Behind the Wings: How I Make Our Fairy Photoshoot Magic


For our fairy photoshoots, I made all our wings and dresses. They are actually very fun to make.

The first set used in this shoot we just used those wings you get at the dollar store. They are a thick wire covered in a stretchy pantyhose material. The photos turned out super cute but we wanted a more magical wing.

Our First Fairy Wings: Starting Simple


When we first started offering fairy sessions, we used dollar store wings—the kind with a thick wire frame and pantyhose-style mesh stretched over them. They were cute, and the photos turned out absolutely adorable, but we wanted something that felt more magical—something that truly looked like it came from a fairytale.


So I started the adventure of making my own wings.


Good thing I love crafting. Seriously, I could do it all day! And fun fact: I even made the dress in that first shoot too.

A child in a fairy costume wearing purple tulle tutu, floral crown and translucent wings poses in a garden setting.

How It All Began


The first set of wings I made came from a pattern I got through a Fairy Photography course that my friend Carrie and I took from Robert Provencher—his Fairy Success Course. It was super affordable and packed with helpful tips (including wing templates!).


Instead of making them out of fabric like the course suggested, I turned to YouTube for more inspiration. I already had a design to work from, so I just needed to figure out how to bring it to life in my own way.

My Favorite Wing Tutorial


One video I kept coming back to was this one by Fancy Fairy Wings & Things: Watch it here


In it, she uses her Cricut Maker to cut out cardstock wing patterns, then wraps the edges with 12g wire for structure. The wings are finished with clear sticky vinyl on one side and a layer of cellophane on the other. It’s easier than it sounds—and incredibly effective.

Practice Makes Magical


The first set I made was more of a practice run. I didn’t have a cuttable pattern for Cricut, so I improvised using wire and a hot glue gun. I followed the general process outlined in the Fancy Fairy tutorial and got some beautiful results—even if they were still a bit rough.


We used that practice set in a test shoot to try out lighting, posing, and camera settings. While the wings photographed decently, they didn’t quite have the durability or detail I was after. The “veins” weren’t very visible on camera, and the structure needed more strength.


Time for round two!

A fairy sits in a magical forest setting wearing a pastel tulle dress with wings and flower crown as butterflies float nearby.

Practice session with wire-only wings

Basic Supplies I Use


  • 12g aluminum wire
  • Clear vinyl
  • Cellophane
  • Cricut Maker + Design Space
  • White floral tape
  • 12x18 or 12x24 cardstock
  • Heat press or iron (with hand protection)
  • Scissors + Exacto knife
  • Wing pattern (you can create or purchase one)

Here's how I did it:

A fairy in a purple tulle tutu dress holds a glowing lantern in an enchanted forest setting with mushrooms and twinkling lights.

I. Create or Find a Wing Design

I started by sketching out a wing design I liked, but you can also purchase digital templates (I loved the set from ATPTextures on Etsy for baby wings!). If you’re drawing your own, scan or photograph it, then open the image in a program like Photoshop or a paint app to thicken and clean up the lines. This helps Cricut read the design clearly and cut it accurately.

II. Import into Cricut Design Space

Once the design was digitized, I saved it as a PNG file and uploaded it into Cricut Design Space. I adjusted the size to fit the wings I wanted to make—larger for child sets and smaller for infants. After tweaking the placement and checking the cut paths, it was ready to go. This method saved me hours compared to manually shaping wire!

III. Cut and Assemble the Wings

With the Cricut cutting the base design from cardstock, I moved on to outlining each piece with 12g wire for structure. Then I layered the wings between clear vinyl and shimmering cellophane and sealed it all with a heat press. Finally, I used white floral tape to attach the wings together into a complete set. Each set has 6 wings—3 on each side—and they photograph beautifully!

Crafting the Final Wings


Each wing set includes six wings—three per side. Once my Cricut cut the pieces, I shaped the wire outlines and taped each wing individually using white floral tape. Then I added the vinyl and cellophane layers, and finally assembled the wings into a complete set.


I LOVE how they turned out! They’re whimsical, light-catching, and so magical on little fairies. The veins are much more visible, and the wings can be arranged clustered close or spread wide.

A decorative glass sculpture in the shape of iridescent wings sits on a wooden table with colorful rainbow reflections.

Infant set pre connecting

White wire strands or fiber optic cables are arranged in a fan-like pattern on a weathered wooden table surface.

Infant set - done

A decorative iridescent butterfly sculpture made of acrylic or glass sits on a dark wooden table near a window.

Infant and Child sizes

Iridescent fairy wings with translucent holographic material rest on a wooden table during costume preparation.

Child set

Young dancer in a pink tulle dress with iridescent fairy wings poses in a living room setting.

My little model

A Few Future Ideas I'm Dreaming Up:


  • Black veining for a moody or enchanted forest look
  • Watercolor designs on the paper before cutting
  • Pre-glittered paper or glitter vinyl for extra sparkle
  • Colored vinyl instead of clear for a whole new vibe


The possibilities are endless—and I’m always excited to try new techniques. Good thing crafting is basically my happy place!

Want a Fairy Session?


We’d absolutely love to create a magical fairy photoshoot experience for you and your little ones—boys included! Every session is full of whimsy and wonder, and I craft each set of wings and wardrobe pieces with love.