The Process

 "How do they do that?"

How do we at Fluttertime make you such beautiful preserved butterflies and moths?  Well it all starts with the butterfly farms.  After the butterflies live out their full lives they are collected and packed in wax paper and shipped to Fluttertime. 

We receive the containers of dried butterflies. At this point the butterflies are folded and very dry.  They are then injected with glycerin and placed in a steamer to bring some moisture back into them.  Depending on weather this takes about one or two days.

When the butterfly is moist enough it is carefully removed from the steamer and placed on a setting pad.  With extreme care the butterfly is slowly unfolded and the wings are moved into position.  This is a slow process.  The wings are very brittle and can break easily.  Our butterfly artist uses special tweezers to slowly move it into place.  One wrong move and the butterfly breaks and can not be used. 

Once the butterfly is in place it is pinned to a setting board and strips of glass are laid over the wings to keep them in the perfect positions while they dry.  It may take a couple of days until the butterflies are dry enough to keep their shape without the pins and glass.

When the butterflies are set they are carefully removed from the board and pinned to the wall to await being mounted in frames.  This is an amazing site...to see a wall full of bright colorful butterflies. Seeing all the butterflies on the wall allows our designers to select different ones to combine into a collection.

From this "butterfly wall" we select single butterflies to be mounted alone and we select butterflies that combine to make stunning collections.  We make some standard collections and we are always make new unique combinations that we have never made before.  We can also make custom combinations that you select.  If you like we can insert a personalized message in the frame also.

Special epoxy glue is mixed and used to attach the butterflies to the glass that has been specifically cut for the fine wood frame. While the epoxy glue is setting, small wood wedges are used to keep the butterflies level and in position.

After the glue sets and permanently attaches the butterfly to the glass the wood wedges are removed.  The butterflies and glass are then inspected.  The top glass is slid into the frame and the top wood piece is fitted.  Once an exact fit is verified the top frame piece is removed.  We then apply carpenter's wood glue to the frame and fit the top piece back in.  A strap is then wrapped around the frame latched tight.  The strap is fitted with metal brackets that ensure the frame corners fitting squarely together.  The glue is then given time to set. When the strap is removed you have a framed butterfly that will bring beauty and wonder to your home for years to come.

Click here to see more of our beautiful butterfly collections or beautiful individual butterflies.

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