I personally love this technique because of its production speed. This “look” of a black base with a clear resin over it is typically created with a double resin pour process. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how you can do it much quicker using black Epoxy Clay in the base, embed gold flakes and apply a clear resin over the top.
Nunn Design offers Buy & Try Programs to encourage jewelry makers – both wholesale and retail – to buy the products needed to try something new. This week we are featuring the different techniques that you can create with the Bitsy Earring Posts.
Here is how I did this technique.
Learn How:
Supplies Needed:
Nunn Design Earring Posts
Epoxy Clay-Black
Nunn Design 2-Part Resin Kit
Mica Flakes
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
Tweezers (optional)
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 resin could change the color of the resin. To avoid this, clean the bezel thoroughly prior to applying 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:
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the handling and mixing of the black Epoxy Clay. Epoxy Clay is epoxy clay that air-dries. It sets in 2 hours and continues to cure 14-16 hours. There is no baking required, no shrinkage and in this tutorial, I don’t even let it dry before applying the resin!
Step 3:
While wearing gloves, pinch off two equal sized balls of Part A and Part B and blend together fully until the clay is no longer marbled and uniform in color. You have approximately 90-120 minutes of working time before the clay starts to harden, so take your time. Once the clay is thoroughly mixed, remove your gloves to make it easier to work with the clay. For this tutorial, I mixed a small blueberry sized ball of both Part A and B of clay.
Step 4:
For each earring pinch off a very small ball of clay and roll it into a smooth ball in the palm of your hand. Press the ball into your bezel with your fingers to create an even flat smooth surface in the base of the earring.
Step 5:
Use a toothpick or a pair of tweezers to pick up gold flakes and place them into the uncured wet Epoxy Clay. Once you have the gold mica flakes in the position that you want, use your fingertips to press the flakes down into the clay.
Step 6:
Repeat with other sizes of Bitsy Earring Posts. On the Drop and Triangle Shapes, use a toothpick to press the Epoxy Clay up into the crevices.
Step 7:
Once all the Bitsy Earring Bezels are filled and flush to the edge of the Bitsy Bezel, use a wet-wipe to clean away any excess clay from the sidewalls of the bezel.
Step 8:
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 9:
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 10:
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 11:
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 12:
Using a toothpick, drizzle a small amount of the mixed resin over the Epoxy Clay and gold flakes until the surface is covered. To create a high dome of resin, continue to drizzle additional resin.
Step 13:
Let the resin cure for 12 hours. 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 14:
Let pieces cure for the full curing cycle of up to 72 hours.
Step 15:
Add on butterfly clutches and have fun sporting your new Bitsy Earrings with Gold Flakes and Resin!
Download PDF Tutorial: Make These Bitsy Earrings with Gold Mica Flakes PDF
Design Option:
Here is a design alternative using the same technique, but this necklace pendant I used is a Wire Frame.
TIP: Attach the Epoxy Clay fully onto the backside of the Wire Frame. The Resin on the front of the Wire Frame is also applied all the way to the edge. This will provide additional support and make the piece more secure. If the Wire Frame is pulled open, these two steps will prevent the clay and resin from cracking and pulling away from the Wire Frame.
Learn More:
Here are two more tutorials and Buy & Try programs using Bitsy Earrings,one with colorized resin, one with Epoxy Clay, mica flakes and resin, and the last one glitter roxs and resin! Check those out!
- Bitsy Earrings with Colorized Nunn Design Resin Tutorial
- Bitsy Earrings with Nunn Design Resin and Glitter Roxs Tutorial
Watch Video:
Here is a tutorial video of the process!
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