Make Your Own Keepsake Pendants-Collage Sheets with Resin

Creating your own unique keepsake pendants can be intimidating and scary – to newbies as well as experienced resin crafters. For those who forged ahead without the knowledge of how to prepare images for resin, can easily be frustrated by inks running on collage sheet images, vibrant collage sheet colors darkening to a gray when the resin was applied and bubbles forming in the resin. With a wee bit of education, tools and the right products, we believe that creating keepsake pendants can be very rewarding and fun to make.

Nunn Design believes that it is important to inspire creativity, but that is only half of our mission. We believe that it is our job to nurture it as well. That is why you will find all the products that you will need to create with from Nunn Design. Nurturing ones creativity means that we know what it will take for crafters and artists to have success when creating. It takes education, tools and the right products.

So, dive on in. Nunn Design has got your creativity covered!

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Learn How!

Supplies Needed:
Nunn Design Glue
Nunn Design Resin
Nunn Design Collage Sheet
Nunn Design Patera Bezels
Nunn Design Brass Stampings
Rhinestone Chain

Tools Needed:
Paintbrush
Cotton Swab
Headpin
Water (for rinsing brush)
Paper towels (for drying brush)
Toothpicks
Rubbing alcohol
Scissors
Bond 527 Cement or E6000 Glue

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Prepare Your Artwork For Resin:

Step 1. Select an image from one of the Nunn Design Collage Sheets. Nunn Design offers a limited line of punches. Each available punch cuts the image to fit into the bezel. This is especially handy if you are cutting a circle. For an image that is a square or rectangle, it is easy to cut the paper by hand with a pair of scissors.

Step 2: If you are using a punch, turn your punch upside down and slide your Nunn Design Collage Sheet into the side slot thus viewing the image through the punch opening. Prior to this step, you may need to trim the white edge of the collage sheet to allow the image to be seen in full view.

Once your image is in full view, place your finger on the collage sheet to prevent it from sliding while pressing down and punching out your image. I like to stand to make sure I’m applying pressure evenly while punching.

If you are using a punch, turn your punch upside down and slide your Nunn Design Collage Sheet into the side slot thus viewing the image through the punch opening. Prior to this step, you may need to trim the white edge of the collage sheet to allow the image to be seen in full view. Once your image is in full view, place your finger on the collage sheet to prevent it from sliding while pressing down and punching out your image. I like to stand to make sure I’m applying pressure evenly while punching.

Note: If the punch is dull, it can tear the paper as opposed to punching it. Insert tin foil and punch several times to sharpen the metal cutter on the punch.

Step 3. If you are cutting your image with scissors, make sure your image is flush to the side of the bezel and at a 90-degree angle. If the image is not flush with all sides, there is a great potential for air getting trapped and then surfacing once you pour your resin.

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Prepare Your Nunn Design Bezels:

Step 4. Remove your cut collage image from the Patera Bezel. Using a cotton swab and some rubbing alcohol, clean the inside of your bezel. This helps ensure that the inside surface is oil and dirt free.

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Glue Image into Bezel:

Step 5. Once your bezel is clean, apply a thin coat the Nunn Design Glue onto the base of the bezel.

Place your collage image into the wet glue. Press firmly with a cotton swab in the center of the image.

In a circular motion burnish the image to the base of the bezel. If you applied a lot of glue onto the base of the bezel, you may have some excess coming up along the side edges of the image. Use a toothpick to clean up the excess glue.

Step 6. Using a toothpick, make sure that the collage sheet is fully adhered along the sidewalls of the bezel.

You should have a 90-degree angle on all sides. No paper should be creeping up the sidewalls.

Note: Steps 1-5 can be used on all styles of Nunn Design Patera Bezels.

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Seal the Image:

STEP 7: It is important to create a strong barrier between the image and the Nunn Design Resin. If you don’t seal the image with Nunn Design Glue, the Nunn Design Resin can run the ink in the image and absorb into the paper causing the image to darken. To seal the image, use a clean and dry brush. Paint on a coat of Nunn Design Glue and let dry for 20 minutes. Apply a second coat after 20 minutes. Allow bezels to dry overnight.

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Attaching Brass Stampings

STEP 8. To attach Nunn Design Brass Stampings onto your image, apply Bond 527 Cement Glue or E6000 Glue onto the backsides of the Brass Stampings.

Set the stampings into the desired position. Adhering the brass stamping into position prevents it from moving around while pouring the resin onto the image.

Make sure to apply glue over the full backside of the brass stamping to prevent any air pockets. Air pockets between the brass stamping and collage sheet may cause an air bubble when the Nunn Design Resin in applied.

TIP: For Bezels that have a bail; place a quarter under the bezel to provide a flat even surface for pouring your resin.

 

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Mixing Nunn Design Resin

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. 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 by volume 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 11. 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.

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Applying Resin to Bezels:

Step 12. I tend to work in small areas (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 heavy card stock onto a cookie sheet, making it easy to move the bezels without getting any resin on your fingers. Lay your bezels 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 resin.

Step 13. Using the stir stick included in the Nunn Design Resin Kit, drizzle the mixed resin onto the image. Pour the resin until about 85% full. This allows room for you to insert a toothpick if bubbles arise. If you pour the bezel to have a high dome right away, you will run the risk of the resin overflowing. Once your resin is cured, mix another batch of resin and pour until it is has the high dome effect you would like.

Step 14.  Using your toothpick, you will want to keep a close eye on your pendants for the first couple of hours. The resin is off gassing and can cause air bubbles to rise to the surface. If bubbles rise to the surface, use a toothpick or headpin to drag the bubbles over to the sides to pop.

Breathing on the bubble (not blowing, but breathing heavily) will help the air to expand and pop the bubbles. This part of working with the resin can be tedious. It takes time and it is best not to be in a hurry during this phase of working with resin.

Step 15. While the resin is curing and you are checking the bezels for air bubbles, place a small dish or cup over the curing piece to prevent dust or animal fur from getting into the resin.

Allow the cover to let air still flow underneath it, so the resin has room to breath. The intention is to have it covered to prevent dust, but not too covered that the resin can’t breath.

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Pouring Nunn Design Resin over Embedded Brass Stampings and Rhinestone Chain

Step 16. For images that you are adding Rhinestone Chain, first pour a thin coat of the resin into the bezel. Place the Rhinestone Chain into the wet resin; sliding the chain back and forth with your toothpick to make sure that there are not any bubbles trapped underneath.

The wet resin will act as an adhesive and the Rhinestone Chain will be attached once cured.

This technique can also be done with the brass stampings as well, but I have had the stampings slide around while curing due to their lightweight.

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Let Cure:

Step 17. Let your bezels cure for up to 48 hours before handling. The resin will feel dry to the touch after 12 hours of curing time, but it is still curing for a full week after it has been mixed.

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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!

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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.

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