Resin Pendant Tutorial
If you want to know how to make a resin pendant here are the instructions in this resin pendant tutorial. After you have printed and cut out your photos, glue the photo down to the item blank (if applicable) with the included super glue, then follow these easy clear coating steps!:
1. Clear coating: Put desired amount of drops from the bottle labeled “clear coating” into plastic cup included in coating kit. To get a good a mix, don’t use less than at least 30 drops. NOTE: Photo jewelry clear coating works best at 75°F/24°C. The bottles should feel slightly warm to the touch. If they are cold, this can cause problems (bubbles) in step 3 when you are stirring. To warm your bottle, run it under some warm (not hot) water.
2. Activator: Put in an equal amount of drops from the bottle labeled “activator.” Ex: If you used 50 drops of clear coating, use 50 drops of activator. Make sure you mix equal amounts, or your end result will be a sticky finish that never sets properly.
3. Stir: Stir activator and clear coating together with the included stirring stick. Be sure to stir slowly and not incorporate any air into the mix as you are stirring. If you are making a larger batch of coating you could use an item such as the handle of a plastic spoon to make stirring easier and more thorough. If you accidentally incorporate air into your mix and a bubble does appear, you can exhale on it to pop it so that it does not break up and become many smaller bubbles. Stir until the mixture appears combined. It will be transparent and should not appear “milky”, have swirls in it, or have a greasy looking residue on top. If you see these, keep stirring until they are gone. If you do not, your final result will be sticky and tacky.
4. Transfer coating: Once you think your coating is combined properly, transfer it to another plastic cup and stir for another minute or so. This prevents unmixed coating that could be stuck the sides of the first cup from ending up in your final mix. If you do not do this step, your final result could end up sticky and tacky due to the unmixed coating.
6. Set aside: After your item is covered with coating, place it in a dust-free area. Try not to place your item in areas with high humidity such as near a steamy bathroom after a shower, or near a kitchen while cooking. Cover with something to keep dust out, such as a shoebox or tupperware container without a lid. Make sure it is in an area where people or animals are not going to be moving or bumping the space that your items are on. Let sit for at least 24 hours, or up to 72 hours to ensure a super hard finish. Do not touch before the 24 hour mark or you will leave fingerprints in the finish. After 24 hours, your item should be hard to the touch, clear, and glassy. Now you’re done and your item is ready to go!
HIGH HUMIDITY AREA TIP: If you live in a high humidity area and are going to be making large quantities of photo jewelry, you may want to invest a few dollars in a non-electric moisture absorber such as a Damprid™. These are usually less than $10.00 at your local hardware store. It is not necessary, but can be a helpful tool in making photo jewelry. Place it in the plastic box with your photo jewelry while it is drying and it will absorb the humidity, thus creating a harder finish. Make sure your box is big enough to close with the Damprid™ inside.
1. Clear coating: Put desired amount of drops from the bottle labeled “clear coating” into plastic cup included in coating kit. To get a good a mix, don’t use less than at least 30 drops. NOTE: Photo jewelry clear coating works best at 75°F/24°C. The bottles should feel slightly warm to the touch. If they are cold, this can cause problems (bubbles) in step 3 when you are stirring. To warm your bottle, run it under some warm (not hot) water.
2. Activator: Put in an equal amount of drops from the bottle labeled “activator.” Ex: If you used 50 drops of clear coating, use 50 drops of activator. Make sure you mix equal amounts, or your end result will be a sticky finish that never sets properly.
3. Stir: Stir activator and clear coating together with the included stirring stick. Be sure to stir slowly and not incorporate any air into the mix as you are stirring. If you are making a larger batch of coating you could use an item such as the handle of a plastic spoon to make stirring easier and more thorough. If you accidentally incorporate air into your mix and a bubble does appear, you can exhale on it to pop it so that it does not break up and become many smaller bubbles. Stir until the mixture appears combined. It will be transparent and should not appear “milky”, have swirls in it, or have a greasy looking residue on top. If you see these, keep stirring until they are gone. If you do not, your final result will be sticky and tacky.
4. Transfer coating: Once you think your coating is combined properly, transfer it to another plastic cup and stir for another minute or so. This prevents unmixed coating that could be stuck the sides of the first cup from ending up in your final mix. If you do not do this step, your final result could end up sticky and tacky due to the unmixed coating.
6. Set aside: After your item is covered with coating, place it in a dust-free area. Try not to place your item in areas with high humidity such as near a steamy bathroom after a shower, or near a kitchen while cooking. Cover with something to keep dust out, such as a shoebox or tupperware container without a lid. Make sure it is in an area where people or animals are not going to be moving or bumping the space that your items are on. Let sit for at least 24 hours, or up to 72 hours to ensure a super hard finish. Do not touch before the 24 hour mark or you will leave fingerprints in the finish. After 24 hours, your item should be hard to the touch, clear, and glassy. Now you’re done and your item is ready to go!
HIGH HUMIDITY AREA TIP: If you live in a high humidity area and are going to be making large quantities of photo jewelry, you may want to invest a few dollars in a non-electric moisture absorber such as a Damprid™. These are usually less than $10.00 at your local hardware store. It is not necessary, but can be a helpful tool in making photo jewelry. Place it in the plastic box with your photo jewelry while it is drying and it will absorb the humidity, thus creating a harder finish. Make sure your box is big enough to close with the Damprid™ inside.