Molding a Resin Cuff Bracelet

I've been using the small shapes of the Wilton fondant/gumpaste molds for resin and have long thought of how nice the strip pieces would be as a bracelet. So I thought I would see if it could be done... and it can!

Start with some supplies: EasyCast Resin, Castin' Crafts Mold Release, the mold, and glitter.
*ETI suggests wearing gloves when working with resin for safety* Gloves also help keep your nails nice :)

 

Spray the mold with your mold release and set aside to dry and Mix up a batch of EasyCast Resin.

 

 

 

Add some glitter- I add a good bit but you have to be sure that it will still be pourable liquid so add a little at a time.

 

 

Mix your glitter into the resin, gently to avoid creating bubbles, but well so that all the glitter gets covered with the resin.

 

 

Pour into the mold.

 

Here is the experimental part: Do not let this harden completely!!! Check your resin after about 8 hours- It took me 12 hours but I'm in a very humid climate so the time can vary based on humidity and temperature, etc. You want the resin to be firm enough that it holds the detail and comes easily from the silicone mold- If it is stuck in the mold let it sit another 30 minutes. Be careful as the resin is still pliable and can be distorted.

 

 

Take your piece and wrap it around your wrist to be sure of how big you need the gap at the back to be. Once this hardens it will no longer be flexible. You want enough space to get you hand in and out but not so much that it will fall off. If you have a cuff bracelet that fits you can use that as a guide. 

 

Find a place that won't be disturbed. Place your bracelet in the shape you want making sure that the gap is the right size then, use some things to hold it in place. Let this set for an additional 24-72 hours or until completely firm.

 

 

Now it is holding its shape on its own!

 

I can see gift requests in the near future!!



Sprinkles in Resin Hair Pins

I am always on the look out for Vegan Sprinkles. It is amazing how many animal ingredients they can fit into such tiny things. It is also odd to me that a brand could have rainbow sprinkles that are vegan and chocolate that are not. Or jumbo size that are when the small size are not. Some of my lucky findings are:
Wilton Jumbo Rainbow Nonpareils
Marble Mix'ins Rainbow Sprinkles
Festival Confetti Sprinkles

While I do love to eat the sprinkles I also like to wear them! Encased in resin these lovely things can last for ages!

Gather supplies: EasyCast Resin, Castin' Crafts Mold Release, a mold, your favorite sprinkles, some glitter, cups, and spoons or stirring sticks (one cup and spoon/stick for each variety).
*ETI suggests wearing gloves when working with resin for safety* Gloves also help keep your nails nice :)

Spray mold with Castin'Crafts Mold Release and set aside to dry and Mix up a batch of EasyCast Resin.

Seperate the resin into cups for each variety you plan to make.

I'm making three varieties and have paired each type of sprinkle with glitter.

Pour in some sprinkles and a bit of glitter. Be sure that there is enough resin to coat all the sprinkles. These are the Wilton Jumbo Rainbow Nonpareils (found at Michael's) mixed with some orange glitter.

If you add too many sprinkles- like I did here you can scoop some back out if they are dry (do not eat them if you do this just in case there is some trace resin you didn't see!) A second option is to add some more mixed resin (if you still have some in another cup you can borrow it or just mix a small batch it only takes a moment). These are Marble Mix'ins Rainbow Sprinkles (found at WalMart) with some crystal glitter.

These are Festival Confetti Sprinkles (found at Hobby Lobby) with light blue glitter.

Mix the sprinkle resin well and pour into the mold. Be sure that all the sprinkles are completely covered with resin. If the sprinkles don't get covered with resin they will get gooey and sticky and the colors will bleed. Yuck! Let these set for 24-72 hours or until completely hardened before you unmold.



This is a mold from Yaley Enterprises.
They make resin and Deep Flex Resin Molds along with a variety of colorants.
Check out all the offer here: http://yaley.com/SitePages.asp?ID=46
 

When you pop these out you may run into spots where the sprinkles have poked through the resin on the front. This is can be caused by too many sprinkles and not enough resin or just because the sprinkles will settle to the bottom and when the resin is still freshly mixed it will scoot out of the way to accomadate the sprinkles- polite to the sprinkles but very rude to the resin artist!  If this happens, some pieces may be beyond help but if it is only a spot or 2 they can be salvaged! I had some with these spots infact the same ones I am making the hair pins with (this really works!)

Using some Glossy Accents fill in the holes and let dry. It dries in an hour or less to a smooth, hard glossy surface. Once the filled in holes have dried, coat the entire surface of the resin piece. Ta da fixed! You can't even tell which ones have been patched up!

I'm making hair pins out of these using some bobby pins and E-6000 adhesive.

Apply some E-6000 to the flat side of the bobby pin and firmly press to the back of the resin piece. Let them dry face down for 24 hours to get maximum adhesion.

Now these are ready to wear. I think they would make great birthday gifts or party favors too!

Bottle Cap Collage Pendant

I love making collages on ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) and wanted to make a wearable collage- bottlecaps make the perfect "canvas"!

                                     

We need some supplies...

EasyCast Resin, Bottle Caps and collage materials like half pearls, rhinestones, polymer clay food, and alphabet beads.
*ETI suggests wearing gloves when working with resin for safety* Gloves also help keep your nails nice :)

 

Mix up a batch of EasyCast Resin.

 

Pour some resin into the bottle caps but not too full because we are putting things into the resin!

Start building your collage by pressing things into the resin. Once the collage is how you like it, let it dry for 24-72 hours.

 

  

Once the resin has hardened, we can drill little holes into the bottle caps.

 

I'm using my gerneric "Dremel" drill with a tiny grinding tip that tapers to a fine point.

Turn your bottle cap face down, but remember where the top is, and begin drilling into the metal.

Once you have a tiny hole, you can add a jump ring and a chain.

 

 

Our bottle cap collage is ready to be worn!



Kawaii Sparkle Pins

Over on swap-bot.com there are so many awesome swappers and some of them have sent me the cutest kawaii flake stickers. These need to be shown off! What better way than to preserve them in resin and wear them?!?!

I start by collecting my supplies:

EasyCast Resin, Castin' Craft Mold Release, and a mold. For the embeds I need some
Kawaii Stickers, Mod Podge, microbeads, glitter, mylar flakes, and some eyepins and paint brushes.
*ETI suggests wearing gloves when working with resin for safety* Gloves also help keep your nails nice :)

Paint a couple of coats of Mod Podge on the front of the stickers. This seals the paper from getting wet when put into the resin (keeps it from getting translucent, wrinkled, or having the colors bleed).

Paint a couple coats on the back of the stickers too!

Spray the mold with mold release and Mix up a batch of EasyCast Resin



This is a mold from Yaley Enterprises.
They make resin and Deep Flex Resin Molds along with a variety of colorants.
Check out all the offer here: http://yaley.com/SitePages.asp?ID=46
 

Fill the mold cavity(ies) of your choice.

Using an eyepin, submerge the sticker face down into the resin.

Add some sparkles!

Some microbeads!

Make sure all the glitter and/or microbeads get covered with resin. Then let set for 24-72 hours.

See the kawaii sparkle!

Now, it's time to add the pin backs. I'm using E-6000 adhesive to stick them on.

Press the pin backs on firmly then, let them dry face down for 24 hours to get maximum adhesion.

Once the glue has dried, they are ready to wear!