Garden Bugs Frit Casting Mold

The Garden Bugs Frit Casting Mold from Creative Paradise casts eight garden bug shapes in a single firing, with finished pieces ranging from 2.5 inches down to 0.5 inches. The mold holds three bees, two caterpillars, and three ladybugs across a footprint of 6.25 inches by 5.5 inches, making it a practical way to produce a set of nature-themed glass pieces for jewelry, mosaics, or decorative work.

Like all ceramic casting molds, this one is COE agnostic. Fill each cavity with frit, small billets, or stacked sheet scrap and fuse to the shape of each bug. Fill weights vary by cavity: bees take 17, 15, or 10 grams; caterpillars take 4 or 3 grams; and ladybugs take 2, 1.5, or 1 gram. The mold is reusable across many firings when prepped and cared for properly.

What does the Garden Bugs mold make?
It casts eight bug shaped pieces in one firing: three bees, two caterpillars, and three ladybugs, with finished sizes ranging from 2.5 inches down to 0.5 inches. They work well as jewelry components, mosaic accents, or small decorative glass pieces.

What COE glass can I use in this mold?
Any COE. Ceramic casting molds are COE agnostic, so the same mold works with COE96, COE90, or other fusible glass. Match your firing schedule to the glass you are using.

How much glass do I need per cavity?
Fill weights differ by bug type. Bees take about 17, 15, or 10 grams depending on the cavity. Caterpillars take about 4 or 3 grams. Ladybugs take about 2, 1.5, or 1 gram. Weigh your glass and test a first run when the result matters.

How do I prep the mold before casting?
Coat each cavity with a kiln shelf primer such as a boron nitride spray (for example ZYP) or a kiln wash such as Hotline Primo Primer, and let it dry completely before adding glass. Re coat as needed between firings.

Specifications

• SKU: 160995
• Manufacturer: Creative Paradise (CPI.LF145)
• Makes: 8 bug shapes (3 bees, 2 caterpillars, 3 ladybugs)
• Finished piece sizes: 2.5 inches down to 0.5 inches
• Mold size: 6.25 inches L x 5.5 inches W
• Suggested fill weight: Bees 17g, 15g, 10g; Caterpillars 4g, 3g; Ladybugs 2g, 1.5g, 1g
• Material: ceramic kiln casting mold, reusable
• Glass: any COE (COE agnostic)

Working Notes

These are guidelines, not guarantees. Every kiln fires a little differently, so test a small run first when the result matters and follow a casting schedule suited to your glass and kiln.

• Prime each cavity with a boron nitride mold primer such as ZYP Boron Nitride Mold Primer, or a kiln wash, and let it dry completely before adding glass so the glass does not stick.
• Fill each cavity with frit, small billets, or stacked sheet scrap. For a tack fired surface, the manufacturer suggests powder and fine frit filled uniformly to about a quarter inch.
• Fill weights vary by bug shape: bees take 17, 15, or 10 grams; caterpillars take 4 or 3 grams; ladybugs take 2, 1.5, or 1 gram. Weigh your glass for accurate fills across the eight cavities.
• The mold is COE agnostic. Use a full fuse schedule matched to your glass, adjusting the final anneal soak for your COE.
• Let the kiln cool fully before removing the cast pieces. Re coat the mold with primer as needed between firings.
• The Slide Hi Temp brand separator is not recommended with these molds.

Creative Paradise Suggested Firing Schedule

This is a suggested COE96 starting schedule, not a guarantee. Every kiln fires differently. Test a small run and adjust the schedule for your glass and kiln.

Full Fuse (COE96):

Tack Fire (COE96): for a tack fired surface, fill uniformly to about a quarter inch with powder and fine frit.

*Segment 4 is the anneal soak at 950 F for COE96. If using COE90, adjust this temperature to 900 F.

Helpful downloads: Cute Caterpillars, Buzzing Bees and Lovely Ladies Frit Casting Tutorial (PDF) · Fill Weights for Casting Molds (PDF) · Casting Mold Tips (PDF)

Description updated: July 6, 2026

Spot an error or have feedback on this description? Report it here.