DIY Resin Crafting Projects E-Book

Teodora Petkova

• Herausgeber: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 92

Beschreibung

Keep and craft memories made by nature, whether it's a four-leaf clover, a bird's feather, beautiful blooms from a wedding bouquet, or something your child found for you!  This complete guide includes 18 fun and beginner-friendly projects that are perfect for anyone who is looking to make gorgeous resin jewelry, crafts, and keepsakes from memorable moments, places, events, walks, and hikes. From a photo frame and a ring dish to wood coasters, jewelry, wall art, and more, learn everything you need to know to successfully work with and pour resin, and how to preserve flowers, bugs, feathers, shells, and other natural treasures. With step-by-step instructions, coordinating photography, helpful tips throughout, and so much more, DIY Resin Crafting Projects is a unique and engaging source of inspiration to introduce you to the exciting world of epoxy resin art!

Leseprobe

About the Author

Born in Bulgaria and now living in Chicago, Teodora Petkova incorporates her love for nature and its beauty into her stunning handmade jewelry. She spent her childhood developing a deep connection to nature and crafting, which led to a career where she now shares her creations with the world. She began experimenting with resin in 2010 and started her business, NThandmade Jewelry, in 2011. By 2017, she was selling her resin jewelry full-time on Etsy, and it has been featured across a variety of online blogs and articles. Using non-toxic UV-resistant jeweler’s grade resin in her work, Teodora also donates a portion of her sales to the National Forest Foundation where one purchase equals one planted tree. To shop her products and see more of her work, visit her Etsy shop (NThandmadeJewelry), or find her on Instagram and Facebook (@nthandmadejewelry).

© 2022 by Teodora Petkova and Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc., 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552.

DIY Resin Crafting Projects is an original work, first published in 2022 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc. The patterns contained herein are copyrighted by the author. Readers may make copies of these patterns for personal use. The patterns themselves, however, are not to be duplicated for resale or distribution under any circumstances. Any such copying is a violation of copyright law.

The author would like to thank ArtResin for their generous contributions to the creation of many of the projects in this book.

Print ISBN 978-1-4971-0145-6eISBN 978-1-6076-5860-3

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021946070

To learn more about the other great books from Fox Chapel Publishing, or to find a retailer near you, call toll-free 800-457-9112 or visit us at www.FoxChapelPublishing.com.

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to [email protected].

Contents

Introduction

Materials and Tools

All About Resin

Tools for Working with Resin

Materials for Incorporating in Resin

Miscellaneous Other Tools

Resin Crafting Basics

Gathering and Preparing Natural Elements for Resin

Techniques for Working with Resin

Sanding and Polishing

Troubleshooting

Making Molds

Projects

Bridal Bouquet Love Sign

Drink Coasters

Hair Clips

Teardrop Earrings

Found Wood Necklace

Trinket Box

Wood Key Chain

Ring Dish

Coated Flower Necklace

Decorated Cutting Board

Statement Bangle

Collage Photo Frame

Rock Charm

Forget-Me-Not Necklace

Wall Art

Holiday Tree Ornament

Pyramid Paperweight

Bug Key Chain

Introduction

Although resin crafting may seem intimidating at first, it is a craft you will certainly fall in love with because of the endless possibilities it offers; there are so many things you can create, especially when you incorporate natural elements. Whether you want to transform your bridal bouquet into a sentimental piece of home décor to cherish forever, add natural charm to a piece of custom jewelry, or create one-of-a-kind gift-worthy pieces, you’ll find what you’re looking for in this book. Working with resin is not limited to just embedding pieces from nature, either; many artists and crafters like to experiment with adding colors and pigments, as well as other inclusions, to the resin to achieve different effects.

This book focuses on creating high-gloss, clear resin castings and coatings the first time around with basic supplies and without the need for expensive equipment. Once you learn the basics of working with clear resin, the process is essentially the same for every project. Resin crafting can be enjoyed by the whole family; although it is not recommended for children, they can still take part in the designing and planning process, as well as in gathering organic components during your next nature walk.

The projects in this book are beginner to intermediate level, but they are also meant to inspire you to build on your own creativity, skills, and artistic vision. The book shares all the tools and fundamentals you’ll need for working with clear resin and teaches you step by step how to create unique pieces by adding natural elements to give each piece a timeless beauty.

I hope you enjoy learning to love resin as much as I do; I can’t wait to see what you create!

—Teodora

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this book is based on my personal experience from years of working with resin. There are many different ways the projects can be done, but the steps are based on what I do and what I find easy to do. Always follow all safety precautions and the manufacturer’s directions on the products you use.

Materials and Tools

In this chapter, you’ll learn what resin is, how to choose a resin to craft with, what tools you’ll need to successfully manipulate and shape resin, and the kinds of inclusions you can put into your resin to make unique pieces.

All About Resin

WHAT IS RESIN?

Resin is a very broad term. It usually refers to a natural organic compound that occurs in plants and trees, such as fir and pine trees. The use of natural tree resin dates back to ancient history; it was used as glue by preheating the resin and then allowing it to cool down to create a bond.

The resins used today are of plant or synthetic origin, and they are usually divided into two classes: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastic resins are solid at room temperature, melt when heated, and harden when cooled. Examples of thermoplastic resins are nylon, PVC, vinyl, and polyethylene. In contrast, thermosetting resins are in a liquid state at room temperature and harden when heated; once they harden, they can no longer melt. Some examples of thermosetting resins are epoxy, polyester, and urethane. Everyday craft projects and the average crafter will only ever use thermosetting resins. Let’s take a closer look at the different kinds we can choose from.

TYPES OF RESIN

Epoxy resin

Epoxy resins are widely available online and in craft stores; they are more expensive than polyester resins (see here), but they are also the most popular choice among artists and crafters. Epoxy resin is a two-part system that consists of resin and a hardener. These two parts are generally referred to as part A and part B. Epoxy resin is mixed with a 1:1 ratio or a 2:1 ratio. Some epoxy resins are mixed by volume and some by weight, depending on the manufacturer. When the two parts are combined and mixed together, they create a chemical reaction (which produces heat), and the hardening process gradually begins, allowing the resin to convert to a solid state. Epoxy resin is relatively easy to handle, and most products have little to no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and are safe for in-home use. The working time—the time during which your mixed resin can be poured and manipulated—is approximately 30–40 minutes. Epoxy resins require a working environment of 70°F (21°C) or warmer to cure properly. There are many different epoxy resins on the market, but it is very important to understand the two different applications for epoxy resin: coating and casting.

Coating/doming resin must be worked in layers that are no more than ⅛ ″ (0.3cm) deep.

Coating/doming resin: Coating resin is used for coating a surface or for thin/small castings such as jewelry. Coatings or small castings should not exceed more than ⅛″ (0.3cm) in depth. Castings or deeper depths can still be achieved with coating resins by allowing each ⅛″ (0.3cm) layer to cure before proceeding with another layer. Coating resins are designed to be self-leveling and are thicker in consistency than casting resins; this allows for easy manipulation when coating, and it is easier to retain the resin on a surface. One example of a coating resin is ArtResin®, which I used in many of the projects in this book.

Casting resin is designed for deeper pours and larger projects.

Casting resin: Casting resins are designed for deep pours and large projects. These resins can go up to ½″ (1.3cm) deep in pours, some even deeper. When mixed, casting resins are thinner in consistency and less viscous, more like water, which allows the resin to fill tiny gaps and small spaces between the inclusions and the mold. Some casting resins can be used as a coating resin as well, but they can be harder to manipulate and require more skill. One example of a casting resin is Clearcast 7050, which I used in many of the projects in this book. (This product recently rebranded to call itself coating resin, but the product formulation did not change, so you are safe to use it just as I did for the appropriate projects.)

Polyester resin can create great results, but it is harder to use and not recommended for beginners.

Polyester resin

Polyester resin is widely available in craft stores and is generally cheaper than other resins. Polyester resin cures very hard with a glass-like finish, and it is great for deep pours. Although lovely results can be achieved, I do not recommend polyester resin, especially for beginners. Polyester resin is for more experienced crafters and requires more skills, since it is harder to work with. It consists of resin and catalyst (hardener). Mixing is much more complicated, requiring drops of catalyst per ounce of resin based on the thickness of your piece. The thinner the piece, the more hardener is needed to produce the necessary heat to cure the resin properly. The working time is also very short, approximately 10–15 minutes. It has a very strong smell and should not be used indoors. The surface that is exposed to air will remain tacky even when the resin has fully cured, meaning that the tackiness needs to be sanded off and polished or sprayed with glossy resin sealer. Don’t make the same mistake I did when I started working with resin and used polyester resin as my very first product!

Especially for projects that will be exposed to a lot of sunlight (such as jewelry), find a product that has UV protection to prevent yellowing of the resin over time.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT EPOXY RESIN

The first thing you should consider when choosing the right epoxy resin is the particular application for your project, as discussed previously—is it better to use a casting or coating application? In addition, for clear resin projects, it is important to choose a resin that has UV protection or anti-yellowing properties, since most epoxy resins will yellow after some time. This is especially important for jewelry pieces, since they will be constantly exposed to natural light when worn. Another important aspect to consider is the hardness scale of your resin. Some epoxy resins have a soft cure, or a rubber feel, meaning that when your piece fully cures, you might be able to bend it. Hard cure resins are necessary for jewelry pieces, coasters, durable home goods, etc. This information is usually in the manufacturer’s description on the website or in the product’s technical data sheet. (If you purchase resin at a craft store and the company did not include a technical data sheet along with the safety data sheet, contact the manufacturer to ask.)