Smaller butterflies that are only 1–3 inches (2. 5–7. 6 cm) long will only take about 2 days to relax, while larger butterflies will take up to 1 week. If your butterfly doesn’t fit in a jar, you may also use a plastic container with a lid.
Insect mounting pins can be purchased online or in specialty science and lab equipment stores. Insect pins come in many different sizes, but you only need #2 or #3 pins with a diameter of about 1⁄50 in (0. 51 mm).
Spreading boards can be purchased online in a fixed or adjustable size.
Avoid touching the butterfly’s wings with your hands since you may accidentally rub off the scales. You can also choose to have the bottom line of the top wing be perpendicular to the body. (That’s how other people do it. )
The bottom wings do not need to be secured with pins.
You can make the wax paper wider/longer.
Drying time may take longer depending on the size of your butterfly. Be careful handling your butterfly once it’s dry since it will be very fragile. If you plan on preserving your butterfly in resin instead of in a display case, remove the pin from its thorax.
Shadow boxes and insect display cases can be purchased online or you can make your own. Keep multiple butterflies or insects in your display case, or use multiple smaller case to make a wall collage.
Keep mothballs in the case if you aren’t hanging it right away so your butterflies don’t start to mold. If you keep your butterfly in sunlight, the color of its wings might fade.
Resin can be purchased at any hardware store. Rubber molds made for resin can be purchased online.
Be careful while handling your butterfly since it will be fragile and could break apart.
Don’t let your resin set completely or else the other layers of resin will not adhere to it.
Maintain a slow and constant pour so air bubbles don’t form inside your resin.
Use your resin butterfly as a table decoration or as a paperweight.
