For Resin Beginners What is Epoxy Resin - The Ultimate Guide
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Epoxy resin is a chemically created versatile substance having diverse applications in various fields. Epoxy in its liquid form was primarily used as structural and engineering adhesive in aircrafts, automobiles, ships/boats, bicycles, snowboards and skis. It was also used as a bonding agent in products made of wood, glass, stone, metal and plastic. With the passage of time, the use of epoxy evolved from mere adhesive to a substance that can be used in a variety of art and craft projects. How come? Let's dive into the world of epoxy.
What is Epoxy Resin Made up of? Epoxy resin is a combination of resin and hardening (curing) agent. It is thermosetting which means it hardens when exposed to heat or radiation. After hardening, epoxy resin becomes shiny and glossy. Once the epoxy is cured (hardened) it cannot be uncured. Epoxy resin is made up of bisphenol (a combination of acetone and phenol) and epichlorohydrin (derived from allyl chloride which is a chlorinated sub-chemical of propylene). Phenol was previously extracted from coal tar but nowadays it comes from petroleum.
Uses/Applications of Epoxy Resin in Art and Craft
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Modern art and craft projects are incomplete without the word epoxy. The use of epoxy resin has increased manifolds in the past few years. There was a time when people were not familiar with epoxy resin because its use was limited to construction industry. However, with the passage of time, it came out as a very versatile substance that can be used in a variety of ways not only in maintenance and repair works but decorative and creative jobs as well. Epoxy resin can be used creatively in various DIY art and craft projects. Here are some of many uses of epoxy resins:
Jewelry Making
Epoxy resin can be used in creating amazing jewelry pieces including necklaces, bracelets, rings etc. With incorporation of dry and artificial flowers, glitter and gold flakes, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces can be created.
Furniture
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Whether it is an old center table or a boring work desk, epoxy resin can be used to transform these ordinary looking tables into jaw-dropping scenic masterpieces.
Decorative trays, plates, resin geode and petri dishes
Epoxy resin is a great substance to create DIY decorative trays, petri dishes and plates. Resin geodes can be created by incorporating glitter, crystals and decorative stones.
Resin Art
Epoxy can be used to create enchanting wall art pieces. Abstract resin wall canvas is very popular among artists and art enthusiasts. There are several techniques to create resin paintings; dirty pour, air swipe and swipe can be used to create fascinating effects.
Stone Carpets and Shower Trays
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Being water-resistant, epoxy resin is used for fixing indoor and outdoor stone carpets and creating floors for shower trays. It not only looks beautiful but completely seals the area and makes it water-proof.
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What things to keep in mind while buying epoxy resin?
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Epoxy resin is widely available online and in art and craft stores. There are so many options of resin available that a beginner may get confused on where to start and what to buy? Here are a few things that you should keep in mind while buying epoxy resin for your DIY projects.
Select the Right Epoxy
We have mentioned in this article 4 types of epoxies and their differences. Epoxy resin should be bought keeping in mind the type of project because not every epoxy resin works for every project. Some projects need a thin coating layer whereas others require filling-in deep spaces so the type of epoxy should be selected accordingly.
Quality of the Epoxy Resin
Epoxy resin is available in different price ranges. Usually low price products are of inferior quality and you might end up with a project that either does not cure completely or turns yellow over time. It is better to buy good quality resin even if it is coming at a higher price. You can check the reviews before buying resin for your DIY project.
Health Hazards
Some epoxy resins may have solvents that when evaporated during curing can cause serious health issues. Before buying epoxy resin, you must check if it is safe or not. The packaging contains the information about probable hazards and should never be ignored.
Epoxy Resin Supplies If you are planning for a DIY resin art project, there are some basic supplies that can get you started. The supplies may vary depending upon the type and complexity of the project however there are some supplies that you must have for a basic resin art project. Clear epoxy resin
Hardener (curing agent)
Measuring cups
Mixing cups
Popsicle sticks
Gloves
Respirator/Mask
Silicone molds
Color pigments/inks
Embellishments (glitter, crystals, artificial/dry flowers, decorative stones, beads)
Heat gun
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4 Types of Epoxy Resin - Uncovering the Differences Resin art is very fascinating and after watching a few videos, everyone wants to create an amazing art piece all by themselves. If you are a beginner, you need to know about types of epoxy resin and understand the differences to avoid any disaster. Different types of resins have varying consistency (whether the resin is runny or thick), pot-time (time during which the viscosity of the resin doubles), curing time (time taken by the resin to get hard) and hardness (how hard the surface of the resin is). Here are the 4 main types and how they differ from each other on 6 attributes; depth, cure time, air release, UV resistance, hardness and application. Let’s uncover the differences.
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Epoxy Resin for Surface Coating
Depth
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Surface coating or laminating resin is highly viscous and its consistency is more or less like honey.
If you are selecting epoxy resin for surface coating, you should keep in mind that you can pour it up to 3/8” deep.
Cure Time
Epoxy resin for surface coating hardens in 24 hours. So if you are using it in any of your projects, you need 24 hours for it to harden however it depends on surrounding temperature as well.
Air Release
Since all the attributes are interlinked, surface coating epoxy has great air release quality to untrap the bubbles.
UV Resistance
Surface coating resins have good UV resistance and will not lose gloss or color easily if exposed to UV light.
Hardness
Surface coating epoxy resins cure to a very hard and strong finish to resist scratches.
Application
Surface coating epoxy resins are perfect for small castings, floor sealing, protecting pipelines, sealing and finishing countertops, and any product that needs protection from environmental damages. UV Resistant Epoxy Resin
Depth
UV resistant epoxy resin also can be poured up to the depth of 3/8”.
Cure Time
Depending on surrounding temperature, it sets 90% in more or less 24 hours. The speed also depends on the type of project and temperature of the surrounding area.
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Air Release
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Bubbles releases quickly in UV resistant epoxy resins as well and the surface will look clear and bubble-free. UV Resistance
Hardness
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As the name suggests, UV resistant resins have the best UV resistance. They protect the products from yellowing caused by exposure to UV light for the longest time.
UV resistant epoxy resin cures to a hard finish and the end product is durable.
Application
UV resistant resins are perfect for small castings, art coating, creating enameled look on jewelry, and sealing collages or photos. Quick Curing Epoxy Resin
Depth
Quick curing epoxy resin can only be poured up to 1/8” otherwise it will generate a lot of heat.
Cure Time
It takes only 4-6 hours to cure that is why it is called quick curing epoxy resin.
Air Release
Quicker bubble release in quick epoxy resin. The resin surface will have less bubbles as air releases fast.
UV Resistance
Most quick curing epoxy resins are UV resistant though not as good as the UV resistant epoxy.
Hardness
Quick curing epoxy resin cures to a hard finish.
Application
Quick curing epoxy resin is mostly used where thin coat of resin is required. Since it is very thin, it is used to seal cracks in electronics, wooden products, and repair antiques. Deep Pour Epoxy
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Deep Pour Epoxy is low viscosity resin. This resin is thin and flowable and that is why it cures very slowly. Depth
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As the name suggests, deep pour can be poured where depth is around 2”. Cure Time
Air Release
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The more the depth, the longer it takes to cure so deep pour takes 24-72 hours to 90% cured.
To look crystal clear, deep pour resin needs to release more bubbles than others since it is 2 inches thick. Normally it will be formulated to have the best air release ability among all kinds of epoxy. To avoid air bubbles from the beginning, you can put a single coat of resin on the surface and then pour the deep pour resin.
UV Resistance
Deep pour epoxy also has good resistance to UV lights and protect the products from sunlight damages.
Hardness
Since deep pours are created for relatively bigger projects, their final finish is very hard and durable.
Application
Deep pour is perfect for bigger and more complex projects like river/ocean tables. It is also used for deep casting and molding of sculptures.
Advantages/Disadvantages of Epoxy Resin Epoxy resin has diverse uses. Where on one hand it is used to create magnificent one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, it is used to seal and repair broken pipes on the other hand. Epoxy resin has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages.
It is ideal for coating and laminating because of its great adhesiveness and relatively longer pot-life.
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Advantages of Epoxy Resin
It is impact resistant and does not shatter so it is best for load-bearing forms
It is water resistant
Products made out of epoxy resin are durable
Acts as a good insulator
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Disadvantages of Epoxy Resin
The liquid raw material can cause skin allergies and eye infections.
Once the epoxy is cured it becomes difficult to remove it from surfaces.
Epoxy resin is not completely resistant to highly concentrated acids.
Some products may turn yellow over time when exposed to UV light and sometimes even if they are not exposed to UV light.
Epoxy Resin Calculator
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Resin products have inspired many of us. They beauty, the finish and the unique creative incorporation of various substances with resin to create an utterly amazing product is still trending and is not going anywhere any sooner. For a resin product to look perfect, the calculations must be accurate. You can use a digital scale for precise measurements. However you can use this Resin Calculator to calculate how much resin would be required for your project (The amount is for a single coat of resin).
Put in the length, width and thickness of the project and you will get the proper amount of resin required for the rectangle or square project. If you’re working on epoxy cylinder project, just put in diameter and height. Total amount that you get after calculation should be divided in two equal parts; 50% resin and 50% hardener. You can use a measuring cup to get the required amount of resin and hardener and mix it well to get started.
Conclusion Epoxy resin is a great substance to work with. Sky is the limit for the products that you can make with epoxy resin. However, before getting started you should get acquainted with the materials to avoid wastage, damage and health issues.
What Is Resin Art - All You Need To Know About It
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Resin is the latest buzzword in the field of art and craft. You may have seen videos of amazing resin art in your social media feeds. So, what is resin? Get to know about types of resin, epoxy resin supplies, application of resin in art and craft; in short, everything about resin in this article.
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History of Resin and How did it all begin? Before getting into details of resin art, let’s understand the basics. What is Resin?
Resin is a naturally occurring substance found mainly in plants and bugs. It has remained in use since long. In ancient Greece and Egypt, it was considered a valuable substance and was used in religious rituals. Shellac, balsam, and amber are examples of resin obtained from nature. Plants secrete and use this substance as protection in case of injuries and safety against insects. Before the arrival of synthetic resin, natural plastics like gutta-percha, lac, and cemented asbestos were used for commercial molding.
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Synthetic resin was introduced by Leo H. Baekeland in 1909. It was called “bakelite” and is considered the first completely synthetic resin. This resin could be molded and used in various distinctive ways. Synthetic resin is a viscous substance which is converted into rigid polymers by curing (hardening by cross-linking polymer chains).
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What is Resin Art made up of?
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Resin art is created using synthetically created resin called epoxy resin. Epoxy resin was invented in 1930s by two scientists Dr. Pierre Castan and Dr. Sylvan Greenlee. The word “Epoxy” is a combination of two Greek prefixes “epi” and “oxy. Epi means “upon” and oxy means sharp or acidic. Epoxy resin is created by mixing resin and the hardening agent in equal quantities. It is popular for two things; chemical resistance and adhesive qualities. As the time passed and the properties of epoxy resin became more evident, its use in art and craft increased.
Properties of Resin Resin is known for its four main properties.
Water Resistance
Resin offers resistance against water and is used for sealing, and bonding . It is also used to protect delicate artwork from weather-related wear and tear. It can protect any surface, from concrete to wood and masonry to metals and plastic.
Versatile
Resin is a versatile substance used to create products of distinct types, sizes, and shapes. Where one kind of resin is used to make garbage bins, another type is used to make jewelry.
Low Maintenance
Ecofriendly
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Resin products do not require much maintenance. Any dust or stains can be easily wiped off, and in extreme cases, a pressure wash will turn the product look as good as new.
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Certain types of resins are made from recycled material, making it an environment friendly substance.
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Why Resin Art Become So Popular?
Resin art isn’t new. It became popular in the wake of corona virus when resin artists started making videos of their resin art creations. There are hundreds of videos of resin art, including DIY projects for beginners to complex projects made by experts and every project is a masterpiece in itself.
How to Choose Resin for Your Resin Projects? Choosing resin for any project depends upon various factors including:
Pot time
Time taken for the viscosity of the solution to double. For example, if the initial viscosity of resin is 5000 cps and it doubles to 10000 cps in 15 minutes then the pot time is 15 minutes.
Working life
Time you can take to use resin (coating, casting etc.) before it starts to get hard.
Cure time
Time resin takes to harden/set completely.
Clarity
Whether it is a jewelry item, an item to be preserved, or an art piece, you want it to be crystal clear (unless the project demands a specific color or tint in the resin). A clear or color-free resin might be expensive, but it will give an accurate result. Epoxy resin is a clear resin, and polyurethane is opaque white.
Application
You require a different kind of resin depending on its application. For filling molds or objects with solid sides, you need casting resin. For objects without sides, you need a thinker and sturdier resin that sits perfectly on the artwork without running down the sides.
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Which Type of Resin Should I Choose? Uncovering the Differences
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Here is a brief description of the types of resin used in art and craft and decorative purposes. UV Resin
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UV resin is polymerized and cured by energy radiated from UV irradiation devices. It is used for bonding and sealing. In art and craft, it is used to seal collages and create an enameled look on jewelry. It can be used without mixing a hardening agent and takes a few minutes to cure under special UV lamp.
Polyurethane Resin
It is mainly used for coating and sealing purposes. It is used in furniture, floor and plastic coating, and product finishing. Its pot time is a few minutes and can take from minutes to hours to cure. Some polyurethane resins have a very quick cure time. Their down side is their moisture sensitivity. They don’t cure well in humid weather and may require special color additives for the same reason.
Epoxy Resin
It is the most widely used and popular type of resin. It is heat resistant and has excellent adhesive properties. Its pot time is a few minutes and can take from hours to days to get hard. The down side of working with epoxy is that it cannot be buffed and will need an extra layer of resin if you are looking for a smooth and shiny look.
Polyester Resin or Fiberglass Resin
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This flexible, low-cost, and heat-resistant resin is used in the construction industry, decorations, and furniture. Its pot time is few minutes and can take few minutes to hours to cure. The benefit of using polyester resin is that it cures to a very hard finish and gives a smooth shiny look when sanded and buffed. However it turns yellow after some time.
For working with resin as a beginner, one should always use epoxy as first choice. Epoxy is easy to work with, it does not require wearing a respirator mask, it does not get affected by humidity, and it has the most extended shelf life.
Applications of Resin in Art and Craft Resin became popular because of its application in art and craft. Besides industry experts, no one knew about the applications of resins before it hit YouTube and TikTok. There are innumerable uses of resin in art and craft. Mentioned below are some relatively easier projects you can make using resin.
Jewelry
Coated items
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Resin is used to make magnificent jewelry pieces. Be it pins, pendants, rings, and charms, the options are endless. It does not require much experience and supplies to create a resin necklace or earrings for you, your friends and family. You can even start your small business of resin jewelry.
Preserve items
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Vintage furniture like old tables or bar stools can be transformed with pennies, broken china, marbles, or bottle caps submerged in resin. Some people have turned this pastime hobby into a full-fledged business.
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Whimsical items like butterflies, dried flowers, feathers, leaves, pine cones, bugs, etc., can be preserved by adding resin to them. When the resin hardens, the item inside will be preserved and converted into paperweights, jewelry items, and even furniture.
Paintings
Resin is used as part of paint to enhance the colors, look, and finish of painting and used for the coating to make it waterproof. A marbleized abstract painting can be made by mixing epoxy resin with paints. You can also incorporate resin with fluid pouring to create a lacing effect in paintings.
Supplies Needed for Resin Art To create resin art, you need some basic supplies that remain more or less the same in any resin art project. However, for more complex projects, you may require specialized supplies.
Epoxy/Casting Resin
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Disposable Mixing Cups
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Resin is the main component of any resin art project. If you use resin for coating applications it is called epoxy resin and when you use resin for filling in the molds it is called casting resin. However, any resin in 1:1 proportion of resin and hardener can be used.
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For any resin art project, you need your measurements to be accurate. For this, you need mixing cups with measurement lines to ensure you add the right amount of resin and hardener. You may need more cups depending on the number of colors used in the project. Wood Sticks
You can buy resin stir sticks or regular Popsicle sticks to stir the mixture (get a separate stick for every cup to avoid color mixing).
Disposable Gloves and Safety Glasses
To protect your hands and eyes from resin and colors/paint splashes, you need disposable gloves and safety glasses.
Is Resin Dangerous? Safety Measures while working with resin Resin is a chemical compound. Although working with epoxy resin is relatively safer as it is considered non-toxic, if mishandled, it can cause serious injuries.
When is Epoxy Resin Dangerous? Epoxy resin can be dangerous in its certain forms. Epoxy resin has three forms: cured, uncured and dust. When epoxy is cured (hardened) it is the safest. Uncured epoxy is the liquid form of epoxy. When it is mixed with the hardening agent, an exothermic reaction occurs and one should take necessary precautionary measures during this process. When a surface is smoothened, dust particles fly in the air and one should wear a respirator and glasses during this stage. The significant risks involve oral exposure (ingestion by mouth), dermal exposure (through the skin), and inhalation of vapors or dust. Safety Measures while working with Epoxy Resin Following safety measures should be considered while working with resin:
Ensure good ventilation at the workplace (wear a respirator in case of inadequate ventilation). Opening a window or turning on the fan can help in the rotation of air and reduced chances of vapor inhalation
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Stay extremely clean
Use tools designed especially for working with resin
Always wear safety glasses, gloves, and shoes
Wash hands thoroughly with water (never use vinegar, acetone, alcohol, or varsol as they tend to absorb in the skin) and use skin creams to avoid dryness and cracking
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Do not wear rings, watches, and bracelets while working with resin
Avoid eating and smoking in the work area
Don’t leave the cans without lids and always place them on plastic films
Use sawdust, paper, and cloth as an absorbent in case of spills
Use a resin that is approved/recommended for art and craft
Don’t forget to read the safety instructions mentioned on the packages.
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How Resin Art Works And Can I Make My Own?
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Resin art is an emerging art form. Every piece created using resin is one-of-a-kind. No one can completely duplicate resin art. The best part is that you don’t need to be a professional jewelry maker or an artist to use resin. However, you need to have the ability to follow instructions. There are several online resources, including written and video tutorials, books, and online courses to learn the art. Select a tutorial, buy the supplies from your local market or online stores and get going. You can check out our tutorial How to Make Resin Art, from which you can have a basic understanding of making resin art works. You can also search some simple projects like Resin Art for Beginners | How to make resin keychain or How to make resin necklaces on YouTube. Old and broken jewelry pieces, key chains, and other decorative items can be transformed through resin art. Once you get better at using resin, you can start bigger projects like transforming a furniture piece or making wall art.
Conclusion Resin is a versatile material to work with. With basic knowledge and general know-how, you can create impressive resin art. The sky is the limit for applications of resin in the field of art and craft.
Resin Basics - How to Mix Colors There are many ways to mix colors and turn clear epoxy resin into wonderful jewel tones and a full palette of other gorgeous colors. The most tried and true methods are with colored inks and dyes, paste colorants, and powdered pigments. The following is a short primer on coloring resin. For more detail and a tutorial, go to: https://www.instructables.com/Resin-Basics-How-to-Mix-Resin-Colors/
Adding Color
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1) Always choose colors according to the name on the label, or by a sample of the color. You can’t always tell a color by what it looks like in the container because the dyes are so concentrated. 2) Shake color bottles very well and often. Most dyes are a suspension of color particles, so you need to make sure the dyes are well mixed to ensure consistent color results. 3) Always start with the smallest amount of pigment and add more in tiny increments. It’s much easier and more economical to add dye than to have to lighten a color by adding more resin. When you’re familiar with a particular product, you can add color a little more freely.
Colors Mixing After adding pigment, mix well, but gently so as not to incorporate a lot of extra bubbles. When the pigment is fully incorporated, check the color. Use the intensity of the newly mixed color to determine how much more colorant to add. If you get a big change in color, proceed by adding only one drop at a time. If you only get a faint color, you can try a few drops at a time.
Increasing Color Intensity Continue to add a drop or two at a time and then mix until you reach the depth of the colors you want. This method will give you a lot of control and allow you to achieve different intensities of color without waste.
Mixing More Colors
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After Coloring
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There are two main techniques for mixing up your own resin colors. You can add multiple dyes straight from bottles and mix into one portion of clear resin. Or you can mix colors separately and then mix those colors together in another clean cup.
Once your color is mixed, you can continue to work with the resin until it begins to set. The amount of working time will vary depending on the kind of resin, the temperature, humidity, etc. You can pour your colored resin into molds or bezels and make diy jewelry, toys, home decor, and much more!
How to Color Resin - Instructions by IntoResin Are you wondering what is one thing that you can add to bring a new life to your home? Don’t want to revamp the entire place since you know that some changes can satisfy you? Ever thought what makes your home look so beautiful? Well, don’t bother to confuse your mind when the answer is right in front of you- resin. Yes, not only does it look good but can also be made into any shape, size or design based on what type of change you are looking for. Resin is known to be one of the best and versatile items, especially when it comes to transforming it into functional yet amazing pieces for the home. The best thing about resin is that it is useful in many ways- be it in a living room, bedroom or dining room.
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Now, once you have decided to add resin to your home, the next step would be color it in your desired combinations. Yes, it’s clear and transparent; you are required to use some colorants that are made for this purpose. However, it’s not as easy to color resin as it sounds like. There are a number of minor details and requirements that, if not taken care of, would lead to dissatisfaction. So, it’s better to do some research on how to color resin than to regret after all the efforts.
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Right Colors/Resin Pigment
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When it comes to exploring the colors or pigments for coloring resin, the important thing is to make sure that the choice is perfect for the situation or purpose resin will be used for afterwards. Remember that not every media or coloring option would work well for all purposes. You will have to figure out why do you need to color resin so as to make sure that you don’t have to face any trouble once everything is in order. Considering their use, media options are divided into two major categories. Let’s dig deeper into each category and see where they can be used for.
Liquid or Paste Like Consistency These types of colors are ideal for dyeing because of their high quality and productive nature. They are capable of making resin just the way you want. So, what are you waiting for? Get one of the following now:
ResinTint: Designed with the aim to make it compatible with ArtResin, this resin colorant requires resin to work as a binder. Wondering what does it mean? Well, ResinTint is not designed to be added on its own; rather, it requires resin to mix into it to meet the requirements. Unlike alcohol ink and acrylic paint, ResinTint isn’t capable of bringing out the desired results until it is mixed into resin. It is just like ood coloring, where the material requires a binding substance. What makes ResinTint preferable
despite of other options is its non-flammable and non-toxic nature that doesn’t affect the glossiness, non-toxicity and non-flammability of ArtResin- another plus to go for ResinTint! Alcohol Ink: Since ink is a water based substance, it offers better pigmentation than other media options. You have to use a few drops of alcohol ink on resin and your desired color will be in front of you. However, just make sure that you use it for indoor purpose because its light fastness is unsuitable for outside use. Alcohol leaves the pigment in its place without disrupting the composition of resin. Based on their nature, Alcohol Inks are divided into two types:
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Water-based inks that have solvents like acrylic inks in which, water leaves resin to face unfavorable chemical reactions that impose negative effects in one way the other.
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The best thing about alcohol-based inks is that their transparency is controllable. All you need to do is to add a few drops to resin and wait until you get a gorgeous yet transparent color. However, if you want a saturated and vibrant look, add more drops of alcohol ink.
Airbrush Paint: In case of using the combination of epoxy resin, airbrush paint turns out to be the perfect option. Just be careful about the high quality products as the color concentration tends to be a bit high. Though, if your purpose still requires airbrush paint, then one of the recommendations is to go for Aerosol by Schmincke.
Acrylic Paint: This type of media option consists of binders, water, color pigments and other additives to maintain its durability. However, acrylic paint is not recommended for most of the purposes because of the water and additives that may lead to some serious consequences. Even, the end result would streaks or a dull surface.
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Powdery Additives and Color Pigments From normal and matte colors to metallic and shimmery shades, color pigments are available in myriads of options. The best thing about these pigments is their light resistance that doesn’t let colors to fade so easily.
Glowing Pigments: Although color pigments are perfect, luminous pigments can be added to them for additional wow-effect. These pigments are divided into two types- first type of pigments are charged with UV light and glow in the dark while second type simply glows under the black light. There are many daytime colors like fluorescent pigment tint that is combined with the natural glow powder to give a nice splash of color. Also, mixing photo-luminescent pigment with transparent or clear mediums like resin, rubber, epoxy paint, silicone, powder coating, cement, plastic ink, glue, glass, praint road paint or clay can also bring a huge difference in the appearance. The glowing pigment will settle down, thereby leaving an amazing clear top with the desired feel. Just remember- the higher the amount of glow powder added to the mixture, the brighter will be the outcome.
Glitter Powder: For exciting and amazing effects, glitter powder tends to be the perfect option. From classic metallic to holographic glitter, you name it and it will be
possible. Although it wouldn’t be possible to color casting resin but still, there will be added eye catching effects for others.
Mica Powder: Mica is a form of a natural stone that has shiny flakes. When grounded, it coverts into mica powder having a fine glittery and sparkly look. So, if you want the resin to be shiny and shimmery with pearl-like effect, then mica powder for resin is the best thing you can go for. The best of all, it is available in multiple colors but brings in more sparkle to the finish product as compared to the color shades.
Process of Coloring Resin The steps are simple yet a bit tricky as you will have to be really careful about the ratio and quantity of each substance being added into the mixture.
Collect all the materials and other items needed to make resin. Make sure that you give enough time to each and every detail to avoid issues in the future. Make sure to cover the surroundings to keep it safe from the damages. Always wear protective gear- nitrile gloves, a breathing mask and protective gogglesto ensure your safety.
Read the manufacturer’s instructions on the packet and identify the right ratio between resin and hardener.
Add a colorant and start mixing resin. Always remember to start with a small amount of pigments to see which shade or intensity of colors you want.
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If you want to have the translucent color effect in resin, then go for a high quality of powdery additives, particularly mica powder. It is one of the best options to get that translucent look.
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Avoid adding a high amount of color as it may alter the mixing ratio.
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Important Tips to Color Resin Resin is not an easy material to deal with. Similarly, you will have to the right color or media options to come up with the perfect resin color. To avoid making any mistake or facing dissatisfaction at the end of the process, here are some tips to take into consideration:
The first and foremost thing is to pay attention on the mixing ratio. Make sure that you mix the right amount of resin and hardener or else, you might have to face some unforeseen problems. Likewise, addition of colors also bring some changes into its composition. So, always follow the measurements as stated by the manufacturer or find some standard ones. Use paints that have low water content and are highly concentrated or pigmented Start with a small amount of paint and resin to make sure that the resultant is according to your expectations.
Coloring resin doesn’t mean that it will be prone to UV protection. The yellowish shade of epoxy resins is less noticeable without UB protection as compared to transparent resin but, the color would fade over time and yellowish shade turn into a new color.
Make uncolored resin in the beginning to get an idea about the handling techniques. Once you know how to deal with it, it would be much easier to give any color you want.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Is it possible to color epoxy resin with a color? Yes, it’s possible- just make sure to use a highly-pigmented two-component paint like a car paint. Normally, it’s recommended to color resin while casting but, there are some applications where it requires paint- for instance, aquariums or terrariums.
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Is Epoxy Resin Efficient for heat resistance?
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Casting resin is famous to resist heat with temperature anywhere between 700C and 1000C. However, if it is colored, its heat resistance ability would be decreased. So, whenever resin is colored, especially for epoxy tables, it’s recommended to apply an additional layer of clear epoxy resin for added beauty.
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What’s the process of resin dyeing? Primarily, it’s the same as that of other types of resin- mix two substances followed by the addition of color media or epoxy dye. Mix slowly until everything gets in harmony and there will be no air bubbles in the resultant.
What is the right amount of color to be added to resin? Irrespective of the type of colorant chosen, always make sure not to exceed from 6% according to the total volume of resin. Any amount higher than 6% may disturb the chemical composition and balance of resin.
What is the process to tint resin for transparent colors? When tinted before casting, resin still remains a bit transparent. So, if this isn’t the goal, then it’s better to go for airbrush ink, printer inks or color pastes.
Can epoxy resin adhesive be colored? Yes, it’s possible but, would take longer time than normal resin. Adhesive takes more time to dry after coloring.
Can resin be painted? Although there are different methods for painting, the answer remains the same- resin cannot be painted! Let’s discuss each method in detail: Oil Paint:Oil paint has never been compatible with casting resin. Since it contains lipids that do not combine with resin, it creates lumps thereby making it difficult to use it for coloring resin.
Watercolors:Watercolors are rarely recommended and even used on resin. Their low pigmentation doesn’t color resin enough due to which, you would have to use a high amount of watercolors to get the desired shade. Their hard consistency is another reason why they cannot be mixed with resin.
Nail Polish:Yes, nail polish cannot to be a good way to color epoxy resin. However, dripping it on wet resin can help to color resin and create effects. Even, painting with nail polish can give amazing looks to resin charms.
Latex Paint:This option is not recommended as a resin dye. People, who have used it, are well aware that it makes resin stringy and inappropriate for giving any shape.
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Are coloring methods for resin different for UV resin? There is good news that all methods for epoxy resin can be used for UV resin as well. They are- Alcohol inks, pigments, epoxy resin color pastes and airbrush colors. Now that you are aware of different media options, methods and tips and tricks to color resin, it would be the right time to get an item for your home. All you need to do is to find out the right spot for resin followed by the right color and shade that would complement the entire space. Once you have these details, the next step will be to follow this guide and see how things would proceed for you.
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Where to Buy Resin - What Should Be Considered
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Nowadays is the time when people appreciate everything made with someone’s hands. Handcrafting became popular last years and today you can find sites (such as Pinterest) which offer you ideas in different projects. In such way you can express your individuality creating unique product. Epoxy Resin Projects are very popular among artists. Epoxy resin consists of two parts (resin and hardener) which must be mixed very careful to avoid bubbles and reach crystal clear effect. The spheres which it covers are very various (jewelry, projects with wood, paintings, floor coating, modeling etc.) that’s why you won’t make mistake choosing that product.
Why Is Resin So Expensive Most artists while working with epoxy resin face the question: why is resin so expensive? Can we find any alternatives? Almost everywhere in different social pages, online stores and blogs you can find epoxy resin products. After watching tutorials, people all over the world try to make the same thing or to create their own one. But when they go to the local store or purchase online the problem appears – why epoxy resin is so expensive?
The average price for epoxy resin made in the USA is approximately 110-150 $ for 2 Gallon Kit and 500 $ for 4 Gallon Kit. So epoxy resin costs approximately 0.9- 1 $ per ounce. Sometimes Amazon offers coupons applying which you can save an extra 20%. But if you make some big project like epoxy resin flooring or river wood table it is not so easy to spend a thousand of dollars. You can find cheaper variants at some Chinese online stores (7-9 $ per kg) but minimum order starts from 20 kg. The reason why epoxy resin is so expensive isn’t because of popularity and common use nowadays. Epoxy resin is the unique material good for big and small projects with great properties which help your product look stunning: clear and smooth surface, non-yellowing effect, water-resistant and ideal for casting in the shape you would like.
popularity and wide use;
expensive materials;
the country of origin;
the amount of epoxy resin.
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We can highlight several reasons why epoxy resin is worth to be so expensive:
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Of course, the high demand of the product influence on the price at the market but it is important to know that the materials for epoxy resin are not cheap. The process of making the product demands well-trained specialists and well-equipped workplace. As I’ve mentioned before the price depends on the country of origin of the product and on the amount of the product you need. We can say that the price of epoxy resin is truly worth paying for it. You will not find any alternative to such a great product with excellent features.
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What Should Be Considered The only sticking point is what facts should I consider while purchasing resin? Consider the following before you purchase resin.
The first step is to know what exact epoxy resin you need for your project. There are many types of resin with special characteristics for your product. You can learn about types of epoxy resin and qualities in our article BEST EPOXY RESIN FOR YOUR PROJECT. Don’t allow to be mislead that any epoxy resin is suitable for all projects! The second step is to accept that epoxy resin isn’t a cheap product. There can be some inexpensive variants but usually such products are toxic, harmful for your safety, not crystal clear and can yellow after some time. Spare no expense on buying high-quality epoxy resin! The third step is to be aware of the amount of epoxy resin that you need for project. Of course, when you purchase the kit you can save some money but for “first meeting” with epoxy we advice you to buy a little bit.
TIPS Don’t purchase a large volume of epoxy resin for a start!
Where to Buy Epoxy Resin Online Stores and Suppliers There are two ways how to do purchase – in specialist stores or online. As any aspect, these two ways have got advantages and disadvantages. Shopping online became the integral part of everyday life. Undoubtedly this is the most convenient way to purchase resin from anywhere. While choosing what you want you can compare prices, different types and brands including reviews of real customers about your product. You have possibility to view the whole range of products which they sell and decide exactly what you need.
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Internet purchasing opens you not only local market but items from all over the world which can be easily delivered straight to your door. This is the best variant for people who don’t like crowds and pressure from the seller. Buying epoxy resin online you find detailed instruction how to mix and pour your product, even there can be step-by-step tutorial about some projects.
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" I like purchasing online because while ordering big amount of resin I get some discounts. Besides that there great customer support service which are always ready to help me with my questions." Oleksandr, artist, KorchiStore.
difficult to log in
bad customer service: sometimes it is really difficult to reach representative of the product on the website, usually they can send you e-mail explaining some details
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Complaints about buying resin online:
returned product problem
delivery problem: it occurs that tracking information shows that it was delivered but still you haven’t got it
If you made decision to purchase online, you can easily find any resin product at the following sites: amazon, ebay, etsy, aliexpress and etc. Without any doubts Amazon is the platform with wide range of epoxy resin of different brands and categories comparatively to other sites. Here you can find the detailed description of resin, video tutorials of how to use the product, ratings by feature and customer reviews. The price is also lower and varies according to the option you choose. The only problem is that the product you want are often currently unavailable. Ebay and Etsy offer less variants with poor instructions and higher price. But these sites have rich selection of accessories for epoxy resin projects. There are alsp some smaller family owned online stores which make a speciality of their epoxy resin products. Usually such sites are very interested in new customers that’s why they have good customer service and gifts but the price can be higher and the product not well-known among artist.
Finally, if you decide to purchase online don’t forget about one pothole – delivery charge. The good point is that they show the shipping price separately from the item cost. The shipping fees depend on the type of the product you choose. Most of the time when you buy resin within the country you get free shipping from some sellers. International shipping cost more especially taking into account the size of some resin kits. You should remember that resin is non-returnable product. There are some deals at different sites which occur from time to time but you have to check every time. If you exactly know the resin which you need almost all sellers offer different size of resin and it is more profitable to purchase bigger size to save your money. As we mentioned before, if you are a beginner and want to try this handcraft better start with small amount of good quality.
Local Store
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Purchasing at the local store has its benefits in any case. You feel more confident when you can touch the product, read its labels and instructions, listen to advices of the seller. The problem with delivering is resolved – you don’t have to wait and get your product in place. But what to do if you have no stores locally?
distance problem: sometimes local stores are far away from your house what is inconvenient;
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The best way to know about some issues is to hear real feedbacks from real customers. We’ve watched reviews about buying resin at local and online stores and are ready to show you some results. Complaints about buying resin at the local store:
poor choice at the store.
We cannot tell you exactly what type of purchasing is better – online or at the local store. It depends on where you live, amount of resin you need and your personal wishes. You just need to follow our tips, find suitable for you type of resin and way how to get it!
12 Hacks to Get Bubbles Out of Resin Every artist enjoys the feel of creating a bubble free resin craft that turns out flawless and reflects the vision of our thoughts. But finding bubbles in your resin during resin curing completely ruins the look of your project. It is a very common issue that when you mix resin with the hardener, it develops some bubbles and appears cloudy.
What Causes Bubbles In Resin? Bubbles are one of the biggest issues when you hear resin craft. There are many reasons why these bubbles pop up. Here are the most common causes of these bubbles to develop in your resin:
Reactions
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Sometimes these bubbles popped due to the reaction between resin, photo paper, and the adhesive used to mount the paper on the substrate. This reaction results in the formation of micro-sized bubbles in your resin.
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Off-Gassing
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Organic materials like wood, porous substances, leaves, some low-quality paper emit the containing air or moisture depending on the climate and temperature or the environment. These materials will continue to release air even after being covered with resin. This process is called off-gassing, and it results in the formation of bubbles in the resin. In some cases, these bubbles may even develop after several hours you have poured and torched the resin.
Cold Temperatures The ideal temperature for your workspace and your resin crafting is 75-80 F or 24-30 C, which is slightly warmer than your room temperature. Epoxy resin is crystal clear, beautiful, and has a consistency similar to honey. But if the resin is cold, its consistency can be thick and clumpy which may make it difficult to work with. It will also appear cloudy or milky due to thousands of micro-bubbles. You won’t be able to eliminate these bubbles even by using a torch.
How To Remove Bubbles From Resin? The most frustrating thing for an artist is working tirelessly on your craft and getting results that are less than satisfying. Finding bubbles in your resin craft ruins the look of your project.
It is very important to get those bubbles out of resin before it cures. Here are some fast and effective ways to remove those bubbles and make your project perfect again.
1. Monitoring the temperature of resin, surface, and surroundings Resins need an ideal room temperature of 70-75 Fahrenheit for curing. Of course, it isn’t convenient for everyone to have heaters running all the time to have the temperature maintained at the perfect rating for resin; so instead, opt for heating a small part of your house like a closet or bathroom perhaps. A portable heater can be more than enough for this purpose. A “Hot Box” is another good suggestion for smaller resin craft; especially if you are looking for casting resin in molds or bezels.
2. Selecting the proper resin
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It is very important to select the right kind of resin for the kind of work you are doing. For instance, using a thinner resin is ideal if you want to cast it in molds or bezels as it has low viscosity, hence, it has lower chances of developing bubbles. Nonetheless, if there are still some bubbles present in your mixture, there’s no need to worry. As your resin and hardener mixture is thinner, the bubbles will escape easily. Thicker resin tends to develop bubbles as it is generally for doming projects due to the casting having high viscosity.
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3. Mixing resin and hardener carefully
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Exercise caution when mixing resin with the hardener as you aren’t just beating eggs. Mix it attentively and with care when you are mixing at the bottom or along the sides of the container. Often when dealing with a large volume of resins, develop bubbles is rather unavoidable. Some of the bubbles might come up to the surface of the resin while you pour or cast it.
4. Using a hot air gun or utility lighter This is the fastest and the most effective method, so make sure to start with this tip. You have to be really careful with this method because the flame is near the resin. Make sure to do it quickly and don’t keep the flame on the surface of the resin for too long. Only 1-3 seconds of heat exposure is required at a time. I recommend you to repeat it 1-3 times, also wait for several minutes in-between to allow the resin to cool. If you overheat the resin using the flame too much, it may not allow your resin to harden completely for months. Usually, when you overheat or over-use the flame, the cured product has a grainy, sticky texture on the surface instead of a smooth, slick surface.
5. Let bubbles escape naturally When the resin and hardener mixture is thinner, it usually has a thinner viscosity. They are less likely to develop bubbles but if some bubbles develop in the resin surface, give some time to escape naturally. The reason why they escape naturally is that the resin and hardener mixture is thinner, and the bubbles tend to release easier from the surface of the resin. But, it is only for thinner resin mixture, not for thicker resins. Thicker resins are generally used for doming projects, sculpture designing, and furniture. They hold bubbles, especially with thick casting. Doing resins are better suited for thin layers of pours.
6. Manually target stubborn bubbles
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Manually, you can get rid of bubbles using a toothpick or a pin. This method is usually used for a smaller art piece. Blowing on bubbles can cause them to pop on the surface. This process is slow and only works on small pieces like jewelry, rings, earrings, molds, or small river boards. Everyone has a hairdryer in their bathroom. Light heat from the hairdryer helps to remove air bubbles, but it is not intense like a hot air gun to fight against bubbles effectively. Dust a mica powder or liquid resin dye to decrease the surface tension of a mold. A small amount of colored baby powder may also work to stop bubbles from popping on the surface of the resin.
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7. Pouring the tesin the right way
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Start by slowly pouring in the resin right in the middle of the cast while you hold the spout a few (two to four) inches away from the surface. This ensures an even distribution of the resin. If the mold you are using has an irregular shape, move the pouring cup evenly over the mold in a smooth circular motion. Be sure to avoid pouring resin over itself and keep taking different directions as you keep pouring the resin. If you make clockwise or anti-clockwise directions as you pour, this will prevent the formation of air bubbles. Nonetheless, once you have poured a layer, use a heat gun to remove the bubbles. Once done, repeat the entire process and pour one layer on top of the other to prevent the formation of bubbles. Once done, let it rest to dry which may take anywhere from 2-3 hours.
8. Using a pressure plot Pressure plotting is one of the best ways of removing bubbles from resin in case of large castings or when using clear resin like polyurethanes. You use a pot and place your mold/casting inside of it while pressure is created to reduce the size of the trapped bubbles. To ensure that the resin turns out bubble-free, the pressure needs to remain on the casting for the entire duration of the process.
9. Heating the resin in water Cold resin equals a lot of trapped bubbles, so that’s something we don’t want. Instead, if your resin is significantly heated, it will have lower bubbles in it. of course, you can't directly heat the resin; instead, placing the resin in hot water will do the trick for you. You can either have the basket of resin placed in a bigger basket or tub filled with hot water or if you are unable to make arrangements for that, you can put the resin in a plastic bag and have it placed in the water. By having your resin heated in warm water and pouring it in thin layers, you can eliminate over 90% of air bubbles trapped. A 20-minute warm water bath will do wonders for you.
10. Use powder to eliminate surface tension
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11. Sand-out and repour
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Especially when pouring resin in the intricate molds, if you dust the surface with a little amount of baby powder, you can eliminate surface tension that will prevent new air bubbles from forming while molding the resin. Additionally, de-molding a few times can also eliminate the bubbles in molds with curves and depth. And before you fill the mold completely with resin, having resin poured around all the sides of the mold will prevent any air bubbles from forming in the sides and getting to the middle.
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In case your piece has already dried and still has a few bubbles that are either on the surface or just below it, you can use sandpaper and trim down the surface. This is particularly possible in the case of flat pieces. It can also be used for pieces that, although are not flat, can still be trimmed with sandpaper. Once done, clean the surface neatly and repour a thin layer of warm resin.
12. Mix from bottom up Whether mixing manually or with an electric mixer (using a drill) or a paddle, if you mix slowly and from the bottom towards the surface, it will naturally push all the bubbles towards the surface. This includes micro as well as big bubbles that often get trapped in case you are using something deep (like a bucket) to mix the resin.
What Not To Stress Over? Although it is very frustrating for an artist when they try to create a bubble-free craft and it ends up with some micro-sized bubbles. It is a very common thing when it comes to resin crafting and you don’t need to stress over or worry about it.
Now there are many ways to get rid of those micro-sized bubbles that make your project look cloudy, sticky, or filled with bubbles. There are also many manual methods to remove bubbles from the surface of your resin. A minor size bubble is normal and won’t take away your peace because it won’t be noticeable normally. You need to understand that there are a lot of variables to play. It could be humidity, room temperature, or the brand of resin. You usually don’t have to worry about doing smaller undertakings and using a bezel or mold for casting. In bezels, bubbles usually get sometimes stuck in the corners. Blowing the bubbles on the surface and using flame don’t help in popping corner bubbles. You need to move them to the center of the mold physically. Then you can try to pop the bubbles with a toothpick or a pin. Toothpicks are very user-friendly. You can easily swirl the bubble onto the toothpick and quickly wiping it off on a paper towel. Resin is a type of epoxy glue that usually develops bubbles when they are poured and left to dry. But it is extremely important to pop those bubbles before letting the mixture dry completely. Getting bubbles out of the resin is an easy and safe process.
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How to Get Bubbles Out of Cured Resin?
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In case your resin has cured and there are still bubbles trapped inside, no need to fret as we still have you covered. Although there is no direct method of taking bubbles out of cured resin, you can still eliminate them by… eliminating them. Start by locating where you have bubbles trapped in your resin. If you have tried the methods mentioned previously to get rid of bubbles from resin in its uncured form, it is most likely the few that still remain are just below the surface.
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Use a sandpaper and sand down the surface until you have eliminated the layer with bubbles trapped in it.
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Once you have done that, clean the surface thoroughly and eliminate the residue with a damp cloth. Be sure that there is no residue left before you put in a fresh coat of resin as it will again take you back to square one.
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Finally, put a fresh, warm, and thin coat of epoxy resin to make up for the lost surface area.
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Be sure to have the resin that you are going to pour prepared according to the instructions previously discussed to ensure there are no bubbles that remain. Once it cures, your piece will look perfect with no air bubbles in it whatsoever! Working with resin can be very tricky. You have to be very careful to avoid unnecessary mess and to do it right. It is a type of epoxy glue that is used to protect art, seal jewelry, and fill molds in furniture and sculptures. Some epoxy resin brands are better and easy to handle but, many brands need to be poured in thin layers to avoid fewer ugly bubbles. Follow the instructions and tips given above to get a flawless piece of art without any bubbles. It is a long list of rules to follow but trust me, and the results would be worth it.
The Ultimate Guide to UV Resin for Beginners Most commonly used for jewelry making, metallic bezels, and small molds, UV resin takes craft projects to a whole new level. But what exactly is UV resin, how does it work, and which resin kit is the best option for the project? In this ultimate guide, we'll take a deep dive into these questions and more to help get you equipped with the fundamentals when using UV resin.
What is UV Resin When we talk about types of resin, UV resin is the easiest to work with. UV resin falls under the synthetic resin category. It is also called 1-part resin as it does not need to be mixed with anything else. It remains liquid until it is exposed to sunlight or UV light.
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Characteristics of UV resin
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UV resin is excellent for DIY projects. They have several characteristics that distinguish them from other types of resin. Fast Curing. UV resin has fast curing (hardening) speed.This is the reason it is known as quick curing resin. Because of it’s quick curing, projects can be completed quickly and in less time making it perfect for small DIY projects.
Longest Pot Time. Pot times the time during which the resin will maintain its liquid state. Since UV resin does not require a hardening (curing) agent, the pot life of UV resin is much longer than other kinds of resins. It will harden only when it is placed under direct sunlight or UV light.
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Cures At Low Temperatures. UV resin does not require high temperatures to cure.
Depth. UV resin can only be used in projects where the required layer thickness is not more than 3mm to 4mm. In the case of a thick layer, you need to make extra layers of resin.
Shelf Life. The shelf life of UV resin is very short, only six months. If the resin didn’t work well, you must check for its expiry date.
The comparison between UV resin and epoxy resin When shopping for the best resin for the project, you may consider epoxy resin as another option. Many compare UV resin alongside epoxy resin due to some similarities. However, there are noteworthy differences between UV resin and epoxy resin. From durability and quality to curing time and application, it's essential to understand the differences between
the two types of resin to determine which fits the project's needs best. Here are a few significant differences between the two:
Curing Time. Epoxy resin can require several hours or even days to cure fully, whereas UV resin cures in just a matter of minutes.
Durability And Quality. Epoxy takes the win for durability and quality, but not without the extra work. Epoxy should be maintained regularly to last. UV resin can harden within minutes, making the process much faster and efficient, but it is still prone to wear and tear from heat and scratches.
Curing Process. Unlike epoxy, UV resin is a one-step process with no measuring or mixing required. On the other hand, epoxy is a two-step process that combines resin and hardener to achieve a glossy, transparent finish.
Application. UV resin is cured under a UV light layer by layer,so it is not feasible for big projects,while epoxy resin can be applied on more complex projects. Price. UV resin is more costly than epoxy resin.
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Applications Of UV Resin
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Resin Jewelry Making
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There are various application capabilities that UV resin has to offer. While the resin is a popular tool for jewelry making, it can also be utilized for craft decor and more. UV resin has become the ultimate DIY tool for crafters.
UV Resin is ideal for jewelry making, whether it be earrings, pendant necklaces, bracelets, and much more. Due to its fast-curing application, crafters can produce twice as many pieces of jewelry. Not to mention, the resin does not give off any odor and results in a fully cured and transparent surface.
Craft Decorations
Wood Pieces
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A variety of silicone molds can be used with UV resin to produce custom pieces, including, but not limited to, unique craft decors such as coasters, ornaments, paper holders, and keychains.
Another form of material that can be used with UV resin is wood. While the application process can be a little more challenging, the result is much more rewarding. With wood resin projects, the application is similar to other materials, but it comes down to the shape of the wood and if it needs to be resized to fit the project's needs.
Other Uses
UV resin can be used for sealing small surfaces of collages,making cast figurines,and finishing layers of projects by mixing it with colorants and glitters.Also,it can be used as epoxy resin adhesive due to its short curing time.
How To Choose UV Resin UV resin should be selected keeping in mind the following factors: Type of Project. Resin should always be selected, keeping in mind the project. Not every resin works for every project. If you are making a jewelry piece, you require a resin that cures fast and gives a glossy finish to your project. So UV resin makes a perfect resin because it ticks all the boxes.
Air Bubbles. For any project, you need a resin that forms lesser air bubbles as the bubbles on the surface of the project ruin the look. Select a UV resin that makes little to no air bubbles, so the project looks flawless.
Curing Time. UV resin should be selected based on its curing time. Most UV resins cure under UV light in 1-2 minutes. A good quality UV resin shouldn’t take more than that to cure.
Transparency. Since UV resin is primarily used in decorative projects and as final layers, it should be transparent and clear. If it doesn’t give a clear look, it surely isn’t a good quality UV resin. However, colored UV resins are also available. So, if the project requires colored UV resin, you can always use colored resin.
Price. Most often, low-quality products are priced low. Do not opt for cheap UV resin, as it can ruin your project. Always buy high-grade UV resin, no matter how costly it may be.
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How To Select UV Resin Kits It's important to choose a suitable UV resin kit as there are several different kits available. Some may include a UV lamp or even a UV flashlight. Others will have specific types of casting molds, whether it be silicone, metal, or wood.
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How to choose a UV lamp
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Depending on the complexity of the project, a simple UV resin kit will do the job. These kits include a standard UV lamp, silicone molds, mixing utensils, and even some color pigment options. Additional materials that may or may not come included are glitter or mica flakes.
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When it comes to choosing the perfect UV lamp, strive for a minimum of 4 watts. While some kits include a flashlight, a lamp is still the best and most innovative way to go, but some flashlights can be just as efficient.
How to choose color pigments
Most color pigments are powder-based and can be used to create a colorful UV resin concoction. Not to mention, eye shadow palettes can also be used as color pigments for a truly unique resin effect. For the best results, choose colors that are concentrated or highly pigmented. For liquid color pigments, avoid any that contain water as it can cause a negative effect when mixing. For a comprehensive set of searching the suitable color pigment, you can check our previous post that provide more useful information.
How To Use UV Resin If you are using UV resin for the first time, these guidelines will help you start and finish the project.
Supplies needed to work with UV resin:
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Make a list of all the required materials and buy them from local market or any online store, whether it is a decorative item or a piece of jewelry, you need the following supplies as a starter. UV resin (buy excellent quality resin for a perfectly finished project)
UV lamp or UV torch
Silicon mold
Color pigments or liquid ink in desired colors
Measuring/mixing cups
Popsicle sticks or stirrers
Respirator or face mask
Gloves
Embellishments (glitter, dried flowers)
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Step by step instruction:
Working with resin can get messy, so cover your workplace with cardboard, foil, or plastic sheet.
Place all the materials within your reach, so you don’t have to move around when you need something.
If the project requires a colored resin, pour the resin in a measuring/mixing cup and add colors. Mix the color with a stirrer.
If transparent or clear resin is required, you can pour the resin directly in to the mold.
Since UV resin is applied where a thin layer nearly 3-4mm is required, pour the resin in a mold measuring up to 3mm for perfect setting and curing.
If multiple layers of resin are required, you should let the first layer harden and then pour more layers. You can check by inserting a toothpick to see if the layer has hardened or not.
You can add embellishments like glitter, dried flowers, or luminous pigments to enhance the product’s beauty.
UV resin hardens under UV light,so hold the lamp or torch close to the surface of the resin for a few seconds to a couple of minutes.
Be very careful while working with UV resin as heat is produced due to a chemical reaction when curing.
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Cautions When Working With UV Resin When working with UV resin, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind to produce the highest quality resin piece, such as temperature, storage, and even the environment. Here are some caution tips when working with UV resin:
Cleaning. Be sure to use Acetone to clean off any leftover resin from the tools used. Environmental. Applying UV resin should be done in a well-ventilated space. While it might not have much of an odor, it is still a chemical being used. Storage. Try to avoid direct sunlight as it can cause the resin to flake and dull down. Equipment. A UV-supported light should be used to cure the resin. Tweezers are also helpful for placing small, delicate pieces together. Temperature. Keep the resin in a dry and cool place between 32 and 77 Fahrenheit.
Avoid Blistering. Embedding various elements in the project can also cause blistering. It can be avoided by laying the elements flat and pressing them down on each layer of uncured resin.
Air Bubbles. Air bubbles produce when pouring the resin and mixing colors. The mixing process should be performed at a slow, steady, and gentle pace to alleviate the bubbles. Before curing, If any air bubbles form, use the sharp end of the mixing stick to pop the bubbles.
Safety. Always wear the proper safety gear when using any type of resin, such as safety goggles, a respirator, and disposable gloves. Resin tends to soak through clothing easily, which can irritate the skin and potentially stain the clothes. Consider wearing protective clothing that can be dedicated to resin use.
Finish. The appearance of a UV resin finish does not always have to be a one-way street. There are options to create stunning pieces that are gloss, matte, or even iridescent, depending on the type of UV resin used.
Patience is key. When working with any kind of resin, it is best to be patient throughout the process to achieve the best results. Taking the time to pour each layer and cure them one at a time will save the stress of air bubbles forming and having a poor quality product in the end.
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FAQ We understand there might be some questions about the use of UV resin, so we've gathered some of the most commonly asked questions to help set you up for success. How to tell if UV resin is fully cured? To test if the resin has cured, use a toothpick to check the condition of the surface. If the surface is not completely hard, it still needs time to cure. How long does it take for UV resin to fully cure?
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What does it mean when the UV resin is not shiny?
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On average, it can take about 15-25 minutes for the UV resin piece to be fully cured. Epoxy resin can take a few hours up to several days. Some high-powered UV lamps can cure items within 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the wattage. For fast curing time, strive for at least 4 watts.
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It depends on the mold being used to produce the resin design. Silicone molds can be matte, which will result in the resin curing as a dull and matte finish. If the mold is shiny, the resin will be as well.
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How to maintain UV resin for long-lasting durability?
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To preserve the condition of resin products, use a dry, soft fabric to polish the piece. You can also run light-pressured warm water to rinse off dirt and dust. Why is the resin still tacky after curing? It is entirely normal for most UV resin finishes to be slightly tacky after a few minutes of curing. It's good to let the piece rest alone in a dark, cool place to complete the curing process. It helps to cure thin, individual layers at a time to reduce the tackiness.
Conclusion As someone new to the world of resin, exploring UV resin for projects is a great way to get the feel of what resin is all about. UV resin is especially ideal for small time-sensitive projects and can still produce high-quality results. It is essential to do thorough research on the types of UV resin on the market today as each resin can offer different possibilities. This ultimate guide to UV resin for beginners helps set you up for success on your next resin project!
Getting Started With Resin Casting The versatile art of resin casting is alluring for several reasons. One does not need to have outstanding artistic abilities to create a stunning product. The process requires patience and time, but it has proven to be incredibly therapeutic for most. It is perfect for people who want to indulge in a meticulous creation and have a charming keepsake to show for their efforts. After seeing popular videos of people resin casting online, it can be tempting to rush to start your first project. However, you need to keep several things in mind before this to ensure the best results, as well as your safety. We hope this article can help you in your exciting journey ahead so you can make beautiful masterpieces to share with friends and family.
What is Resin Casting?
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Resin casting is a process in which liquid synthetic resin is mixed with a curing agent, typically at or near room temperature. This mixture is poured into the desired mold and, due to the curing agent, it hardens into a solid, as the liquid resin acts as a monomer and polymerizes into the polymer.
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Once this reaction is complete, the hardened casting is removed from the mold. The size and shape of the mold vary because this technique is used at a hobby level and a small-scale manufacturing level.
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What Kind Of Projects Can Be Made By Resin Casting?
Like all crafting techniques, there is no limit to the possibilities of what can be made through resin casting. Resin art can be found in history when it was used to make ornaments and jewelry. In modern times, jewelry and decorative ornaments, such as pendants, earrings, and combs, are popular end products for resin casting and have a high demand too. It can also be used to make small household items such as trays, coasters, or ashtrays. Other trinkets may include keychains or bookmarks. You can customize your resin mixture to add a charming personal touch to your items. Some ways to do this are by preserving dry flowers in resin or adding colored glitter and dyes. Some people add in beads, tiny shells, or other tiny jewels. However, that requires a higher level of expertise.
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In addition to being a popular hobby, it can also be used for commercial products. Resin products, especially when it comes to wearables and ornaments, are incredibly popular and in-demand, making them an excellent choice for a start-up project. A lot of small-scale manufacturers also use it to create figurines and collectibles. There are multiple types of resin that help you achieve the end product you want. Epoxy resin is widely used in creating art.
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Due to their popularity and demand, multiple small businesses have sprung up making customizable resin items, which you can learn to do as well. Resin Casting can be mastered by anyone and they can subsequently profit from it.
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How to Cast Resin?
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Needed Products
To start, you will be needing:
Desired casting resin or epoxy for jewelry.
Safety equipment.
Hardener
Desired molds.
Thick plastic sheets to cover your surface.
Heat gun or blow torch.
Measuring scales.
Utensils for mixing like cups and spatulas or stirrers.
Dyes, glitter, flowers, stones, or whatever you wish to personalize your resin with.
Something to cover your resin with while it cures
First, you must decide the kind of resin you want to use. Epoxy resin is recommended as it is less viscous than other kinds of resin, thus making it more forgiving for amateurs. Thicker
resins are generally used for polishing surfaces, not casting. After selecting your desired resin, it is vital to keep some safety measures in mind before you begin. To make the most out of the process in a safe and protected environment, professional resin artists suggest: 1.Wearing nitrile gloves to protect your hands from toxic resin as you work. 2.Having a well-ventilated working space to ensure that you do not inhale any toxic. fumes. 3.Keeping on a respirator mask if you are working with large amounts for a larger project 4.Having on goggles while pouring the resin, so it doesn’t accidentally get into your eyes Next, you need to focus on your workspace. You can do everything at home since resin casting doesn’t require any fancy apparatus or tools. You should start by covering your surface with a thick plastic sheet to avoid contamination by anything toxic. The surface you are working on must be completely leveled so that your resin sets evenly in the molds.
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Resin Casting Process
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After everything is set up, you can finally begin the process.
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Measurement
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The casting process is very methodical, which is part of its charm. There’s a set quantification and procedure to everything that can be very calming. The process goes as follows:
Measuring the quantities of the resin and hardener is extremely crucial for obtaining the perfect consistency for your product. Each product has a different mixing ratio between epoxy resin and hardener, which helps it set properly. Unless you have a firm grasp of resin casting, we recommend you follow the package instructions for the best results.
Mixing
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Stir the mixture for at least three minutes to ensure complete incorporation. Add the embellishments of your choice at this step. Store correctly to make sure the mixture works and the consistency is right.
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Pouring
After the mixture is ready, pour it into your mold. Make sure to have goggles on and pour as slowly as you can. The slow pouring helps ensure none of it splashes and helps in setting it properly. Ensure the resin covers every corner of the mold and is filled evenly so that the final result looks like you envisioned. Waiting The resin will take around seventy-two hours to harden fully.The mixture needs to be covered while it rests. This is to ensure that no dust or other particles get inside, otherwise, it becomes part of the mold.
Cleaning Up While working with resin, you are dealing with a lot of chemicals, which is why so many protective measures are needed. After you are done working, you need to thoroughly clean your workspace and all the surfaces used in addition to disinfecting for good measure. Furthermore, it is advised that you don’t wash the utensils and molds you used in a kitchen sink, but in a different place, preferably under running water without a basin. However, a washbasin does the trick too.
Tips to Improve Your Casting Your resin product is now done. To ensure your product a masterpiece, we have some great tips for you too: Mixing and Instructions
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Follow the product instructions as far as you can, especially if you’re a beginner. Usually, those instructions are case-specific and lead to the best results. This is especially true for mixing.
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Try to be as precise as possible with the mixing ratio. If your project requires a different ratio than the one stated on the project, you can use online epoxy resin calculators. You should mix these components by volume rather than weight as the density of the resin and hardener differs. Use good quality measuring tools.
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Taking Care of Temperature and Humidity
Epoxy resin is fairly temperature-sensitive, so temperature regulation is essential. It is advised to keep the temperature and humidity of your resin mixture constant. You can put your resin package in a warm water bath to bring its temperature, down to 20 degrees, before you use it. If the temperature is below 20 degrees, the curing process slows down. When it is above 20 degrees, the curing speeds up so projects that require a longer setting time can be done accordingly. Humidity affects the hardener adversely, so make sure that the humidity remains below 70%. A primer can be used on your work surface so that humidity does not interfere with your hardener and resin mixture’s curing. Bubbles Preventing bubbles while your resin sets is a problem many resin artists face. Unsightly bubbles in your creation can ruin the overall look of the end product. Fortunately, they can be prevented. After pouring the resin mixture, lightly heat the sides of the mold to help the bubbles that may have formed rise to the surface and pop. This
problem is more frequent in deeper molds, so make sure to pour into them as smoothly as possible. Another tip comes from professional resin artist, Kate Ede, from The Resin Reserve, who suggests the use of a blowtorch for smaller molds or a heat gun for larger molds. Some bubbles can also be eliminated during mixing. Mixing gently with a spatula and leaving the mixture to rest for a while between stirring helps. After pouring the resin mixture, lightly heat the sides of the mold to allow the bubbles that may have formed to pop. Miscellaneous Tips
Patience is key. In the initial stages, you are sure to get excited and try to speed up the process. Keep reminding yourself that good things take time. Otherwise, you will fall victim to novice mistakes. Some of them include not mixing well enough and taking things out of their molds too early.
Some dyes may not be compatible with your brand of resin so make sure to check beforehand.
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Tips and Tricks for Personalizing the Resin Elements and How to Keep Them in the Middle
Keeping Its Shape
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It is important to make sure to use compatible dyes, glitters, gold flakes, etc. When preserving a dried flower, create the piece in two layers. The flower may float to the top if you fill the mold in one go, so pour some resin around the flower or an item that can float to the surface and let it harden a bit. Then pour the rest of the resin to complete your piece. That way, it keeps in the middle, as well as maintains its shape.
Sealing things, like photographs, in resin is a pretty popular trend. However, the problem may sometimes occur in that they lose their shape in the process by becoming crumpled or disfigured. For that, make sure to seal them with vinyl resin glue and let them dry. Then pour over the rest of the resin.
Frequently Asked Questions Is Resin Art Bad For the Environment? Bad quality resin is harmful to the environment, and irresponsible usage by artists makes matters much worse. When cheap resin mixes with water after it is discarded, it makes chemicals leach out of it, as it is non-reactive. In addition, one of the constituents of resin is petroleum. The extraction of petroleum hurts the environment and leads to the emission of greenhouse gases, which are responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer. However, there are multiple brands of epoxy resin that prioritize the environment and make their resin entirely reactive, so it decomposes after it is discarded.
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Some brands, like Entropy Resins, even replace the use of petrochemicals during manufacture. It is important to make sure to reduce the consequences of what you do and prioritize preserving the safety of Earth while creating your art. This is why you should opt for more environmentally friendly brands as well as discard them properly while not wasting any. Is Resin Casting Expensive?
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Resin art is one of the most cost-effective mediums of art. While being easy on the pocket, the outcomes are infinite and eye-catching. You have control over your project, and get your money’s worth as your product is durable. Additionally, you only need to purchase a few items to start with. No expensive equipment is required, and you can use everything at home. Are The Supplies Easy To Find?
All the supplies are readily available online and at your local art stores, while the rest can be found at hardware stores. Can I Do Resin Casting At Home? Yes, you can. Resin Casting is a cost-effective hobby that doesn’t require you to relocate. As long as you adequately cover the surfaces you’re working on, you can do it at home with no issues at all. In fact, most popular resin artists create their products at home! How Do I Clean Up After Resin Casting? Make sure to remove and wash any protective coverings you put on the table as well as disinfect the workspace. As for brushes, run them under water and wash them out (with gloves on) while they’re still wet, since hardened resin is harder to clean. For any molds and containers, clean them out with a paper towel and then wipe them down with rubbing alcohol or acetone and let them sit. For extra care, clean them with hot soapy water.
The Best Epoxy Resin Review for Resin Projects We can easily say that nowadays is the period of creative people who try to do something special from usual things. One of the ways to add originality to your product is using Epoxy Resin. But you can have some hesitation staying at the store and choosing one you need (especially when you are a beginner). We suggest you Epoxy resin brands which are the best for you. You will see features, pros and cons which help you to find the variant for your projects.
THE BEST EPOXY RESIN FOR RIVER TABLES
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The first project which we cover is Epoxy River Table. Epoxy Resin for such product should make great coating with high gloss and protection from scratches and water. We have chosen several products (according to the store and customers ratings) of Epoxy Resin for River Tables which you can easily find at the store.
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THE BEST EPOXY RESIN FOR ART AND PAINTINGS
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With the help of resin epoxy you can create the great piece of art and paintings. There are many ways to experiment with colors and additives. While choosing epoxy resin for such projects you should remember about some factors which influence your result: resin must be with good UV protection, medium or high viscosity, with longer processing time. Such epoxy resins belong to the category “laminating resins”.
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THE BEST EPOXY RESIN FOR JEWELRY Jewelry is very specific while working with resin but results are incredible. Yu can make any product you like: earrings, rings, bracelets, brooches, etc. You can show your creativity adding different colors, wood, dried flowers, pearls and stones, sea shells and starfish. There are a lot of choices among resin (Epoxy resin, Polyester resin and UV resin).
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Epoxy resin is the easiest type to work with especially for beginners. While creating your masterpiece you should remember about such factors: the resin should be crystal clear, hard cured, without bubbles and what is very important with UV protection.
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THE BEST EPOXY RESING FOR RESIN CASTING
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When you are putting your hands to casting you have to remember that requirements for such resin are different. Casting resin formula includes low viscosity which helps in filling gaps and cavities in wood or other materials. This resin can be easily mixed with powders and color pigments. While choosing resin for casting you should take into account the following aspects: resin must not harden to quickly, it means that the working time should be longer. But it also means that the cure time will longer. So, be patient with that!
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THE BEST EPOXY RESIN FOR COUNTERTOPS
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Epoxy resin can be used for redoing, refreshing your countertops or protecting some surface at home. This is inexpensive way to bring something new or to renew something old. While choosing resin for such projects just keep in mind that the product must create durable surface resistant to spills and scratches, with low viscosity that the product can level itself. Besides that, epoxy resin should be food safe and heat resistant.
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THE BEST EPOXY RESIN FOR FLOOR COATING
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Epoxy resin for floor coating is very durable surface which resists heat, chemicals, scratches, heavy use. It is also easy to clean and look great! The product must be 100% solids based. Mostly this type of flooring is used in commercial buildings but last days it became popular even at home. As all projects floor coating with epoxy resin has its advantages and disadvantages. It is affordable way to remake your floor but it takes a long time to install and to cure completely.
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This article shows the best varients of epoxy resin for different projects. We hope that our investigation, ratings, pros and cons will help you to make the best choice in your work. We are sure that your creativity will come into sight one day. Lastly we want to give you several tips which are general for all projects:
safety – at the first place – wear gloves;
clean the material or the territory very thoroughly;
be patient – wait longer that the product cures completely;
don’t be in rush – stir the mixture of resin and hardener at least 5 minutes;
the most important – follow directions!
For Resin Experts How to Make Resin Jewelry - The Definite Guide
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Artistic resin or epoxy that is used in many industries has become a popular craft in jewelry making. So, what do you imagine when talking about resin jewelry art? Did you ever try to make it? After reading our step-by-step guide you will be impressed by how easy and fun it is of how to make resin jewelry.
The Things You'll Need It should be noted that every undertaking is wonderful if it has the right system of approach. Following this you should clearly understand this art, how ready you are for it and what do you have for it:
Skills and knowledge
Supplies like resin jewelry kit, paper, gloves, molds, etc.
So, let us start learning to create beauty. This is the list of the things you will need during the creation process:
Resin Jewelry Mold
Respirator Mask
Epoxy Resin
Mixing Cups
Toothpicks
Mini Hand Drill
Craft Sticks or popsicle sticks
Sandpaper or Micro-Mesh
Nitrile Gloves
Safety Glasses
Plastic Drop Cloth
Heat Gun or Butane Torch
Safety glasses
Creating Resin Pendant Charm
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You can start with any jewelry, but remember that it is going to be your first work. Since charms are one of the popular ones among resin makers we are going to create them first.
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Creating resin pendant charms is so much fun. Since you have almost limitless possibilities and endless creativity you can create any kind of pendants. But first, you need to be sure that you have all the necessary supplies for this: Resin charms mold
1-ounce Reusable plastic measuring and mixing cups
Nitrile gloves
E6000 adhesive glue
Stir sticks
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Before getting started, do not forget to wear your nitrile gloves. Make sure that you work in a well-ventilated area and on a surface coated with wax paper. It will be much easier to clean up spills on such surfaces. However, it is better to work outdoors.
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Step by Step Instructions Step One
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Step Two
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One of the great things about working with resin molds is they can be used as many times as are cared for. Choose the mold that you love. Before you start resin curing make sure that your molds are properly prepared. Make sure they stay clean and dry before placing resin or any item like glitter, beads, sparkles, or anything else inside of them. Simply wash them with warm water and soap to make sure no particles, mud, and grease are left. Spray your mold with release and conditioner. This will help to release resin jewelry easily.
Pour the epoxy resin and hardener into the mixing cup. Mix and stir them well. Now pour them into a silicone mold slowly. Remove bubbles. If you prefer to put small, light elements into your resin jewelry then place them in the still liquid resin. But before let the resin harden slightly. Now cover it with a final layer and let it cure.
Step Three
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Using Glue and Bails
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When your jewelry is dry and ready remove the resin charms from their molds. Now it is time to add bails to the back of the resin castings or enter the eye pins. Depending on what you have you may choose one or another method.
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Take the glue. Usually, it has a long tip that helps to control where and how much glue you may put on your casting pieces. Put a small amount of the glue on both surfaces: on the backside of your casting and the bail. Wait about two minutes and let it dry. This is important when you use E6000 adhesive glue. Read the instructions before use. After, take two surfaces and press them together. Make sure that your bail is on straight. Flip over the casting to look if there is extra glue on the surface. Later you will know how to remove extra glue. Leave your castings to dry from 12 to 24 hours. Make sure that they adhered pretty well. Such a method is perfect, especially for resin necklace creation.
How to Remove Extra Glue from Casting Surface? You may remove it with the help of your fingernails and cut it with the help of an Exacto knife as well. Carefully cut up the glue with a blade next to the pendant. It will come off easily if you pull it off with your fingernails.
Using Eye Pin Supplies that you will need:
Wire cutters. You can buy them in the jewelry section
Pliers: flat, pointy, or curved ones
Eye pins
Follow safety rules as you will need fire. Before starting make sure that your resin jewelry is one disk, not two. Because it will be too difficult to enter the resin piece.
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Take your eye pin. Before you heat the eye pin, bend it slightly. A slanted eye pin will easily enter the resin piece. Hold the eye pin into the fire from five to ten seconds. Enter a hot eye pin into the resin piece and make sure that it is not noticeable from either side. Such methods are good for the creation of resin earrings. Depending on the length and type of your earrings you may choose eye pin or glue and bails.
Frequently Asked Questions Resin jewelry needs its own special care. Despite its seemingly solid composition resin is a soft substance. It is sensitive to chemicals and can be easily scratched. Due to many questions that often arise regarding its characteristics, we decided to give detailed answers.
Is Resin Jewelry Toxic? This is the most common question. In this article, we will dispel all myths and give true answers to questions that you were reluctant to ask. Resin is toxic when it is liquid. It will not release harmful substances hardened. Resin products are safe for children and pregnant women as well. However, work with resin should be provided with a protective mask and gloves. Do not forget about it. Ready resin items should dry in a separate room. Several reasons will make you sure of resin safety:
It is eco-friendly
Resin is safe after polish
Jewelry made of resin dries faster and does not break
It is important to polish resin jewelry since it gives not only an amazing look but makes it safe for the human body. Epoxy resin is safe, but it is better to choose the best and quality resin for your crafts.
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Is Resin Jewelry Waterproof?
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No. Resin jewelry is water-resistant. This means that you should take care of your resin jewelry and not wear or use it while swimming in a pool, washing up, or in any other situation when you are dealing with water. This is especially important if your resin jewelry contains metal décor or any other pieces that can cause tarnishing. How Long Does Resin Jewelry Last?
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With proper care, your resin jewelry will last for a very long time. Three main factors influence its durability:
Quality
Metal quality
Flora
Quality Some resin brands tend to be yellow after a certain period. So, it always depends on the quality of the resin. Try to buy only the best brands. Metal Quality Since most of the resin jewelry has metals and many other mixtures of cheap metals and other items that give jewelry a dirty tint its quality deteriorates over time. The enamel becomes thinner and contributes to resin jewelry abrasion and loss of quality. Flora
If you use natural color flora in your resin jewelry, then you should know that it will fade. It is just a matter of time. Resin jewelry will lose its vibrant colors due to exposure to UV. Dyed flora will remain the same. Can Resin Jewelry Get Wet? Most likely this question is related to the reaction of resin to water. Water will not have a negative effect; it will affect the metal. If your metal basil or eye pin often contacts with water be prepared that water will tarnish on them. You can wash your resin crafts in a washing machine. However, they will still keep their initial look. How do I Keep my Resin from Leaking Out? The best way to avoid it is to prevent your casting from happening. Three effective methods will help you: Painter’s tape
Liquid latex
Vaseline
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Painter’s Tape
Liquid Latex
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It will stop the resin drips effectively. Due to a few simple steps, you will prevent your square or rectangle molds from resin drips. Place the tape on any place where resin might go and make sure that you use several layers of the tape. Once the resin is gelled and stopped dripping, take away the tape otherwise resin will act as glue and will set your resin firmly. In this case, it will be hard to get off the tape. Use an alarm to not forget to get off the tape otherwise, it will stick the tape to your resin craft.
Liquid latex is the best choice for round resin jewelry pieces. You will need:
Paper towel
Paintbrush or sponge
Pull the liquid latex with the help of a paper towel. Go round up to the edges of the resin craft. You may put several latex layers depending on your needs and the intensity of resin drips. Usually, it is needed three layers on the bottom of round resin jewelry. After you may pull your resin. When your resin craft is dry you may pill back the latex very easily. Vaseline Put Vaseline all around the bottom of your resin craft. Epoxy is very soft and pleasant to work with. Now you can cover your craft with resin. After it dries take the rest of the
Vaseline with a paper towel and the rest of the resin as well. It is as easy as liquid latex. Because Vaseline is so greasy it does not let resin stick.
Tips and Tricks that Will Keep Your Resin Jewelry in Top Condition If you want to make your resin jewelry long-lasting and with always new look then do not forget about these tips for regular care: Do not put on lotion or perfume, swim or wash with your resin jewelry on.
Store your resin jewelry in a dark place and preferably in a container like a jewelry box, sealed bag, or an ordinary box. A cool and dry place will preserve the longevity of the flora and the resin as well.
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Things to Avoid
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Extreme Heat
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Sharp Objects
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The melting point of epoxy resin is lower than that of metal. Do not forget that it can be flamed when it first mixes and during its hardening stage as well. Flame can still damage cured resin jewelry. Although you can fix this with an extra coat. Just apply it to the top of your jewelry and enjoy its new look.
Avoid using sharp objects that can scratch the surface of your resin jewelry. Also, try to not wear abrasive clothes or use sandpaper. Any alike items can damage your resin jewelry. Oils Although oils do not seem harmful at first glance they can ruin the surface of your resin jewelry. Try not to leave the oil on your resin crafts if you want to wear it as long as possible. If this happened, just put an additional coat resin layer onto your craft. Any type of oil from food oils to oils from human skin can be cleaned gently with mild dish soap. Harsh Chemicals We use chemicals in our everyday life. They are almost everywhere from aggressive to natural ones. However, certain chemicals can damage your resin jewelry significantly. For example, well known acetone is considered to eat plastic. Alcohol can perfectly clean metal parts of your jewelry but there is a risk to damage the surface of your jewelry. Also, try avoiding alcohol-based perfumes.
Smoking Regular contact with smoke makes your resin jewelry yellow. Now you know almost everything about how to make resin jewelry. It is an extremely simple and fascinating activity. Working with resin is an amazing practice that takes little time but leads to great achievements. This process lets you wear beautiful masterpieces and be proud of your creativity. Resin jewelry making gives endless possibilities to improve, experiment, and bend all existing rules by developing your jewelry crafting style. Such creativity gives rise to great abilities. Once you have learned the basics of resin jewelry making your next step is to figure out the type of jewelry that you will create shortly: rings, decorative pendants, charm bracelets, necklaces, and much more amazing. The best thing is to find inspiration ideas from nature and release a whole collection impressed by summer or autumn. Another motivational idea is an upcoming holiday. For example, it could be Valentine's day or the birthday of your husband or wife. Add some creativity that will surprise you with its amazing result.
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DIY Pendant Jewelry Compilations
Blue and Red Collision
Clouds Mountain Blue Triangle
Luminous Mountains
Blue Fire
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How to Make an Epoxy Candle Holder
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This guide will help you to discover how to make an epoxy candle holder out of resin and artificial flowers. This beautiful candle holder is constructed with epoxy resin and artificial flowers and botanicals for a one-of-a-kind home accessory or homemade present.
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As handmade presents, candles are becoming extremely popular. The beautiful resin candle holders on these DIY candles are what make them sparkle, making them a fantastic way to experience aromatherapy at home. The beauty of this product is that you can make one at home for yourself, exactly with the colors and the decorations that you like. After the candle is burned, you can replace it with a new one in the same candle holder. It is very easy to clean and extremely resistant. You can use this holder for other purposes too, like jewelry holder, make-up pads holders, etc. What is amazing about this DIY candle holder is that you can use any type of mold, colors and botanicals that you desire and it's a very easy and fun project to make. Continue reading this article to find out how to make a candle holder all by yourself, and to get answers to frequently asked questions about producing resin candle holders with dried flowers embedded within.
1. The Supplies You'll Need Materials needed If you want to duplicate this candle DIY, here are the supplies you'll need to construct. Dried Flowers The dried flowers and botanicals are the materials that will be included in the resin. In this video, we used an assortment of bright colored daisy flowers, wildflowers, and summer botanicals. You may, however, pick your botanicals according to the season. This might range from dried orange slices to eucalyptus leaves, roses, spring flowers like cherry blossom, lilies, and many more. Measuring glass
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You can use a short glass vase that you can find in any one-dollar store. There are various models suitable for this kind of DIY. You will also need disposable cups to mix the colored epoxy resin together.
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Epoxy Resin
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Epoxy resins are now accessible from numerous specialized dealers as well as most home improvement retailers. When you purchase over the Internet, you typically have more options, and you can frequently obtain these things at the cheapest price. At numerous dealers, you will most likely discover by far the greatest range of high-quality product variations for all potential areas of use online. Here, we used 1/2 cup of clear epoxy resin mixed with glitter, 1/2 cup of clear epoxy resin, and 1/3 cup of colored epoxy. Glitter flakes Glitter Flake, with its textured glitter finish, provides eye-catching patterns that are suitable for a variety of applications. You can choose from a large range of colors and models and glitter flakes are very easy to find online or in physical stores. Color pigment There is a various range of color pigments used in coloring the epoxy resin that you can find online.
Tools Needed
Tweezers The tweezers are necessary so that you can place more easily your dried flowers inside the mold. Stirring stick To mix the epoxy resin, you'll need stirring sticks. A stick will also come in handy when placing the dried flowers or botanicals in your resin candle mold. Candle holder mold For this project, we chose a flower-like type of mold for our candle holder, you can find them on a lot of e-commerce websites, and you also have a ton of other models that you can choose from. Mask
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Resin is a really dangerous chemical that when not worked with properly may cause you a lot of difficulties with your health. We recommend you use a face mask to protect yourself from the chemical steam of the epoxy resin.
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Silicone Gloves
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Gloves are very important because when you're mixing or working with these chemicals, they might get into your hands and hard for disposal.
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2. Step by step Tutorial Step 1 Decide the placement of the dried flowers The first step in making a resin candle holder with dried flowers is to create your design and decide where you want the dried flowers to go. To begin planning the design, place the mold upside down on a table. Then, inside the mold, put a few pieces of the various flowers that you chose. These will be the elements that are embedded in the initial layer of resin.
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Step 2 Pour the first layer of resin
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Once you've decided on a design, pour the resin into the container to set it. Fill half of a measuring glass with epoxy resin, pour some glitter flakes (we chose the blue and purple color in this video), and mix them all up with a stirring stick. After you mixed up all of the ingredients, pour the first cup inside of the mold.
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Tip: Try to pour the resin inside the mold as equally as possible, by making a circular movement around the mold.
Step 3 Pour the second layer of resin
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The next step in creating the candle holder is to pour a second layer of resin, this time, a clear resin with nothing mixed up in it. To create the visual effect that we want, you should add half of a cup of clear resin. It is also used as a base for the next layer of dried flowers. Don't forget to pour the resin equally inside the mold.
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Step 4 Place the second layer of dried flowers For a cute and interesting design, you can place flowers at the bottom to create this particular visual effect. Take a tweezer and place the flower upside down very carefully. After you placed the flower, you can go ahead with the next layer of resin.
Step 5 Pour the last layer of colored resin
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Pour equal quantities of each portion of the two-part resin into separate disposable cups to mix the epoxy resin. Pour the color pigment into the cup and mix them together. Using a dowel or craft stick, continually stir the resin components together until the two parts are fully combined. After you mixed the resin, you can pour the cups of colored resin inside the mold. You should pour one color on one side and the other color on the other side on the mold.
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Step 6 Add some glitter at the end Don't forget to add some glitter on the top of the resin to complete the entire design. You can pour some directly from their recipient.
Step 7 Let it rest Allow the mold to cure for 4 hours, undisturbed, in a 75-degree room. This gives the resin time to solidify before moving on to the next step.
Step 8 Remove the mold
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After you put on some gloves, carefully remove it from the mold using your hands. If you want some extra help, you can use some tweezers or some sticks.
Step 9 Place a candle inside and enjoy your candle holder! I hope you enjoyed learning how to make resin candle holders. For a better understanding, watch the video and read the steps and you will definitely get the best outcome!
How to Epoxy A Glitter Tumbler 101 When you think that you have tried everything from epoxy resin, there is one more easy idea to show your creativity.The summer has come already and I know that whenever you go, your favorite tumbler is always with you. But if you are bored of usual identical tumblers, you have choice to make unique, personalized glitter tumbler! If you are ready, follow our tips. These Supplies You Need for Epoxy Resin Tumbler Epoxy Resin (epoxy and hardener)
Insulted Tumbler (You’ll see later; what type is the best)
Scotch Painter’s Tape
Spray Paint
Mod Podge
Glitter
Tumbler Turner (you can buy it or find ideas how to make it yourself in the Internet)
Gloves
Paintbrush
Stir Sticks
Mixing Cup
Some Pieces of Cardboard
Two Small Measuring Cups
80-100\ 100-200 Grid Sandpaper
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Preparation
Before you start, you have to think what for you need this tumbler. If you want to use your mug for hot drinks (coffee and tea lovers, that’s for you), your choice falls on metal insulted (stainless steel) tumbler. But if your mug is just for cold drinks you can easily take glass or ceramic tumbler. The reason is that Resin soften when the temperature is 120 F or 50 C.
Cover the surface where you are going to create with some cardboard.
Clean the surface of the tumbler to make it dry.
Wrap the top and the bottom of the cup with painter’s tape.
Put some paper or textile inside the cup to make sure that paint will not get there. It must be very tough that the mug holds on the turner well.
Step 1 Painting the tumbler Take the paint you have chosen before and spray it as a base coat. At this stage you can use the tumbler turner. If you want saturated tone, repeat spraying several times. Leave the tumbler to dry completely approximately for 24 hours. And do not rip off the tape.
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Step 2
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TIP: Choose the color of the paint according to your style. Don’t be afraid to choose bright colors!
Prime the Mod Podge
Pour Mod Podge in a bowl and put it on the tumbler with a paintbrush. Do it quickly to be sure that Mod Podge will not dry before putting glitter. At this stage you can use tumbler turner to spin the mug.
Step 3 Glittering the tumbler
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Step 4
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Open the container with a glitter and pour the glitter with your hands trying to cover the whole surface. You can choose the glitter of the same color as the color of the mug or use different shades of this color. Leave the mug to get dry for several hours. It is very important at this stage to remove the painter’s tape from the bottom and the top and replace it with a new one a little bit above the glitter line on the bottom and on the top. This area will be covered with epoxy resin.
Applying the Epoxy
It is the last and the most important part. At this stage don’t forget about your safety and wear disposable gloves. Take two small measuring cups and pour separately 5ml of A side in one of the cups and 5ml of B side in the other. Take the cup with part A and pour it in the mixing cup using stir stick. Then slowly add the liquid of part B and mix two liquids. Don’t be in rush! It is very important to avoid bubbles formation. Continue to mix until the mixture becomes clear. Turn on the tumbler turner and make it move slowly. Pour the epoxy on the cup and smooth it with your finger (be sure you are in gloves) or brush. Cover the whole mug with the epoxy while the mug is rotating. When you have finished applying the epoxy, leave the turner to move. After 10 minutes stop the turner and remove the tape from the tumbler. If you don’t do it at that moment the tape will seal to the mug.
Again turn on the turner and allow the mug turn slowly for 6-10 hours (it depends on epoxy which you have chosen). After that remove the tumbler from the turner and leave it to dry for another 5-7 hours.
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TIP: Be sure that the temperature of the room where you work isn’t above 24 C or 75,2 F.
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Step 5
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Finish the Project
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When the tumbler is dry you can notice some uneven spots. You can easily remove them using 80-100\ 100-200 grid sandpaper. Wash the tumbler with soapy water and enjoy your drink.
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How to Make An Epoxy Ocean Table From Scratch
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For those who love the ocean with its beauty and resin art, we have decided to show how to match the water theme on a round epoxy resin table top. This step-by-step tutorial will teach you to create an epoxy table top professionally. Such an amazing tabletop is one of the popular epoxy art items people love to buy and create beach and summer-related interiors. It will always remind you of places you might have visited: beaches, islands, and much more that you want to last in memory for centuries. The table can be used as an epoxy coffee table, accent table, couch table, or even a computer table in your home. Our ultimate guide will help significantly those who love creating amazing beach and ocean-related epoxy art or want to create even a resin wood table as well. For the right and safe creation of your first resin table top you will need:
Respirator mask
Nitrile gloves
Level
Heat gun
Mixing cups and stirring sticks
Do not forget about supplies and safety precautions while crating this epoxy round ocean tabletop
TIPS 1
First, choose the picture of the best in your opinion ocean view and look through it carefully. Always plan your creative steps to avoid missing features on the final resin artwork and missing tools and supplies as well. After you have selected the best matching image or a picture of an ocean shore takes a look at the following features:
Coast (should you use real sand or décor imitating it)
Ocean shore. Use realistic shapes of seashore that can add a feeling of depth and motion: deep, beautiful ocean will contrast with white and foamy wave crests against shore with golden or white sand. Its unique and shiny finish will make you want to dive in.
Color grades. These are places where the ocean transforms from light blue into dark blue tones.
Waves. They are probably one of the most important parts of your epoxy artwork. Waves give character and beauty to your work, they add an effect of naturality.
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Look at the entire picture and try imitating something close to it. Whether you call it ocean art, beach art, or a seascape, chances are you have seen this gorgeous look before and wondered how it was done. We will demonstrate to you how easy it is to create your first unique and stunning ocean art, even if you are a beginner! Let’s get started.
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Epoxy Resin Table Project Checklist
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First, for all your epoxy projects we recommend having a checklist. In other words, write down all steps from the start to finish. Such a checklist will help you not only to define a productive timeline but will also help gather the necessary materials and tools for each step. For this project you will need:
Three colors
Golden crushed sand or real sand
Resin/epoxy
Blocks or stands popping your ready resin art up with 1. Assembling Materials
If you often overlook simple things that help you in the creation of your epoxy artwork, your project becomes much harder from the start. Gathering materials are the first and simple thing to do. It is part of your initial project planning. So, everything should be on hand before you begin. Do not forget about your dust cover. 2. Prepare Resin and Colors
Do not forget that you will create a realistic beach view. Therefore, you will need only three basic colors to work with white, blue or turquoise, and dark blue. The transition effect will be created with the help of resin. Such an effect can be reached with the help of opaque. Now, measure an equal amount of hardener and resin and mix them well not less than for 3-4 minutes. Try scraping the bottom of the mixing container and its sides. Divide the ready amount among cups and do not forget that each cup will have one color. It is better to start with less color than is needed and add more as necessary later than get the worst result. It is recommended to add no more than 6% of color from the total volume of hardener and resin together. Otherwise, it will not cure properly.
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Before use, shake each bottle with color well and add each color to your cups with resin and mix it well. If you want to achieve a certain color that could be darker or brighter do not be afraid of “play” by adding more. After you have added color lets resin thicken and only then start to work. Do not pour resin right after you added color and mixed it. Such a fast method will only make your artwork look dirty since liquid resin cannot provide a necessary effect. Let resin thicken for 15 minutes. For this project, we have prepared 3 colors: light blue or turquoise, dark blue, and extra dark blue to provide the bottom dark effect of the ocean.
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TIPS 2
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When you add color to resin and mix it even in a transparent cup try testing the ready color by nudging a little bit of the cup. Therefore, you will see the true color. Since the colored resin in volume in the cup, it can often look darker. We recommend using this hack since it can be helpful, especially for beginners. For each project we strongly recommend calculating resin, hardener and all other supplies. For the current project we used:
Epoxy resin-800g. For the first layer we have taken only 100g. For the second layer we have used 400g and 300g for the third one. Resin error cannot be over 10g.
Please, keep in mind that every resin layer needs a day to cure. So, while creating a multi layered project think about possible cure time beforehand. This resin project took 3 days since we have used three resin layers with various colors.
Are You Ready to Create Your Amazing Beach Now? Now your resin has thickened and is ready to be poured. To create your coffee table with a beach, first, start with your sand. Some people love to use real white or even golden sand, others use décor. Today we will use décor that imitates sand and has an amazing golden.
This is golden crushed glass that can replace real sand and give your resin works a gorgeous final look. Step 1 Create the First Layer
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This is your first resin ocean table top project and for a successful start you need to follow step-by-step instructions. Distribute your “sand” evenly across the “shore”. Then, fix it with a little amount of ready resin and let it cure. To avoid a muddy look, leave a little separation between the turquoise (the first line water) along the shoreline. This will help avoid color mixing.
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Step 2 Add Light Turquoise Color
For the creation of an ocean be careful with your prepared colors. However, keep in mind ере you can change them anytime. Now it is time to create the ocean. Start with light turquoise colors while building your resin ocean. If you remember all seashores have bright, turquoise views. Such a view will represent shallow water, which is usually closer to shore. Apply your ready-colored resin across the shore the side opposite to the sand. You can use a plastic knife or a spatula to spread it evenly by making a realistic shore.
Step 3 Pour Dark Blue Color
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Now it is time to add a little darker colors. You can blend dark with light colors to get an even transition between parts of the ocean. To create a natural and ocean-like view blend in lines dark and light turquoise. By doing this you will get depth and even gradual color transition. Use the heat gun to remove the bubbles.
Step 4 Adjust the Color Mix At this stage, you are free to adjust any amount of color. For the best result are unafraid to mix resin with the help of your hands. However, keep in mind that you should use nitrile gloves. It is possible to use an air gun as well. This tool is perfect for the creation of smooth transition of various blue tones. Air gun can help achieve such even transition in more natural way.
Step 5 Create a White Shoreline
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Create realistic waves and let us create a bit of magic. Drop a line of white resin into the gap between the ocean and sand if you want to create impressive and natural waves crashing against the shoreline. We recommend starting with a thin line. You can always add more white resin to transform your thin strip into rich white waves across the seashore. If you still think that it is necessary, then add more white lines to create realistic and sea foamy waves.
Step 6 Create the Foamy Waves Do you know how to create crashing waves on your epoxy resin table? With a low setting aim your air gun to the place you want to create crashing waves. Choose the white strip between the ocean and sand. Carefully move the air gun back and forth and stay close to the white resin line. Do it slowly to get a great result.
Step 7 Form the Last Layer
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Move to the second and third white resin lines if you have them and do the same thing. Imitate crashing and foamy waves going deep into the blue ocean. You can add as many white resin lines as wish. They will help create an amazing wave effect. To get a more realistic view use a toothpick. elongate the waves with its help and look at the magic! You will get amazing seafoam coming and going back to the ocean.
Step 8 Finish the Project To give your resin project the final touch, remove any bubbles with your torch. Protect your artwork with a dust cover. It can be a cardboard box, a plastic tote, or anything else. Let it dry for at least 24 hours.
N SI RE TO IN Once you have mastered the new technique of creating epoxy resin table top, you will be able to use various embellishments: natural sand, rocks, shells, and much more. But for now, your first and one-of-a-kind absolutely amazing resin artwork is ready!
How to Make A Resin Clock - DIY Craft Tutorial Do you love to make beautiful handcrafted artwork? Then making this beautiful Resin Clck with the 12 Zodiac Signs will let your creative side shine through. This project is so easy, that even a beginning DIY crafter can make it. Resin crafting is an amazing way to transform everyday items into something beautiful. This beautiful clock would make a great gift for someone special. There are many of these crafting kits available for making jewelry, key chains, buttons, board game pieces, resin dice, cake stands, home decor, and more.
Helpful Epoxy Resin Tips: Mix epoxy resin and hardener 1:1 ratio.
When mixing epoxy and hardener, mix slowly to avoid creating bubbles
Make sure to let it dry completely before handling it
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Make sure the room where you are working is warm. The resin will not cure if it is too cold.
Whenever you are working with chemical solutions like epoxy resin, it’s important to remember to always have good ventilation in your working space.
You should also be wearing gloves to keep any resin form getting on your hands or staining your clothes. You should also be wearing a mask when mixing the resin with hardener to keep from breathing the fumes. There may not be any odor produced, but that doesn’t mean there are no fumes. Be safe, always!
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Below is a a step-by-step guide for making the 12 constellation resin clock.
What You Will Need
Clock mold
Epoxy resin
Clear resin
Gold foil glitter paper
Gold paint
Small sponge brush for paint
Color pigments or liquid ink in light blue, dark blue, yellow, green, purple, red, orange, and brown
Small medicine cups for measuring
Plastic cups for mixing
Stirring sticks
Plastic eye dropper or pipette for each color
Clock mechanism -hour, minute, and second hand
Washer, and small nut (gold colored)
Battery for the clock
Drill and drill bit to make the hole for the clock hands
Step-by-step Tutorial Step 1 Prepare your workspace and gather all the materials that you will need before beginning. Make sure your area and the surface you will be working on is clean and free of dust. You don’t want anything flying into your curing resin, including dust particles.
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Step 2 Be sure the room you’re working in is room temperature or warmer. For epoxy resin to cure properly it needs to be warm, and be in a low humidity environment. Cold temperatures and moisture in the air will slow the curing process and could cause the resin to look differently on the surface.
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Step 3 Measure your resin and hardener in an equal 1:1 ratio. Remember to stir the mixture slowly so as not to create bubbles. It is normal to have a few small bubbles after mixing. Use a toothpick to pop them.
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Step 4 When your resin is mixed, begin mixing your color cups. Add a small amount of pigment to each cup and mix gently to distribute the color. Remove the gold foil paper and crumble it into a cup and mix in a small amount of resin. Fill a pipette with the gold glitter epoxy and begin filling in the area in the center of the clock mold. Go around the outer edges first, and then in the grooves around the sun.
Step 5.
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On the outer edges of the mold, start filling in the line where the names of the Zodiac signs are in a dark shade of epoxy mixed with a hint of glitter. It should be almost a glittery blue-green color.
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Step 6.
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Next, start filling in the pictures. Begin adding color to each Zodiac sign following this order: Libra in the color of red, then Aries in pink, Pisces in dark blue, Capricorn in green, Sagittarius in purple, Leo in light green, Virgo in pink, Gemini in yellow, Taurus in light blue, Cancer in brown, Aquairias in yellow, and Scorpio in orange. Fill in the small ring of signs in the glitter epoxy resin you used on the outer ring.
Step 7.
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Take the gold paint and dip your small sponge in it and begin coloring the raised parts of the mold, including pictures and borders. Be careful not to get paint on the other parts of the resin clock you’ve already finished. With a small brush, paint the sun in the middle of the mold, and do the outer ring of the mold. The gold color in the paint really brings the whole thing together. You will need to let the resin clock cure for 12-24 hours before moving on to the next step.
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Step 8. Cover the whole design in the dark epoxy resin and leave it to cure. When it is completely cured, remove the resin clock from the mold and drill a small hole in the center of the clock to attach the clock mechanism. To avoid breaking in the middle, put something behind the clock where you’re going to drill like a roll of tape to keep it from crushing the middle.
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Step 9. Open the package containing the clock hands and remove all the pieces. Turn the clock over and feed the metal post through the hole that you drilled. Attach the washer and the nut and tighten them with a pair of needle nose pliers.
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Step 10. Attach the clock hands and insert the battery. Now, step back and admire your handiwork.
This lovely clock is one of many things you can make with resin crafting. All you need to create these beautiful items is the mold and a few basic supplies (epoxy resin, paint, pigment, etc). You now have a gorgeous piece of home decor that is also functional. Now that you know you can do this, start planning your next project!
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How to Make A DIY Resin Cell Phone Stand
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Epoxy resin is a fantastic substance that allows you to let your imagination run wild whenever you become creative. Do you wish to create a beautiful epoxy resin cell phone stand? continue reading this article!
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Before you begin making your gorgeous new phone holder, ensure sure the environment is level, clean, aired, and clear of dust or hair. To prevent Resin from getting into touch with your area and creating an extra mess, you may try covering it with something like wax-lined paper or newspaper. In this article, you will learn how to make a resin cell phone stand with epoxy resin from scratch.
1. The Supplies You'll Need to Make a Cell Phone Stand 1.1 Materials needed If you want to replicate this phone stand DIY, here are the supplies you'll need to realize an epoxy cell phone holder.
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Color Pigment
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Epoxy Resin
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Paint
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Glitter Flakes
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Stickers
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Stirring stick
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Toothpicks
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Molds
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Mask
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Gloves
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Hot Glue Gun
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Measuring Glass
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Plastic Cups
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2. Step-by-step Tutorial
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1.2. Tools Needed
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2.1. Mix the Epoxy Resin with Color Pigment
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Use a plastic cup half-filled with epoxy resin and pour a few drops of blue. Mix the contents with a stirring stick until the color becomes homogeneous. Keep pouring drops of blue until you reach a light, turquoise blue. Take two small plastic containers and fill them with epoxy resin. Pour in one of them yellow pigments and mix well. In the other one, pour some red and yellow pigments and mix them as well to create a beautiful orange color.
2.2. Paint the Christmas Tree
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2.3. Pour the Epoxy Resin
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Put some white paint in a container and use a toothpick to paint the snowflakes inside of the mold white. Be very careful when doing this so you don't exceed the edges. Mix a few silver glitter flakes with clear epoxy resin in a recipient. Use the mixture to paint the reindeer inside of the tree with a toothpick.
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Take the blue resin that you mixed in the first phase and pour it into the Christmas tree mold, and then into the circular mold. Let it rest. Take the blue and yellow resin recipients and pour them into the diamond shape mold. Pour two yellow diamonds and six blue diamonds. Pour two orange globes and three blue globes into the mold. Let the molds rest until the resin dries up.
2.4. Remove the Decorations from the Molds
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Start by removing the tree from the mold carefully. Continue removing the diamonds and globes from the molds and start preparing your assembling table.
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2.5. Place the Christmas Tree on the Circular Base
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Carefully place glue on the bottom of the tree root and glue it to the edge of the circular base facing outwards.
2.6. Glue an Orange Globe on the Top of the Tree
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Put a bit of glue on the bottom of the globe, using the hot glue gun, and carefully stick it to the top of the tree. Hold the ball with your hand until the glue hardens to prevent it from peeling off.
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2.7. Place the Other Pieces Arbitrary on the Base
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Start by placing the larger pieces on the edges of the circular base, going with smaller and smaller pieces towards the middle. Also, glue them with the help hot glue gun. Leave the middle of the base empty for the text sticker.
2.8. Place the Text Sticker
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Using tweezers, gently peel off the sticker from the protective foil and glue it lightly to the circular base. Try to place the sticker as central and straight as possible for a more pleasant appearance.
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2.9. Seal the Base with a Layer of Clear Epoxy Resin
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To ensure that everything blends perfectly and will remain in the same position, pour a thin layer of epoxy resin in the center of the decoration, let the resin flow easily to the edges of the circle. After everything has dried completely, gently remove the mold from the circular base.
2.10. Enjoy your Cell Phone Stand
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That's all there is to it! DIY Cell Phone Stand that is both beautiful and simple to create. Now, you can use it as a holder for your phone to give it practical use and watch your favorite videos or use it as a Christmas decoration for the holidays!
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What are your thoughts? Do you like this project or would you be willing to give it a shot? Any item may be molded and cast using this approach. Let me know what you think in the comments, and thanks for reading!
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How to Make a DIY Resin Notebook Cover
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Using silicone molds, Clear Casting Epoxy, acrylic paint , this guide will help you to discover how to make gorgeous DIY resin notebook covers. Isn't it hard to believe it's already August? Back to school is only a few weeks away! That means it's time to get some new school supplies! Not going back to school? You might still benefit from some new office supplies! Let's build a really attractive DIY resin notebook that's ideal for taking notes in your new class or making to-do lists at work! The combination of epoxy resin and hardener produces a wonderful, tough-as-nails finish on nearly any object. Though resin is simple to use, preparation is essential; have your supplies and workstation ready before beginning the first mix. Heavy-duty plastic should be used to cover the flooring and worktable of a dust-free room or garage (preferably 65°F–70°F). To make cleanup easier, wear old clothes and latex gloves, and use disposable cups and stir sticks. You'll also need a level for flat tasks like artwork so the resin distributes evenly. After you've set your area, it's time to get creative, beginning with basic crafts like coasters and glossy artwork. Most resin kits cover many projects, so you'll have plenty to practice the technique. Continue reading this article to find out how to make a resin notebook cover all by yourself, and to get answers to frequently asked questions about producing resin notebook covers with epoxy-made accessories.
1. The Supplies You'll Need 1.1 Materials Needed If you want to duplicate this notebook cover DIY, here are the supplies you'll need to construct an epoxy notebook. Paint
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Measuring Glass
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Epoxy Resin
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Glitter flakes
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Color pigment
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Gold Accessories
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Clear Nail Polish Gel
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White Paper A5 Size and Notebook Locks
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Stirring stick
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Silicone Molds
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Mask
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Gloves
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UV Lamp or UV Pen
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Painting Brush
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Hot Glue Gun
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Scissors
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Tweezers
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1.2. Tools Needed
2. Step-by-step Tutorial 2.1. Paint the bottom of the molds for accessories The first step is to take a painting brush and some colors and start painting the molds for accessories. You should start painting the mirror molds with gold, the lips mold with brown, and one lipstick mold with red and gold.
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2.2. Pour the epoxy layer in the molds
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For the woman silhouette mold, pour some clear epoxy resin untill it fills up. Next, the mirror molds: mix some clear epoxy resin with white color pigment and pour it in the mold untill it fills up. For the lips and the lipstick: mix some clear epoxy resin with purple color pigment and pour it in the molds untill it fills up. Next, for the last lipstick mold, pour some glitter at the bottom of the mold and then fill it up with purple epoxy.
2.3. Remove the accessories from the mold
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2.4. Paint the woman silhouette
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Let the molds rest for about 12 hours and then remove carefully the accessories from the molds.
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Start by painting the dress and the hat of the woman in the red color and continue by painting the hair gold.
2.5. Prepare and pour the epoxy in the cover molds
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Take two plastic cups, for each cover, and mix some purple glitter flakes, regular glitter and purple color pigment with the clear epoxy. Mix it carefully with a stirring stick till you get a homogeneous composition. Pour carefully the epoxy mix from the cups into the molds. Pour a glass into a mold.
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2.6. Place the gold accessories
Start by placing the first accessories in the corner of the covers. Use a stirring stick or a tweezer to find the perfect fit. Glue them with nail polish gel and dry the gel with an UV pen. Continue by place two parallel gold wire lines to connect the corner accessories. Glue them with nail polish gel and dry the gel with an UV pen.
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2.7. Accessorize the woman silhouette with glitter
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Place some gold glitter on the cap and the dress of the silhouette and glue it with some nail gel. Apply a layer of nail gel on the silhouette to give it a glossy finish. At the end, place the silhouette under a uv lamp to dry the gel properly.
2.8. Place the accessories on the notebook covers
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Start by placing carefully the woman silhouette in the middle of the front cover. You can use a tweezers for a more precise placement of the object. Continue by placing the rest of the accessories around the silhouette, you can put three on one side and three on the other side to create a symmetric look. Use the hot glue gun to stick the accessories to the cover to provide greater adhesion strength.
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2.9. Add the last layer of epoxy resin Pour a cup of clear epoxy resin on top of the cover to create a uniform look. Let it rest for about 4 hours in a mild temperature room.
2.10. Create the notebook
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Place the back cover of the notebook on a table. Insert the locks on the cover and continue by placing the paper in the locks. At the end, place the front cover of the notebook and close carefully the locks. Congratulations, your notebook is finished!
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If you want to give it an even more original and attractive look, you can create a custom keychain to hang on the clasps. You can start by creating other epoxy accessories that you hang on a chain, after you have made this accessory, gently hang it by the booklet lock. Now, all you have to do is enjoy your custom made notebook. It has a catchy look that will attract all eyes and you can use it anywhere to write down the things you need.
3 Basics Techniques for Making Resin Pendants
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Probably the most popular thing to do with resin is to make jewelry. And one of the most popular kinds of jewelry to make is pendants. In this post, I’ll show you the three basic kinds of resin pendants and the techniques for making them. In addition, you can break down resin pendants into two main categories: The first is using a piece of art or anything else you want to showcase, and covering it or embedding it in clear or transparent resin. The second category is coloring resin and designing with it, so that the resin itself is the art.
As I show you the basic pendants, think about what you want to create. Do you want a colorful heart on a chain? A photo pendant of a new puppy? A flower floating in a frame? Each technique has its own strengths and weaknesses. I’ll go over the most important points.
Note:
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Using Molds
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I’ll also give you the basic instructions for how to make each kind of pendant. All instructions in this post are generalized to get you started. They do not specify what kind of resin to use, and they will assume that your resin is already prepared, according to product instructions. I’ll also assume that you already have your basic supplies, workspace, and protective gear all set up. I’ll let you know about any extras you'll need for each kind of pendant.
If you’re not sure where to start, creating resin pendants with molds is very beginner-friendly, while still being versatile enough for expert resin artists. Molds come in almost every imaginable shape, are inexpensive, and are reusable. Molds are pretty straightforward. Basically, prepared resin is simply poured into shaped molds to create a necklace charm or pendant. You may or may not have to add hardware or drill holes to attach a chain. Shaped cast resin, like objects, letters, and flowers all fall into this category. So do faux resin gemstones. Molds give you the widest variety of shapes and options for your pendants. They are perfect for personalizing jewelry since there are so many kinds of molds available.You can buy molds of everything from sports equipment to zodiac signs. Note that for resin crafts the easiest molds to work with are silicone. They don’t need to be food grade, since you should never put food in a mold used for resin. In addition, if you can’t find what you want, you can even make your own molds. This is a great option if you want a mold of something you sculpted, or of a unique object like a brooch.
When using molds, the front of the pendant is face down in the mold, so you won’t see the final look until it’s cured and removed. This means you’re working top to bottom. For this reason, I prefer transparent or translucent molds whenever possible to get an idea of what my casts will look like.
Here’s how to make a molded resin pendant 1) The following mold instructions are for epoxy resin, polyester resin, or any resin that hardens chemically (without light). UV resin can be molded as well, but since light has to reach every bit of the resin it’s more complicated.
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2) Decide on the mold you want to use and what you want in the resin - transparent dyes, opaque colors, mica powder, glitter, etc. The standard rule of thumb is don’t add more than 6% of the volume in pigments to the resin or it may not cure properly. Most colorants are very saturated, so this generally isn’t a problem.
3) Mix up whatever colors you want in separate cups. If you want the colors to be distinct, set them aside for 10-20 minutes, until the resin thickens. The thicker the resin, the more distinct the colors, but if you wait too long the resin will harden too much and won’t pour properly. A little thicker than honey is a good consistency. 4) Make sure your mold is sitting flat. Then pour some resin in your mold. Start with one color. Then you can get artistic, adding other colors, and swirling them with a toothpick if you want. You can also sprinkle a dash of glitter into the mold and stir it in gently. 5) Whether you used one color or many, fill your mold to the top. Use either more of the colors you’ve already mixed, or top off with some clear resin.
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6) If possible, cover your mold with a box to keep dust out of the pendants. Leave the mold undisturbed until the resin is well set. If you’re not sure how long, leave the mold overnight.
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7) When the resin is fully cured and not tacky at all, remove the hardened pieces from the mold.
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8) Younow have charms for your pendants. If your mold created holes in your pieces all you have to do is add a jump ring or chain. If your mold created solid charms, you need a way to hang them and turn them into pendants. The two most popular ways to hang solid pendants are either to drill a hole and add a screw eye to the hole with a dab of glue for security, or to glue on a pendant bail made just for this purpose. Good glues to use for either method are E-6000, or G-S Hypo Cement.
Using Bezel Trays (Resin Trays)
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A bezel tray is basically a little tray that has a backing and sides that come up just a few millimeters. Resin trays are usually metal, and generally have a loop already attached for adding a jump ring or necklace chain. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes for making pendants. Resin trays are generally used by adding something to the bezel and covering that item with clear resin, making it permanent. Bezel trays are a great way to frame a resin pend ant. They are not see-through because the backs are solid metal.
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With bezel trays the front of the pendant is the face up and you can see exactly what your artwork will look like. The tops of these pendants are generally domed. Doming is a nice finishing touch. One bezel tray makes one pendant and can not be reused.
Here’s how to make a bezel tray pendant 1) Decide what you’re putting in the tray. You can paint the inside of the tray with acrylic paint, or add a photo or something you print out (like my Shakespeare quotes). You can also add small objects like beads or tiny charms, stickers, scrapbook paper cutouts, or anything else you like. Get creative! 2) If you're using paper, it has to be sealed. Mod Podge is perfect, but any glue that dries clear will work. School glue is fine. Let the sealer dry.
3) If you’re painting, wait for the paint to dry completely before the next step. If you’re using paper or a photo, cut it out to fit the bezel and then glue it in place.
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4) Add anything else you want to the tray, like beads or glitter. You can glue these in so they don’t float around when you pour in the resin. Wait for the glue to dry completely before the next step.
5) Make sure your tray is level. Then slowly add prepared clear resin. Fill it to the top of the tray. 6) Doming. This is the tricky part, but it makes your pendant look professional. With a toothpick add ONE drop of resin at a time to the center of the liquid resin. Try not to poke the surface or disturb the tray in any way - just drip the resin in. Surface tension will keep the resin from spilling over the edges, but only up to a point. Go slow, be careful, and when you see the dome form, stop adding drops. 7) Cover your tray with a box to keep dust out of the pendant and leave the tray undisturbed until the resin has completely cured. If you're using UV resin and a lamp, move the lamp, not the tray, and cure.
8) If your pendant tray has a loop, add a jump ring. If it has an attached bail, it’s done.
Using Open Bezels
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If you want a transparent pendant with a frame, you can use an open bezel. Since these are basically backless borders, they’re a little trickier to work with, but the results are beautiful. Open bezels usually have a loop already attached for adding a jump ring or necklace chain. They come in fewer shapes and sizes than trays, but you should be able to find a decent assortment online. Open bezels are usually deeper than trays.
If you want an object to appear to float in your pendant, open bezels are perfect. If you’re using opaque objects or colorants that will fill the entire frame, consider choosing a mold or tray instead. When using open bezels, either side can be the front and doming the top is up to you. One open bezel makes one pendant and can not be reused.
Here’s how to make an open bezel pendant
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1) Prepare your bezel by giving it a temporary back. The easiest way to make a backing is to stick the bezel to a piece of packing tape. Cut a piece of packing tape that's larger than your bezel. Then press the back of your open bezel to the sticky side of the tape. Run your finger along the smooth side of the tape to get a good seal. The most important part is that there can’t be any gaps between the bezel and the tape or resin will leak out. If you think there might be gaps, run a line of school glue (like Elmers) around the OUTSIDE edge where the tape meets the bezel. Make sure the glue is 100% dry before adding resin.
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2) Next add a bit of clear resin to the bottom of the bezel (onto the packing tape) and spread it to the edges with a toothpick. Note that how high you fill the bezel will determine where your objects appear to float. You can let the resin thicken or set all the way, depending on whether you want to place your objects into, or on top of, this resin layer. You can also come back anytime in the future to fill the open bezels the rest of the way. 3) When the resin is set the way you want, add whatever you plan to float in the pendant. I added dried plants and gold chips. It may help to use tweezers or toothpicks to position tiny objects.
4) Then carefully fill the bezel the rest of the way with clear resin. If your objects float, push them down with a toothpick. 5) Let the resin cure 100%. 6) Carefully peel off the packing tape and glue, if you used any. If the tape left any tackiness, wipe it clean with alcohol. School glue residue can be washed off with water.
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7) Now just add a jump ring or chain and it’s ready to wear.
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Ready to Make Pendants!
Molded pendants, tray pendants, and open bezel pendants are some basic building blocks of jewelry making. With the previous three sets of instructions you now have the information you need to decide on what kind of pendant you would like to create and start making your own unique jewelry. Once you get started, you’ll see the possibilities are endless. You can combine techniques, experiment with embedding different objects, use different kinds of colorants, and try different opacities of resin. Pendant making is also a great way to start using resin before you go onto larger projects because pendants require a minimum of supplies to get started. If you want to learn more about resin or you need a list of supplies, please check out our Getting Started Guide here.
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How to Make A Magical Epoxy Carousel Light
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If you are DIY person and like gifting personalized items to your loved ones, then resin crafting is for you. They are not only enjoyable and playful to create but are also inexpensive and thoughtful. Even novice DIYers can pull off amazing resin accessories and items including jewelry, jars, containers, planters, coasters, wooden trays, centerpieces, journal covers, lamps, lights and much more. Among the many, one economical item that you can gift to your friends is a well-crafted magical epoxy carousel light.
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1. Supplies You Will Need 1.1 Required Materials:
Epoxy resin
Color pigments
Mica powder
Plastic cups
UV resin
Glitter and sequins
Traceless tape
Trojan horse frames
Bow decorations
Iron wires
Claw nails
T-shaped nails
Stars and moon decorations
Pearl decorations/bead chain
Molds
Electric drill
Mask
Gloves
UV lamp
Stirring sticks
Metal chain
Plier
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2. Step-by-Step Tutorial
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1.2 Required Tools:
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2.1 Stir the epoxy resin and pour in molds
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Fill two cups with epoxy resin in dark blue color. Add mica powder in them and stir the epoxy resin evenly accordingly to the proportion. Once the proportion is properly mixed and even, pour it into the three molds for the upper, center and base portion of the carousel.
2.2 Paste the sticker on the carousel base Once the epoxy resin is dried which you poured on the molds, paste the sticker on the base of the carousel. Then find a center position to stick the pillar in the middle. To properly stick the pillar, you can use UV resin. Once the pillar is fixed, seal the base more using epoxy resin.
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Pour the epoxy resin with glitter and sequins into the pillar so that it looks like starry style.
2.3 Release molds and decorate the horse frames
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In this step, you can release all three molds once they are dried. Now it is time to decorate the metal horse frame. Fix the frame of the horse on traceless tape. Fill the horse with transparent UV resin first and cure it. Then mix some mica powder into the UV resin and use it to color the resin horse. After all this, make sure that you add another thin layer of transparent UV resin to the horse. This extra layer will help the horses become more shiny and plump. Repeat the same procedure with all three horses.
2.4 Drill holes and decorate the parts
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This step will require you to drill holes. Using an electric driller, drill six holes with equal distance on the facade and the base part. To decorate the carousel, include pearls around the top cover, middle and bottom part for decoration with the help of UV resin. You can use your own creativity to adorn the facade though. We used bow knots and heart shape decorations.
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2.5 Drill out the furrow
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Use a thick drill to drill out the furrow on the bottom cover to leave a good place for the wire later.
2.6 Screw claw nails and add colored beads chain
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Now screw the claw nails on the top cover part and thread it into the bead chain. Use at least 9 stitches to pierce the colored beads which can then be added as a link between the Trojan horses and the facade.
2.7 Fix the metal chain and embellish
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Screw T-shaped nails in the base portion to fix the metal chain for decorating it using UV resin while the facade of the carousel is decorated with pearls and Trojan horses.
2.8 Add in more charms to beautify the carousel To further decorate the bottom portion of the carousel, hang stars and moon charms on the metal chain using the UV resign.
2.9 Add UV resin to fix the facade and pillar together
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We are almost coming towards finishing the beautiful resin carousel light. Drip some UV resin in the center portion of the facade and the middle part of the pillar, then fix both of them together using a small stick so that they stay put. Seal further using UV resin, and brighten them with the help of ultraviolet light.
2.10 Finish the base
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Lastly, fix the lamp piece on the center part of the bottom cover using UV resin. Again coat UV resin around the bottom cover, including the finished base underneath, and cure it with the UV lamp.
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Voila! The magical resin carousel light is all set to amaze your peers!
Will you try making one for your loved one? With these steps in mind, the procedure to make a resin carousel light will become stress-free. Feel free to share your comments or any questions below. Thanks for reading!
Resin Crafts Ideas for the Festive Seasons
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The festive season is fast approaching, alongside the usual decorations for Halloween and then Christmas, I have already started to think about the gift list for loved ones.
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When making crafts as gifts this festive season, my advice would be to start with simple but effective crafts, especially if you plan on making a number of gifts. Trust me, I tried to make a mix of a items with an increasing level of difficulty and ended up messing up the more difficult items and then had to resort to buying several last-minute presents instead. This year I am starting early and keeping it relatively simple with only a small range of designs utilising different colours and styles for different people’s personalities. The personal touch, paying attention to favourite colors or images, always means a lot to the recipient. Let’s start with Halloween as this is first up on the festive calendar. 1. Hand painted unearthly resin cabochons. These spooktacular keyrings and necklaces are so simple to make with bold colours any Halloween or creepy crawly fan will love them. They are also great “entry-level” resin gift that doesn’t require many different materials and tools, so wont cost you too much either.
Start by adding a colour (orange or dark red) and maybe glitter to your chosen casting resin and then pour into your high gloss mould.
Once cured, add your chosen hand-painted nail-polish design between the layers or on the outside of the cabochon.
Finish by attaching your painted cabochon to your closed back bezel to finish off your keyring or necklace pendant. You can fix the cabochon to the bezel with either resin or superglue.
Check out these hand-painted designs from Little Windows Resin for inspiration.
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2. Coffin Trinket Plate
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I loved watching the demoulding of this coffin trinket dish. It would not look out of place on a side table, at any time of the year. I particularly like that it’s very feminine and could be used all year round, as well as taking pride of place at your next Halloween party table. Perfect for storing ingredients for casting spells, or just keeping your keys and rings safe. Use a quality mould to cast the coffin in resin using your favourite-coloured inks and micas along with embedding images of nocturnal beings.
You can even insert creepy crawlies like dead spiders, butterflies and even ashes of beloved pets to the resin for an even more personal or customised look.
This works very well with the darker contrasting colour added last for the base of the coffin, but works equally well with a clear base.
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View the very satisfying video of the demoulding here, courtesy of resin.bymegan
3. One eyeball or two? Do you ever have the feeling you are being watched when no one else is in the room? You will now! These resin eye balls are easy to make and will make you double check who or what is watching you. EEK! These creepy eyeballs can be added to rings, keyrings or even attaching to your front door or spooky wreath to freak out any late-night visitors, especially if you add a glow in the dark pigment for extra eeriness. Take a look at this tutorial from funshowcaseus.
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You will need an eyeball mould and acrylic paint and fine brushed to complete this. Let your imagination run wild and create animal eyes, like cats or even dragon’s eyes.
4. Vintage Spider Necklace If you are anything like me, spiders are not my favourite of all of the creepy crawlies. I think it’s because they can move so fast and those 8 beady eyes that stare back at you. Ughghghhhhh! This vintage looking necklace looks like it’s captured one of those pesky criters. I’d be happy to wear one of these necklaces at anytime of year. How about you? Do you have arachnophobia? This easy to follow tutorial from Resincraftsblog talks you through how to make it.
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5. Leaf Pendant
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Although not strictly Halloween themed, I think these leaf pendants are very autumnal, and with a little orange coloured dye could really make these stand out and look more halloweeny! On your next walk collect a variety of the autumnal leaves to immortalise in these closed back bezels.
6. Skeleton Bookmark This is a must have gift for any budding physiologist, bookworm or avid Halloween fan. This simple and easy to make bookmark doesn’t require any bones to be broken, just a mould, paper and a skeleton charm. Repeat after me, “The hip bone is connected to the Knee bone,
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the knee bone is connected to the….” Thanks to Resin Obsession for this quick and easy make.
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7. Glow In The Dark Pendants
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These Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington pendants are made even ore creepy by the fact they glow in the dark. Stand out at your next halloween party, even in a dark corner. The only specialist item you require is the glow in the dark resin for the backs. Once again, thank little-windows.com for this easy-to-follow tutorial.
Now is also the time to get organised for Christmas gifts. There are so many gift ideas, where do I start. What would make the best gifts that will actually get used and not just for Christmas.
1. Resin Bangles Inspired by the Bakelite bangles of the 1920’s onwards, resin bangles come in various shapes and colours. Take a look this range of resin ¾ cuff bangles that I recently worked on as a set of gifts for teachers. There are may different ways to decorate resin to create a totally personalised bangle for each of your loved ones and friends. These bangles can be relatively easy to make as well as bold and effective. Here are just a few ideas of how to decorate.
Dried flowers and leaves. Alcohol inks as solid colours, dropped or pushed into clear resin for either a single bold colour addition or a rainbow of colours. Cake sprinkles or candy
Glitter
Gold and silver leaf
Photographs or images
buttons
Washi tape
Textiles
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Make sure that any items like buttons, dried flowers or textiles are covered in resin before inserting into the resin in the mould, this will help avoid trapping bubbles in the resin piece. Top up resin to the final level slowly to avoid adding bubbles.
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Once cured some items may require a light sanding on the edges to smooth off sharp edges.
Image copyright of Makes By Ginger.
2. 3 tier cake stand Who doesn’t love cake? The gift of a cake stand would be appriciated anytime of year, but probably more so around christmas if decorated to fit a style. Cake stands can of course be used all year round to display fruit, sweets and of course, most importatly cake. They can be custmomised to match kitechen or dinning décor or even decorated for the festive season. I love this festively decorated cake stand with the reds and greens of the flowers and leaves, and the berries and pine cones which add a 3D element. There are many cake stand moulds and kits available. For extra dimension can shape the edges upwards by removing the still maleable (but not fully cured) resin and resting over a shallow saucer or bowl to also give a softly curved edge. Finish off with some sparkles or gold edges for that extra special touch.
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Make sure to use food safe resin and do not use cutting implements on the stand to avoid ingesting resin dust or pieces. Get a slice of this cake stand from nietahashim.
3. Festive cheer coasters Add even more festive cheer to your holiday season with these beautiful customised Christmas themed coasters. These coasters are simple to make but stand out in even the most opulently decorated table. Use bold reds, greens and golds for a traditional Christmas colour with glitter for that extra special look. Top with vinyl stickers personalised with names, festive words or sayings. Top with a final domed layer of resin to seal in the vinyl stickers.
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4. Photo christmas Ornament Bauble
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I have fallen in love with these sophisticated coasters from kamandlam. I hope these inspire you to spread some extra Christmas cheer this year.
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Personalise this ornament for that extra special touch. All you require is a clear bauble and some christmassy glitter, which of course is a christmas craft staple. The hardest part of this will be choosing the best photo of your loved one, oh, and maybe cleaning up the spilt gliter until next Easter. Check these out!
5. Snowflake necklace
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These snowflake pendants are so on point for christmas and so easy to replicate. The foil snowflakes and tiny pearls really envoke the Christmas spirit. The addition of the blue colour really adds to this.
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6. Cheese boards
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A perfect and practical Christmas present and if you also bring the cheese you can enjoy your gift too.
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There are many patterns, themes and colors I’ve seen these in many shapes and sizes. Maybe try to fit the colors to match the décor of your recipient’s kitchen, it is then certain to take pride of place and get used often. This board from YaNeyaArt uses a timeless marble effect for it’s finishing touch.
7. Jewelry box
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What better place to store resin jewellery is a resin jewellery box. Customise to your favourite colours. Use a premade mould from MoldsCorporation to pour you resin and add your embellishments.
How to Make Resin Keychains - The Ultimate Guide When making keychains for yourself or to give to others, resin is a perfect medium to use. Resin keychains are smooth to the touch and pleasing to handle. Also, when mixed and cured correctly, 2-part epoxy is very strong and durable. It won’t mar or get scratched in a purse or pocket. Resin is lightweight and easy to carry. And there are almost countless options for mold sizes and shapes so you can cast the ideal keychain for any given purpose. You may need a large, odd-shaped keychain for the person who always loses everything at the bottom of a bag. Or a small globe for keys that are in a clothing pocket all day. It’s good to think about the functionality of a keychain first and then decide on the aesthetics.
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Resin keychains are easy to personalize, so when it’s time for creative decisions you’ll have boundless options to make your keychains unique. You can vary the colors and opacity. You can add actual things to the resin like birthstone gem chips, shiny glitter, colored glass, and tiny charms. Truly, the sky’s the limit for resin keychain design options!
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In this post I’ll tell you everything you need, and give you instructions to create several different resin keychain projects.
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What You Need to Make DIY Resin Keychains
For Casting:
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Here are the basic supplies you’ll need for making your own resin keychains. Specifics and additional materials may be added to the individual projects.
2-Part Epoxy Resin
Silicone Mold(s)
Mixing Cups (one for each color)
Wooden Stirrers
Toothpicks
Colorants and/or Pigments
Glitter and/or Other Inclusions
Kitchen Scale
Tweezer
Parchment Paper (can substitute wax paper)
Nitrile Gloves
Flat Surface
Something to protect work surface
Lots of Ventilation
For Keyrings:
Large Split Rings
Large Jump Rings (at least 8mm)
Small Screw Eyes
2 Pairs of Flat and/or Needle Nose Pliers
Drill or Dremel with a very small hole making bit (around 1/32 inch)
Making Resin Alphabet Letter Keychains
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Resin letter keychains make excellent personalized gifts for just about everyone. You can make first name or last name initials, or even spell out a word. You can also use the letters and numbers to label your keys: “H” for House, “T” for Toyota, “S” for shed, etc. All you need to get started is a good quality silicone rubber alphabet mold, your regular resin supplies (see above), and keychain hardware. Alphabet molds usually have a full set of upper case alphabet letters plus all the numbers, 0 to 9. They are reusable and very versatile.
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Although the letters are fairly narrow, there are still a lot of ways to embellish them. You can add many kinds of pigments and glitter. You can also add any inclusions that fit in the letter molds, like tiny shells, bits of mylar, and dried flowers. Below, I’ll show you how to make two easy and beautiful kinds of initial keychains. The first will be deeply dimensional two-color letters using holographic glitter, and the second will show you how to add dried flowers to resin to create stunning floral letters.
Determine How Much Resin to Mix for Letter Keychains
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First, figure out the volume of resin you need for the entire alphabet mold using a kitchen or postal scale and water. If you’re using a scale that is smaller than the mold you will be measuring, find a tray or even a piece of stiff cardboard that will support the mold while you weigh it.
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Set the tray and the mold on your scale. Turn on the scale if it’s electric, and then push tare to set your scale to zero. This is also called zeroing out your scale. With the mold and its support on the scale and the scale set to zero, begin pouring plain water into each letter cavity of your mold. You will see the weight measurement rise as you pour more water. When you have filled all of the cavities, read the final weight measurement. For my mold it was 247g. This is the weight capacity for the entire mold, every letter. If I want to know how much one letter would be, divide the total weight by the number of cavities in the entire mold. My mold has 36 cavities so I divided 247 by 36. Which means the volume of each letter is approximately 7 grams. Since not all letters will have the same volume, like an “I” will hold considerably less than a “W”, round up or down according to the letter you’re casting. Decide how many letters you’ll be casting and multiply by the grams of water in each cavity to know how much resin to mix. So, for me to cast 10 letters, I multiply 7g x 10 letters and get about 70g of mixed resin. I then increase the total by about 10% to account for technical differences. NOTE: Pouring water into the mold cavities gives you an approximate weight measurement that should be close enough for measuring the amount of resin you need. However, if you want a more exact figure, use an eyedropper to fill each each cavity in the mold. You can also use the eyedropper method to find out the exact volume of one particular letter, since they won’t all be identical.
When you’ve figured out how much resin you need to mix for your project, pour out all the water from the alphabet mold and let it dry completely. PRO TIPS: I like to figure out how much resin I need for a mold well before I’m ready to cast to assure that my mold is 100% dry. Also, you can keep track of the water weights for each mold so you only need to do this procedure once per mold.
Making Holographic Resin Letter Keychains
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Holographic glitter is a mixture of different shapes and sizes of glitter that when combined with resin and dried, gives a prism or holographic effect. You won’t see the full effect until you unmold your resin, but then each casting will be a sparkling surprise! Creating letters with holographic glitter makes for fabulous, shining resin keychains. Here’s how to do it:
Additional Supplies You Will Need for Holographic Letter Resin Keychains:
Silicone Alphabet Mold
2 Contrasting Colors of Holographic Glitter (I’m using purple and blue)
Optional: 3rd Pigment Color for Accents (I’m using pearl gold)
Begin Casting Now that you know how much resin you need, mix up a batch of 2-part clear epoxy with equal parts of resin and hardener. Use a scale to get accurate measurements. Next, divide the mixed resin in half in two separate containers. (Add some clear mixed resin to third container if you’re using an accent color.) Set aside for a couple of minutes to let the
bubbles rise and pop. While you’re waiting, shake or stir the holographic glitter to disperse the large and small glitter evenly. Add one holographic glitter color to one portion of clear resin. Mix very well. You’ll need to add enough glitter that the deepest areas are opaque. You’ll still see through the resin where the density is thin. This is okay and part of what creates the holographic effect. Repeat with the second holographic glitter color. Now mix your accent color, and wait for all portions to thicken and reach a molasses-like consistency. Pour a little glitter resin of one color on one side of a letter cavity. The molasses-like consistency will keep it from spreading to the other side. Then pour in some of the second holographic color, starting at the other end. If you want a third color, add it to the gap in between the two holographic colors. If you’re using just two colors, keep adding a little more of each color until the gap is filled in. Once the colors touch, blend them gently with a toothpick. Then add more of each color, alternately, until the letter cavity is full. Repeat the filling procedure with each letter you plan to create until they are all full.
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Leave the mold undisturbed to cure overnight, covering it with a box if it’s outside. Curing time will vary with environmental conditions.
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When your letters are completely cured and glass-like, remove them by gently peeling back the mold from each edge and then popping the letter out from behind. Remove the letters slowly so you don’t accidentally tear the mold.
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Now you have stunning holographic initials to make into keychains. I’ll show you how to add hardware below “How to Make Floral Letter Keychains”.
How to Make Floral Letter Keychains Flower letter keychains are a gorgeous way to personalize initial keychains by adding dried flowers and foliage. These can be meaningful favorite plants and colors that you buy ready to use, or you can dry your own flowers. Floral resin keychains are a beautiful way to show off and preserve even the most delicate flowers, and enjoy them everyday.
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Notes on choosing dried flowers:
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Make sure they will fit in the mold. You can use larger flowers if you’re pulling off petals and placing them individually. Remember that all sides of the flower or leaf will be visible, so make sure all angles look good. Additional Supplies You Will Need for Floral Resin Keychains: Silicone Alphabet Mold
Dried Flowers and Dried Foliage
Optional: Bits of Glass, Glitter, or Gemstone
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Begin Casting Now that you know how much resin you need, mix up HALF A BATCH of 2-part clear epoxy with equal parts of resin and hardener. Use a scale to get accurate measurements. When the bubbles have popped, fill each letter you’ll be casting halfway with the clear resin. Let the resin cure until it is very thick, but still sticky. I use a toothpick to test it. How long this takes will vary with environmental conditions. When the resin is ready, get out your dried flowers, leaves, and other inclusions. Using tweezers, place one item at a time in the sticky resin. Press gently with the tweezers or a toothpick so your flowers stay in place. Add more flowers. You can see that I also added some gold glass. Just like a bouquet, place your flowers in a pretty arrangement. When you’re happy with your design, repeat with the next letter.
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When you’ve added flowers to all the letters you planned to create, it’s time to mix up the other half of the clear resin with equal parts of resin and hardener. As soon as the bubbles have settled out, fill the other half of each letter with clear resin. Pour slowly, giving time for the resin to flow into all the crevices of the flowers. You can use a toothpick to poke resin into deep areas if necessary.
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When each letter cavity is filled, leave the mold undisturbed to cure overnight, covering it with a box if it’s outside. Curing time will vary with temperature and humidity.
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Your flower letters will completely harden and look like glass. Remove them from the mold by gently peeling back the silicone from each edge and then popping the letter out. Remove the letters slowly so you don’t accidentally tear the mold.
How to Add the Keychain Hardware Right now what we have are large, solid letter charms. In order to make these into sturdy keychains you will need to attach hardware.
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Drilling
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First set up your drill or Dremel with your smallest bit. (You can also use a manual hand drill.) Try to come as close as you can to the size of your screw eyes. It doesn’t have to be a perfect fit though, you can always drill again if the hole is too small, or add extra epoxy if it’s too big.
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Next, decide where to drill. If you’re not sure, hold the letter facing you and pick either the top center or the upper left. Make sure the place you're drilling is deep enough that the screw won’t poke through. Then hold the letter firmly in one hand, hold the drill in the other hand, and drill straight down. Drill only as deep as the length of the threaded part of the screw eye. Now insert a screw eye and test the fit. Adjust it if necessary. Remove the screw eye, and repeat the drilling process for the rest of the resin letters. When all the letters are drilled, mix up a very small batch of resin. Use a toothpick to add a dot of the mixed resin to one of the drill holes. Then insert the screw eye into the epoxied hole. Set the letter aside to cure with the screw eye as vertical as possible. You can use tape to hold it in place if necessary. Repeat with the rest of the letters and allow the resin to cure fully before the next step.
Findings After the resin is cured, the screw eyes will be permanent and you can add any keychain findings and hardware you want. The easiest process is to simply open one jumpring and add it to the screw eye. Then add a keyring (large split ring) and close the jumpring. You can get fancier by adding chain, clasps, etc., but the basic instructions are the same.
Making Photo Keychains with Resin
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Photo keychains are pretty much the ultimate in personalization since you can encase photos of children, pets, special events, and so much more. The process for making photo keychains is very similar to making floral keychains, with a few important differences. Also, I've chosen to demonstrate with a mold that doesn’t require drilling.
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Additional Supplies You Will Need for Photo Keychains: Translucent Silicone Mold with a Hole - Choose one that will fit your photo. Photo
Mod Podge & Brush
Scissor
Permanent Marker
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Prepare the Photo After you’ve chosen your photo and mold, place the mold over the photo to get a good placement. Then draw a line around the base of the mold and set the mold aside. The shape you have drawn will be a little too large for the mold, so cut it out on the inside of your lines. Now see how the photo fits in the mold. Cut off the part that interferes with the hole. Check for fit again and trim if necessary. There should be at least a little room around every edge,
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When the fit is good, brush Mod Podge on one side of your photo to seal it. When the Mod Podge dries, repeat with the other side. Allow the Mod Podge to dry completely. Your photo is now prepped and ready.
Begin Casting Mix up HALF A BATCH of 2-part clear epoxy with equal parts of resin and hardener. Use a scale to get accurate measurements. When the bubbles have popped, fill your mold halfway with the clear resin. Let the resin cure until it is very thick, but still sticky. I use a toothpick to test it. How long this takes will vary with environmental conditions. When the resin is ready, get your prepared photo. Use tweezers to place your photo FACEDOWN in the sticky resin. Press gently with the tweezers or a toothpick and center the photo. Let the clear resin cure long enough that it won’t mix with any added resin.
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Now it’s time to mix up the other half of the epoxy resin with equal parts of resin and hardener. The resin in front of the photo has to be clear, but behind the photo can be either clear or any color you want. I made mine blue.
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Fill the other half of your mold with resin. Pour slowly over the back of the photo, giving time for the resin to flow into the corners of the mold. You can use a toothpick to poke resin into corners or deep areas if necessary.
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When the mold is filled, leave it undisturbed to cure overnight, covering it with a box if it’s outside. Curing time will vary with temperature and humidity.
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Remove your photo casting from the mold by gently peeling back the silicone from each edge and then popping it out from the back. Take extra care around the hole. Now all you have to do is add a jumpring to the hole, add a keyring (large split ring), and close the jumpring. Your photo keychain is now ready for keys.
Frequently Asked Questions Can I attach a key ring directly to the screw eye without a jump ring? Absolutely. Your keychain won’t have quite as much movement, but it will be just as sturdy. Do I have to use epoxy resin to secure the screw eye in the drill hole? No. You can use any strong glue meant for non-porous surfaces. Is it hard to make resin keychains? Epoxy resin is easy to mix, easy to drill, and fun to experiment with. As long as you wear gloves, protect your work surface, and get out your supplies before you start to pour resin, making resin keychains is very easy. I recommend working on keychains in small batches to make the best use of resin’s “working time”.
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How much does it cost to make resin keychains? As with any new craft there will be a number of one-time or rare expenses, like silicone molds, glitter and dyes, and the resin itself. However, these items can be used for many projects. If you already have the basic supplies, making resin keychains is pretty cheap. The only additional items you’d need to buy are jump rings and the key rings themselves. Examples: 16 ounces of resin costs $20.99 and will make about 5-6 dozen letters. The dyes go even further and cost pennies per project. The alphabet mold is reusable, so it is a one-time expense. The split rings to put your keys on start at about 30 cents each.
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Can I fill my molds halfway with clear resin and come back another day to add flowers, photos, and other stuff? Yes. First, let the resin cure in the molds and keep it in the molds until you’re all done with your project. Also, you may need to put down a very thin layer of newly mixed resin when you go back to your project, so items stay in place and don’t create air pockets. Then just fill the molds the rest of the way and let them cure as you would with any resin project.
Now You’re Ready to Make Resin Keychains Resin keychains are a great project for people with all levels of resin experience. If you’re a beginning resin crafter, you can follow my directions exactly. If you’re more advanced, you can use this article for ideas and then get super creative. Resin keychains are so easy to personalize you can make them for all of your friends and family and each one can still be unique. You may find that once you start making resin keychains, it’s so much fun that it’s hard to stop! [The free guide is created and endorsed by intoresin official for resin beginners and experts. In addition, we will keep updating more basic technology and creative projects tutorial and get them synced to our website: https://www.intoresin.com/blogs/intoresin-guide.]