Insects Decal Sheet

This water-slide decal sheet features an assortment of insect designs printed in warm metallic inks that range from amber gold to coppery brown. The subjects are drawn in a naturalistic, scientific-illustration style: horned and pincered beetles with articulated legs, large moths with spread veined wings, a bee or wasp form, a slender weevil, a broad-winged cicada, and a grasshopper. The warm metallic coloring keeps the collection cohesive on clear glass, dark backgrounds, or textured surfaces where a metallic sheen reads clearly.

These water-slide decals are applied to the surface of pre-fired glass and are compatible with any COE glass. Soak a cut decal briefly in water until it releases from its backing, slide it onto clean pre-fired glass, smooth out water and air with a soft tool or fingertip, and let the piece dry fully before firing. Once fired, the decal bonds to the glass surface, adding fine detailed imagery to jewelry, panels, vessels, and decorative work.

What insects are shown on this sheet?
A naturalistic range: beetles with horn or pincer features, large moths with spread veined wings, a bee or wasp, a weevil, a cicada, and a grasshopper. All are printed in warm metallic tones for a cohesive look on a finished piece.

Can I use these decals with any glass I have?
Yes. Because decals fire onto the surface of already-fused glass rather than as a compatible glass layer, they are not COE-specific and work on projects made with any COE system.

Can I separate the designs and use them one at a time?
Yes. Cut the individual insects apart with scissors before soaking so you can place them on separate pieces or arrange several together.

Do metallic decals fire at a different temperature?
No. This single-color metallic print fires in the same 1240 to 1370 degree range as other single-color decals, kept toward the lower end of that range to preserve the density of the finish. The full schedule is in the Working Notes below.

Specifications

• SKU: 153455
• Sold as a single printed water-slide decal sheet
• Assorted insect designs in warm gold-to-copper metallic tones
• Single-color metallic finish, fired toward the lower end of the 1240 to 1370 degree range
• Compatible with any COE glass (applied to a pre-fired surface)

Working Notes

Begin with pre-fired glass that is clean and free of oils, dust, or residue. Soak each decal in warm water until the film slides freely from the backing, then position it on the glass surface and smooth from the center outward with a soft squeegee or damp fingertip to remove air and trapped water. Allow the piece to dry completely, several hours or overnight, before placing it in the kiln. Any remaining moisture can cause adhesion problems or surface marks after firing.

Suggested Firing Schedule (a suggested starting point, not a guarantee of results): On fused glass this single-color print fires to a final range of 1240 to 1370 degrees F, held about 10 minutes and kept toward the lower end to preserve density. Ventilate the kiln well up to 1000 degrees and fire slowly below 500 degrees.
50 degrees per hour to 185 degrees, hold 20 min.
150 degrees per hour to 300 degrees, hold 15 min.
250 degrees per hour to 500 degrees, hold 15 min.
600 degrees per hour to 1000 degrees, hold 10 min.
Then to 1240 to 1370 degrees, hold about 10 min.
Anneal for the thickness of your glass. Every kiln fires differently, so test a small piece first.

Description updated: July 6, 2026

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