Instructions On My Chocolate Butterflies
Decorating By shalderman Updated 4 Aug 2007 , 4:39pm by armywife1
I made these for my daughter's cake and I thought I'd tell how I did them as some people expressed interest. I got the idea out of the Whimsical Bakehouse book. Mine didn't look just like theirs but I liked how they turned out. The cake below shows the ones I made last weekend.
I tried to attach the font I used ~ its a butterfly "font" - each letter is a different butterfly. Really cool. I can't attach the font (system won't let me) but if you PM me or leave your email in this message I'll email it to you. Then just save it and "install font" from your control panel/font area and then locate where you saved the file on your computer and install. Not sure if works on Macs or not...I have a pc.
So to make them:
1) Print out your butterflies in teh size you want them. Tape paper to a solid surface (I used my cutting board) and then tape wax paper over the top. You probably could use parchment paper too.
2) Melt dark melting chocolate. I used black candy color to darken mine as it was too brown for me just straight up but this is not required. I used a piping bag with #1 tip.
3) Trace the black outlines of the wings and all the details of the wings with your black chocolate. Place your traced lines in the fridge and let set for awhile so they are good and cold.
4) Meanwhile prepare your colored candy melts in separate dishes. I colored mine pink, blue and purple with candy colors.
5) Remove butterflies from fridge and use small paintbrushes in the different colors to paint areas of the butterfly. I did one color at a time over all the butterflies then went back and did the next color. I use the paintbrushes to be sure it gets just where I want it to go and doesn't leave any air bubbles on the other side. Be sure your chocolate outlines are cold and your colored melts not too warm or you'll melt your dark lines.
6) Refrigerate until nice and cool and hard. Doesn't take long. Peel them off and flip them over to see your designs! Then melt more of the black/dark chocolate and pipe bodies. Do only 2-3 at a time cause they will harden quickly. After you pipe the body stick the wings in and prop them up with small balls of aluminum foil.
7) Refrigerate all butterflies until set. I kept mine in the fridge due to very warm weather and humidity...they soften SO quickly in hot weather.
Let me know if you have any ? or if its not clear... 
thanks for the tutorial. your butterlies are very cool!
Thank you for sharing! I can't wait to make them.
Wow, thanks for sharing.
Your butterflies are gorgeous.
(Might want to submit this as an article so it won't get lost in the threads.)
Thanks Jan (and everyone) ~ I'll do that...I'll try to do some pics first though. I know I'm a visual person and having pics helps!
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