Learn to Create Molds and Colorize with Resin

faux-porcelain2_0418

Make these fantastic faux porcelain pendants with silicon putty, brass embellishments, epoxy clay, and colorized resin. So many looks can be achieved with different embellishments, epoxy clay colors, or bezel shapes.


Instructions For Sculpted Relief Epoxy Clay Resin Pendants

Buy&Try Sculpted Relief
Designer: Becky Nunn

Supplies Needed:
Easy Mold Silicone Putty
Crystal Clay in Brown, Black or White
Nunn Design Brass Stampings
Nunn Design Bezels-Patera
Craftin’ Cast Colorant
Nunn Design Resin

Tools Needed:
Wet-wipes
Toothpicks


PART 1: MAKING THE MOLD:

Step 1: Prepare Silicone Putty

sculpted-relief__Part 1__0249
Pinch off two equal sized balls of Part A and B of the Silicone Putty. Be sure that the balls are large enough and will allow you to make an impression to fit your bezel.


Step 2: Choose Brass Stampings

sculpted-relief-fits

Make sure that your Nunn Design Brass Stampings fit into the Nunn Design Bezel. If it doesn’t, that is fine, you will just want to decide how the image will be cropped to fit.


Step 3: Mix Silicone Putty

sculpted-relief__Part 1__0261

The Easy Mold Silicone Putty has a 3-minute working time before it begins to harden and not take the impression. Knead both part A and part B together until the putty is blended completely and has a uniform color.

Tip: Getting the knack for mixing just the right amount will take some practice. You might mix too much or too little putty the first time.


Step 4: Roll into Ball, Flatten

sculpted-relief__Part 1__0269

Roll the fully mixed Silicone Putty into a round ball and flatten slightly. Keep in mind the size of the bezel that you will be working with. You will want your flattened ball to be larger in size than the outside rim of the bezel. Make sure the putty is smooth and not wrinkled.


Step 5: Make a Impression Mark with Bezel, Then Press in Embellishment

sculpted-relief__Part 1__0317

sculpted-relief__Part 1__0323

Press your bezel into the silicone putty to create an impression mark. This impression mark will help you see where to position your embellishment so it is centered (or off-center if that is the look you want).


Step 6: Repress Bezel For Registration

sculpted-relief__Part 1__0317
sculpted-relief__Part 1__0345

When you pushed in your embellishment, your first registration will push out and no longer be true. Using your bail area as the registration, repress your bezel into the clay. Let the Silicone Putty set for 25 minutes before removing the embellishment.


Part 2: Creating the Sculpted Relief

Step 7: Mix Epoxy Clay

sculpted-relief__Part 2__0353

sculpted-relief__Part 2__0357

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the handling and mixing of the Crystal Clay. While wearing gloves, pinch of two equal sized balls of Part A and Part B and blend together fully until the clay is no longer marbled and uniformed in color. You have approximately 90-120 minutes of working time before the clay starts to harden, so take your time.


Step 8: Roll into Ball, Pat into Bezel

sculpted-relief__Part 2__0438

Once your clay is thoroughly mixed, roll it into a smooth round ball. I like it to be smooth because it prevents from having creases once the impression is made. Press the ball into the bezel and create an even coverage by patting down the clay with your fingers. If you put too much in, the clay will squish out onto the sides and you will have a little clean up to do. If you don’t put in enough, you might not get a good impression. Regardless, both are easy things to fix, so it might take a little experimenting to get it just right.


Step 9: Roll Mold Over Clay

sculpted-relief__Part 2__0444

sculpted-relief__Part 2__0446

sculpted-relief__Part 2__0450

sculpted-relief__Part 2__0456

Now, let’s make an impression in our epoxy clay. Place your filled bezel over the silicone mold, using the round rim and loop for registration. I like to pick-up the mold and use my fingers to push from the top as well as the bottom to create the impressions.


Step 10: Clean With Wet-wipe

sculpted-relief__Part 2__0460

Using a wet-wipe, clean up any epoxy clay that might have gotten on the bezel. The epoxy clay hardens like cement, so cleaning it up now and being tidy as you go makes the process easier and the results so much nicer.

Step 11: Let Dry

sculpted-relief__Part 2__0475

Allow the epoxy clay to dry for at least 12 hours, well that is what I (Becky Nunn) did, but the staff here at Nunn Design went straight on to pouring the colorized resin on the uncured epoxy clay. Both turned out just fine so use your best judgment!


PART 3: PREPARING THE COLORIZED RESIN:

faux-porcelain_0418

Step 1: Prepare Your Work Surface

Preparing your work surface: Read the resin instructions for safety concerns regarding the Nunn Design Resin. When I work with resin, I always:
1. Place a large plastic bag over my work surface and tape it down.
2. I make sure I have ventilation in my work room.
3. I wear gloves.
4. I wear glasses (readers because I can’t see anymore. Plus it protects my eyes!).
5. I have a pile of wet wipes handy.


Step 2: Pour Part A, Then Pour Part B into Cup

4-pourpartA_0790

5-pourpartB_0806

5-pourpartB_0810

Mixing your resin: Place one cup (included in the Nunn Design Resin Kit) onto your table. For curing purposes, it is very important that the resin be an exact 1 to 1 ratio of Part A and Part B. I suggest getting your eyes level with the resin so you can see the lines on the measuring cup. Pour Part A of your resin kit up to the ½ fluid ounce mark on your measuring cup. Pour Part B of your resin kit into the same cup until it is filled to the 1 fluid ounce mark.


Step 3: Set Timer, Stir 2 Minutes, Set under Lamp 5 Minutes

3-mixresin-DSC_0796

6-stirresin2min_0825

8-placeunderlamp_0846

Set your timer for 2 minutes. Using the stir stick from your kit, slowly and carefully stir your resin scraping the sides as you stir. Stir for the full 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, scrape both sides of your stir stick on the edge of your resin filled cup. Set the mixture under a warm lamp for 5 minutes. This aids the air bubbles in the resin to rise to the surface and pop.


Step 4: Lay Down Moveable Surface (Business Cards)

I tend to work in small area (typically my kitchen table), so I like to work on a surface that I can easily move around and not disturb. Place some business cards or some heavy card stock onto a cookie sheet, making it easy to transfer around the tags without getting any resin on your fingers. Lay your tags onto the business cards, keeping in mind that you will be covering them later with cups to prevent dust for getting on the surface of the uncured colorized resin.


Step 5: Mix Some Resin With Opaque Pigment

11-mixcolor_0881
After your resin has been under the lamp for 5 minutes, pour a small amount of the mixed resin into a measuring cup. Add in a couple drops of the Craftin’ Craft Opaque Pigment to give the resin color. If the resin isn’t as opaque as you would like, add in
another drop of the Opaque Pigment. You can mix the full 1 fluid ounce measuring cup of resin if you want, but I transfer the resin into smaller cups because it is easier to stir and less messy to move around when less full.

Tip: Be sure that the colorant does not equal more than 10% of your resin as having more than 10% could cause issues with curing!


PART 4: APPLYING RESIN ONTO CURED SCULPTED RELIEF

Step 1: Use Toothpick, Poke Resin into Crevices

sculpted-relief__Part 3__0612

sculpted-relief__Part 3__0627

sculpted-relief__Part 3__0631

I like to pour a small amount onto a small ziplock and use a toothpick to apply the resin. The toothpick allows me to poke it down into the crevices.


Step 2: Lightly Wipe Surface of Sculpted Relief

sculpted-relief__Part 3__0633

sculpted-relief__Part 3__0648

Using a wet-wipe, lightly brush off the surface of the sculpted relief. This will allow the color of the epoxy to show. Also use the wet-wipe to clean off any resin that might be on the sides of the bezel.


Step 3: Let Dry

faux-porcelain2_0416

Let the resin dry for 12-14 hours. It will be dry to the touch, but resin continues to cure over the next 72 hours.


Step 4: Assemble Something!

140403_8774_Elaterium_BN
Assemble into something wonderful! Earrings? A necklace? Or maybe create a charm bracelet? Enjoy!


Shop Wholesale Nunn Design Findings


Shop Nunn Design Wholesale

Nunn Design has been supplying jewelry artists with findings for over 20 years. Shop wholesale jewelry findings for creative jewelry makers.

Shop Nunn Design!

How to Purchase Wholesale?

If you are interested in becoming one of the many designers who trust their jewelry to Nunn Design Findings, please join us by registering to become one of our wholesale customers!

Please visit our Where to Buy Page for a listing of online stores that sell Nunn Design Findings retail.


If you enjoyed reading this post, please subscribe to our blog. Here are 10 Reasons Why to Subscribe and a place to do so!

3 thoughts on “Learn to Create Molds and Colorize with Resin

  1. Brenda Shreves says:

    Thank you for these directions! I received my winning collection and plan to use some for this. I am slow, but when I get some done I will share with you. Thank you again for choosing me for the win. And for posting these great directions!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Next
Close
Test Caption
Test Description goes like this