These necklaces were six-months in the making. All because I am pretty certain that resin has a personal vendetta against me.
I will say the results are pretty outstanding, I just wish the process had gone a little more smoothly.
I did have to do my own take on things and make some tentacles following the process, and they are fabulous!
Seriously as much of a headache as the resin gave me, this necklace is stunning, and the pods simply glow.
resin pods with “gold foil” inclusions. I used craft gold foil, not the real stuff.
For the inclusions on the tentacles I used nail art glitter, that is iridescent teal, I thought that would give a more mermaid/sea impression. I also used the craft gold foil
This project has many work intensive steps. I knew it would take me a while to complete, I just did not anticipate to get sidelined by poorly behaving resin as badly as I did.
The first part of this project is making the mold originals and casting the molds.
The originals I made from polymer clay, and I made sure to include a “spur,” an extra bit that would not be cast, but would help in the mold making process.
The directions for mold making in the book are very thorough. I used a two-part compound, and it’s fairly easy.
My molding set up used the cardboard tubes from TP rolls and wax modeling clay to hold the originals in position.
My molds, labeled, with their originals perched on top
The mold making process happened easily and without a hiccup. And then came my summer of treacherous resin. While I mentally prepared to make my glowing pods I attempted to finish some “easy” resin projects from the book. The Treasure Heart and the Fairy Wings were my downfall.
Was it the weather? Was it user error? Why did my resin skills go from acceptable to constant uncured sticky mess?
I lost my resin confidence.
I won’t say I got it back, it was a case of “I want this project done and this mess cleaned up” that got me back on the resin wagon.
I mixed a new batch of resin, I measured the crap out of that first pour. I recoated the fairy wings, and I poured the pods. And sprinkled in the bits of sparkling magic. I set it all up to cure, and I waited.
I let that stuff set up for 36 hours before I checked it, I was that paranoid. And guess what?
IT WAS STICKY!
And I wanted to cry. And then I had a brainchild and decided to see what would happen if I dipped the fairy wings and pods in some polyurethane to coat that last time bit of tack.
And it worked. Of course I have no idea if I have set up some long-term chemical reaction that will result in the pods dissolving into goo, I hope not, but for now, it works. They are no longer sticky, and I was able to finally complete the resin project that taunted me.
There are two more projects in the book that require resin work. I am seriously considering hitting up some of my talented crafty friends and hiring out the resin portion of the work.
This challenge is me working my way through the fantastic projects in the book Enchanted Adornments. I claim no affiliation between myself and the author of the book.
