Check the regular sewing pattern sources... McCalls, Simplicity, etc. in the costume pages. Pick out the pattern(s) you want, then wait for one of the $1 a pattern sales!

I recently gave away a fairy costume pattern that included instructions and pattern for simple-to-make wings. The costumes were for flower fairy dresses made with sheer material. Also had instructions for silk flower necklaces (leis) as well as silk flower headbands (on elastic). Very inexpensive to make and added a LOT to the costumes. The little outfit looked very much like this one at Oriental Trading.

Also note the clear jelly shoes with attached silk flowers - a cute (and inexpensive) touch!

In addition to using fabric, consider using pretty iridescent (clear with watery sheer colors) wrapping plastic.

Here is one site (with many disclaimers!!) about making fairy wings
Fairy Wings.

Here's The Costumer's Manifesto page. Scroll waaaay down... wings are at the bottom of the page. Note that there are a couple books pictured on how to be a flower fairy... check to see if your public library (or your child's school library) has one or more of these books. Or look at them on Amazon or a similar online service and see if you want to invest in one (maybe even used!).

A source for ready-made-wings is Oriental Trading.

Sometimes you can find inexpensive costume wings at dollar stores. But that is sort of a hit-or-miss shopping adventure.

Lastly, here's a link to results of a search at Froogle for "fairy wings" in the $1 to $6 range.

Note that some of the sources shown are on eBay! Another place to search for the Simplicity, etc. patterns as well as already made wings and other fairy accessories.

Check out your local dollar store too.

Here's another great site that has step-by-steps on making flower fairy wings. Lots of other fun fairy stuff, too. Your granddaughter will love looking at this fairy site, special for little girls. Making fairy dust would be a great activity for the party!

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Be A Fairy - Fairy Wings

Red, How come you kept that site a secret from me? How adoarble they are. I added some fairies to my pics at the Crafts and decor site

Here is a link that might be useful: fairies

Thank you Kathieo for the thread and thanks Ms. Red for the information!!! This looks like a birthday party for Miss Elizabeth!!! I appreciate you all!

Making wings with wire (or coat hangers) and pantyhose is really simple, pretty easy, and very cheap. I've run a couple of group wing-making activities with this method for both middle schoolers and college students. The following is a quick write-up of the method for someone who had seen wings made this way:

You need a spool of wire about coat hanger-sized (not sure of the actual gauge), 2 or 3 pairs of colored knee-highs or pantyhose (or white ones and RIT dye), some fine wire or heavy string, and wire snips. Pliers can also be really helpful. Dye the hose, if desired. Cut the wire into lengths about a yard long. Bend it into the shapes you want. Leave a short length (3-4 in.) on both ends to twist together so the shapes will stay closed and so you have something to bind together at the end. When making shapes, convex curves are best, since hose tend not to like to cling right to concave ones. You can make two mirror-image pieces for simple pixie wings, or two pairs of mirror-image pieces for more butterfly-like wings, or whatever else you can imagine. If you're using pantyhose, cut the legs off and just use them. Stretch the hose to cover the wire frames, one leg per shape, with the toe at the outermost point of the wing and the opening at the twisted-together wire. Arrange all the pieces as you want them to go together, holding all the twisty bits together. Wrap back and forth around the center several times with fine wire or heavy string. Wrap any excess fabric from the wing-pieces around the center. Take the legs from the remaining pair of hose and tie both ends of each onto the center, making two loops that you'll put your arms through like a backpack. Embellish as desired.
The process can be tricky, and it can take some trial and error to get everything to go together and hang right. An extra pair of hands can be helpful. I've developed this method through a lot of wrestling with nylon and wire and on-the-fly problem solving. If along the way you find some way to improve it, I'd love to hear about it

Let me know if you have any questions.

~Bouche

I have made plenty of wings, very easy and inexpensive. Take 2 white coat hangers, 2 white knee hi nylons and white tape (hockey or medical). Straighten out the hooks on the hangers, place the 2 hooks over each other, so the rest of the hanger looks winglike, then bend, twist, fold the hook pieces together and cover with white tape to hold them together and cover any sharp points. Bend "wings" into shape you want. Pull one nylon stocking over each, tack together, use spray glue and add glitter, feathers, etc. Attach loops of elastic to center of wings, so they can be pulled on over the childs arms.
Wings!
Love the Fairy website!
Kathy G in MI

Thank you all for the wonderful information.For those of you interested in more great info, check out Tea Cakes and Teddie Bears. com. My daughter found this one. It's a website of a woman who does theme parties and actually shows a lot of pictures. Great ideas. Thanks again to all. KathieO

I have never seen such a cheap dress with the Rune fairy wings. Last time when I bought wings costume for my nephew it was costly. Then I decided to make these wings with my own hands, and it worked like anything and she really liked a lot.

Here is a link that might be useful: fairy wings