Make These Bitsy Earrings with Colorized Resin – Tutorial + Video!

Create super fun and easy post Bitsy Earrings with the technique of colorizing Nunn Design Resin with Castin’ Crafts Opaque Pigments.

Here is how the technique, of colorizing resin and applying it into the Bitsy Earring Posts is done.


Watch Video:

Here is a tutorial video of the process!


Learn How:

Supplies Needed:
Nunn Design Bitsy Earring Posts

  • Earring Post Bitsy Triangle (epbt)
  • Earring Post Bitsy Drop (epbd)
  • Earring Post Bitsy 8mm Circle (ep8c)

Castin’ Crafts Opaque Pigments
Nunn Design 2-Part Resin Kit

Other Supplies:

Wet-wipes
Toothpicks
Stir Sticks
Mixing Cups
Business Cards or glossy card stock
Rubbing Alcohol
Plastic Bags
Q-Tips

Tools:

Needle Nose Pliers


Step 1:
The Nunn Design Bezels are oxidized to provide the antique look to the precious metal plating. The oxidization, when it comes into contact with the resin, could change the color of the resin. To avoid this, clean the bezel thoroughly prior to application of the resin. Get the tip of a Q-Tip wet with rubbing alcohol and clean away any of the blackened oxidization, especially from the inside of the bezel.


Step 2:
Create a flat surface where the posts of the earrings can poke through and be level. I used a piece of packaging to create this surface.


Step 3:
Read the resin instructions for safety concerns regarding the Nunn Design Resin.
When I work with resin, I always:

  • Place a large plastic bag over my work surface and tape it down.
  • I make sure I have ventilation in my workroom.
  • I wear gloves.
  • I wear glasses (readers because I can’t see anymore. Plus it protects my eyes!).
  • I have a pile of wet wipes handy.
  • This is a great blog post that covers 20 Habits for Successfully Using Nunn Design 2-Part Epoxy Resin. Even if you are a seasoned resin mixer, this might be worth a read.
  • You can also watch this great video on How to Mix Nunn Design Resin!

Step 4:
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. It is important to pour Part A first and then Part B. It is some chemical thing about the part A being heavier or something.


Step 5:


Set your timer for 2 minutes. Using the stir stick from your kit (a popsicle stick or coffee stir stick will work great too), slowly and carefully stir your resin scraping the sides as you stir. Stir for a minimum of 2 minutes. If your resin is still cloudy continue to mix until clear.

After mixing is complete and your resin is clear, scrape both sides of your stir stick on the edge of your resin filled cup.


Step 6:
To colorize the resin, pour the clear mixed resin into a separate mixing cup up to the 1 tsp. mark line.


Step 7:
Squeeze a little of the Castin’ Crafts Opaque Pigments onto a plastic bag. To prevent your Castin’ Crafts Opaque Pigments from being contaminated with mixed resin, you will want to use a fresh toothpick with each “toothpick tip” worth. I cut my toothpicks in half so I could easily use both ends.


Step 8:

We’ve made the creative process easier with color formulas for mixing Nunn Design Resin with Castin’ Craft Opaque Pigments.

For this tutorial, I used the color formula for Pantone 15-3919 TCX. To create more 2017-2020 Pantone Colors, download the Pantone Color Formula Cheat sheet!

Serenity 5
Pantone 15-3919 TCX

Formula:

  • 1 tsp Nunn Design Resin
  • 1 tiny toothpick tip Blue
  • 2 tiny toothpick tips Red
  • 2 toothpick tips White

Step 9:

Let’s define what a “tiny toothpick tip” and a “toothpick tip” amount of colorant should look like. This is not an exact science. If you don’t get the exact amount, your color will still come out fairly close.

A “tiny toothpick tip” should look like the red one in this image.
A “toothpick tip” should look like the white.


Step 10:

If you are following the color formulas, add the required amount of Casin’ Crafts Opaque Pigment to the mixed resin.


Step 11:
My color was still a little off after adding too much red, so I  needed to add another tiny toothpick of the blue.


Step 12:
Drizzle colorized resin into the bezels slowly with a toothpick or a stir stick. Since they are so bitsy in size, it is really easy to overflow.


Step 13:
Let the resin cure for 12 hours. You will need to “babysit” your curing resin.

Do you see how there are bubbles forming in the resin in this photo? Use your hot breath to “huff” on them. Your hot breath will make the bubbles expand and pop.


Step 14:
If you had any over pour of resin that is stuck to the sides of the bezel, use a pair of needle nose pliers to gentle remove the resin. When the resin is 12 hours into the curing process it is still not fully cured, but this soft cure state makes it really easy to remove the excess resin from the bezel.


Step 15:
Let pieces cure for the full curing cycle of up to 72 hours.


Step 16:
Add on butterfly clutches and have fun sporting your new Bitsy Earrings with Colorized Resin!


Learn More:

Here are two more tutorials using Bitsy Earrings, one with glitter roxs and resin and one with crystal clay, mica flakes and resin! Check those out!


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2 thoughts on “Make These Bitsy Earrings with Colorized Resin – Tutorial + Video!

  1. beckynunn says:

    I personally do not use a heat gun or hair dryer.
    Because our findings are pewter and plated, I don’t want to risk the chance of anyone potentially damaging the bezel with too much heat from a heat gun.
    With hair dryers, I’m concerned that too much air would blow on the domed resin.
    That being said, I would recommend you give it a try. Report back your results!

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