I am kicking myself now for waiting so long to start making resin crafts. I was so intimidated over a product I had never used, and other than in video, had never seen being used. I have now however learned a valuable lesson, stop being intimidated, buck up, and give it a try.
Resin has by far been one of the easier craft products I have used. There are so many things you can make, and you can customized them any way you like. I enjoyed making these lightweight chunky, glitter necklaces so much, I plan on making more as gifts. Here is how I made them.
How to Make Resin Necklaces with UV Resin
I adore the opal look of this first, UV resin necklace. Made using a white, iridescent chunky glitter, and UV resin, it couldn’t be simpler or faster to make. Here are all the things you will need to make this beautiful necklace.
Materials:
- UV Resin (I used Mr. Resin 250g UV Resin found on Amazon. It came with the UV Lamp!)
- UV Lamp
- Jewelry making mold (I used Paxcoo 678pc Resin Molds for Jewelry, This kit came with the cords and jump rings I used to make this necklace.)
- Chunky Glitter (This is the closest I could find to the glitter I used in this video. 12 Colors Iridescent Chunky Glitter found on Amazon.)
- Gloves
- Goggles
- Mixing Cup and Stir Sticks (My silicone mixing cup and silicone mixing sticks came with the Mr. Resin kit.)
- Necklace Cord
- Jump Ring
- Pliers
- Grill Lighter
Optional:
- Silicone Work Mat ( I use these I bought from Amazon- Extra Large Silicone Sheets for Crafts)
Instructions:
- Put on your gloves and goggles and set up your work station.
- In a small mixing cup, add UV resin and some of your chunky glitter, then mix well with the stir stick. If your mixture is still to transparent, add more glitter.
- Scrape the glitter and resin mixture into the mold of your choice. Be careful not to overfill the mold.
- Make sure the mixture is filling the mold to all sides, and then clean up the edges of the mold.
- Using the grill lighter, run the flame along the top of the resin in the mold to remove bubbles. Be careful not to hold the flame in one place for too long as it will burn your resin and can damage your mold.
- Once your bubbles are removed, place the UV lamp over the mold and allow it to cure. This could take several minutes depending on the size of your mold and amount of glitter used. Be sure to flip the mold over and cure it from underneath also.
- Next, remove the pendant from the mold. If it is still tacky to the touch, place it back under the UV lamp for an additional minute or two.
- Once the pendant is totally cured and not sticky, add the jump ring through the hole in the top using needle nose pliers. Then run the cord through the jump ring to complete your necklace.
- If you used a silicone mixing cup and tools, to clean them, place your mixing cup and stir stick under the UV light to cure, then peal away the leftover resin.
UV resin really is a breeze to use, is affordable, and easy to clean up. Though a bit more expensive than 2 part epoxy, it is still economical because you can make a lot of jewelry from one bottle of UV resin. Once you have molds and a lamp, those products can be used over and over again, and you would only have to replace the resin when you run out.
How to Make Resin Necklaces with 2 Part Epoxy Resin
This black, 2 part epoxy necklace turned out beautifully, I just wish the camera could catch how it looks in person. There is a granite type look to the black glitter under the surface of the resin. I think it would have been even better if I had added maybe a few flakes of silver or gold. Here is how I made this black glitter necklace.
Materials:
- 2 Part Epoxy Resin
- Jewelry making mold (I used Paxcoo 678pc Resin Molds for Jewelry, This kit came with the cords and jump rings I used to make this necklace.)
- Chunky Glitter (This is the closest I could find to the glitter I used in this video. 12 Colors Iridescent Chunky Glitter found on Amazon.)
- Gloves
- Goggles
- Mixing Cup and Stir Sticks (My silicone mixing cup and silicone mixing sticks came with the Mr. Resin kit.)
- Necklace Cord
- Jump Ring
- Pliers
- Grill Lighter
- A Timer
Optional:
- Silicone Work Mat ( I use these I bought from Amazon- Extra Large Silicone Sheets for Crafts)
Note: Having a really good workstation set up and work mat make a big difference in work time and clean up time. I didn’t think I needed a silicone mat until I had one. Now I can’t live without it. I use it not only for resin crafts, but I put one down when my grandchildren are using glue, also. Much better than scraping glue out of a rug.
Instructions:
- Put on your gloves and goggles and set up your work station.
- Mix your 2 part resin according to package instructions. Be sure to use the timer so you do not under or over mix.
- In a small mixing cup, add so of your mixed resin and some of your chunky glitter, then mix well with the stir stick. If your mixture is still to transparent, add more glitter.
- Scrape the glitter and resin mixture into the mold of your choice. This mixture will be thick with the more glitter you use, but will settle into the mold. Be careful not to overfill the mold.
- Make sure the mixture is filling the mold to all sides, and then clean up the edges of the mold.
- Using the grill lighter, run the flame along the top of the resin in the mold to remove bubbles. Be careful not to hold the flame in one place for too long as it will burn your resin and can damage your mold.
- Once your bubbles are removed, place it in a warm, safe place and allow it to cure. Refer to your resin’s package directions for cure times. Mine took about 24 hours,
- Once the pendant is totally cured and not sticky, you can remove it from the mold.
- Add the jump ring through the hole in the top using needle nose pliers. Then run the cord through the jump ring to complete your necklace.
Though it takes more effort and mixing, 2 part epoxy resin is still a wonderful product. This type of resin is ideal for larger projects that UV resin cannot handle, and is also a bit cheaper than UV resin. The important thing to remember with 2 part epoxy is that it need a dry, warm place to cure. If temperatures in the area you have designated for curing are too cold, your resin can turn out too soft and flexible, or not cure at all.
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