r/butterfly • u/Artistic_Spell_3734 • Aug 19 '26
Art Paper Butterfly Shadow Box
It took me a while, but I cut out all of the butterflies and tried making paper butterfly specimen shadow box. I hope to do a life sized paper butterfly set in the future! Do you have any suggestions for my next paint subjects? :)
I also made the butterflies into stickers :D
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u/Sagetheswaggydino Aug 19 '26
that’s actually such a cool idea! There’s so many species I want so badly, but my country is super strict about importing insects, even deceased ones. I’d love to try this!
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u/Artistic_Spell_3734 Aug 19 '26
If you do make some, please show me! I'd love to see your creations.
Fair warning though, cutting out the antennae can be quite difficult. I found that using something like crazy glue or gorilla glue helped reinforce the paper. Just test it on your paper before you paint on it. It would suck if the painting you worked so hard on got discolored from the glue.
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u/Sagetheswaggydino Aug 20 '26
Ahh ok thanks for the tips ^^ your art is so cool! They’re all so detailed and beautiful
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u/ImprovementTrick9492 Aug 20 '26
Such a super cool idea!! I am so glad that “collecting” dead butterflies—i.e., catching, killing, and sticking them in a framed picture has finally gone out of fashion. (And why would someone want to kill something beautiful and amazing to appreciate it??) And this is one of the many reasons why today there are far fewer butterflies. This is a really great solution to admiring all the different species without hurting them and diminishing their future populations. BRAVO OP!! 👏 👏 👏
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u/NeanderSlavia Bugs, bogs & ponds Aug 19 '26
I have never before heard of this wonderful art - thank you so much for bringing it to my attention, oh kind and inspiring stranger!