So I haven’t been able to make a video of my crafting process because I’m really afraid that my phone or camera will drop into the resin or that I may accidentally smear some resin on them.
Resin is not easy to get rid of. It’s stickier than anything I’ve ever used and when you try to wipe it off when it’s about to cure, it creates these stringy lines everywhere, similar to melting cheese.
So, unless someone with a steady hand to help me record, I’ll stay with the photos.
So in order to give you an idea of how I create each resin piece.
To make the resin itself, it’s a two-part formula of resin and hardener. It has be measured precisely in equal parts and then mixed gently for a minute or two, like mixing milk and flour.
If I want coloured resin, I will prep before I mix the resin.
To create coloured resin, I scoop small amounts of coloured pigments into each separate silicone cups. I use silicone cups to reduce environmental impact which I can use again and again. I also use re-useable sticks to mix.
So, once the clear resin is prepped, I pour preferred amounts onto the colours. Once again, mixing it gently. The reason I want to mix gently is to avoid as many bubbles as possible.
Once that’s all done, I pour resin into silicone mould of preferred shapes. At this time, I have a range nature-themed shapes, and some common and unusual shapes. Flowers, rectangles, moons, hearts, circles and oblongs.
A extended lighter is used to pop any bubbles or they may need to be scooped out.
It takes about 8 hours to hard cure which means when it’s ready to touch and de-mould. There are different types of resin where some can hard cure in as little as 30 minutes but that doesn’t give a lot of time for creativity.
Now, I don’t straightaway move from de-mould to making them into products.
I have found that adding another clear layer of resin to both sides (as long as it’s flat) makes them domed, gives a little bit of a 3D effect, the edges are a little smoother and it really makes the colours pop!
So it takes me another two days to finish them up! If there are any sharp corners, I sand them off.
I really take pride and enjoy creating my little resin pieces. To me, they are little pieces of art.
