more if needed. Be careful not to apply too much glue, as it may seep around the edges of the butterflies. I like to use a wood toothpick to remove any oozing glue. This helps keep your headpiece looking clean and professional.
Butterfly inspired look
Next, I placed the butterfly tiara onto my mannequin head and began to add crystals, as all tiaras usually sparkle a bit. I love Swarovski crystals because they sparkle the most of any crystal I’ve ever used. I applied a little Liquid Fusion glue to the butterfly bodies, then used a wax pencil to grab each crystal and apply to the glue. I used pink, blue, yellow and crystal AB colors on my butterflies.
Allow the glue to dry completely before gently handling the tiara. I always allow 24 hours of drying time for the Liquid Fusion to fully cure. Once it's dry, you can wear your butterfly tiara with pride and sparkle like a whimsical garden fairy. Wear it to an event, or simply around the house. I even had my neighbor wear hers over for dinner, as we both share a love of tiaras. Be a queen or a princess for a day, every day with a tiara, because why not?
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Carolyn J. (C.J.) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.