I tested a new butterfly silicone soap mold by remelting a soap I wanted to redo, then lightly painted the butterfly with mica to bring out the details. The bars are a little smaller than a store-bought bar, which makes them perfect guest soaps or a sweet spring or Mother’s Day gift.
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Materials & Tools
Soap Base
- Melt and pour soap. I remelted an old green soap, or use clear or goat’s milk base colored with mica. White goat’s milk makes painted colors pop the most.
Color & Scent
- Mica for painting, from a Stardust mica set
- If you remelt a scented soap, no extra fragrance is needed
Tools
- Butterfly silicone soap mold
- A small paintbrush and a small glass or palette
- A skewer for touching up details
- Spray bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol
Fragrance Amount
If you’re starting with fresh base, use up to 5 ml of fragrance oil per 16 oz (1 lb) of soap base. You can always use less, but don’t go over 5 ml per 16 oz.
How to Make Butterfly Soap
1. Melt and Pour
Melt your soap, stir it well and pour it into the butterfly mold. Pour any extra into a spare mold. Spray with alcohol and let it set.
2. Unmold
The soap pops out easily with good detail. It’s about three-quarters the size of a typical store bar but about the same thickness.
3. Touch Up Details
The “e” in “butterfly” didn’t show well on mine, so I traced it gently with a skewer.
4. Paint with Mica
Mix a little mica with a few drops of alcohol and lightly brush it over the butterfly. Pick a color that stands out against your soap. Let it dry. Mica and alcohol will wash off with the first use.
5. Painted or Plain
Both look lovely. Here’s a painted bar next to a plain one.
Tips & What I Learned
- Smaller bars are handy. They’re great guest soaps and mean fewer leftover slivers when you like switching scents.
- Use white base for painting. Colors show up brighter on white.
- Paint lightly. A little mica goes a long way.
- Touch up details with a skewer. It sharpens letters or lines that didn’t fill.
Troubleshooting
The paint is too watery. Add more mica or use fewer drops of alcohol.
Details didn’t show. Spray the mold with alcohol before pouring so soap fills every line.
The paint rubbed off. Mica and alcohol is temporary. Paint with colored melt and pour for longer-lasting color.
FAQ
How big is this butterfly soap?
About three-quarters the size of a regular store-bought bar.
Will the mica stay on?
Mica brushed on with alcohol washes off with the first use. See my mica painting guide for longer-lasting methods.
More Pretty Soap Ideas
- How to Paint Melt and Pour Soap with Mica
- Orchid Bouquet Melt and Pour Soap
- Happiness Melt and Pour Soap
- Pretty Flowers Melt and Pour Soap
- All my melt and pour soap tutorials on YouTube
If you make this, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram or Pinterest, and subscribe on YouTube for new soap tutorials.
