https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/freeform-resin-jewellery • Posted by Kathryn {Craft me Happy}
Please take a look at a new method I've been working on for making lots of little beads, pendants and nuggets out of Ice Resin and glitter without using a mould. Once you've got your little gems, here are a few simple ideas for turning them into gorgeous, glittery jewellery.
Please take a look at a new method I've been working on for making lots of little beads, pendants and nuggets out of Ice Resin and glitter without using a mould. Once you've got your little gems, here are a few simple ideas for turning them into gorgeous, glittery jewellery.
First, look through your little gems and decide what kind of jewellery each piece wants to become. These two would make good ring cabochons...
... while these two small rounder ones would make pretty studs.
As the method doesn't use any moulds, it is almost impossible to get two stones that are identical in size and shape, but I think that adds to the hand made charm of the pieces.
Theoretically, the more glittery resin nuggets you make at a time, the greater chance you have of finding two stones that are similar in size and shape. These two, for example, are similar enough to become a pair of earrings.
Both of these jewels would work glued onto necklace bails as they have slightly flatter ends.
Before attaching the stones to your adjustable ring bases and flat pad earring posts, insert them into some flower foam so that the stones will stay level while the glue dries.
Then you just need to apply a small amount of glue with a cocktail stick onto the flat area of the ring and earring posts and quickly apply the stone, adjusting it so that it sits centrally and flat. I like to use E6000 glue but a two part epoxy glue would work just as well.
Leave them overnight and then admire your creations.
To attach the glitter resin stones to the leaf necklace bails, just put a little glue on the textured part of the bail with a cocktail stick and then secure the stone in place. Leave them overnight to set completely and then hang them from a silver chain.
To make the drop earrings I just drilled a hole from the back to the front using a variable speed power drill. You can use a hand drill or a ratchet Archimedes drill, but after quite a bit of experimentation I found that I got a better finish with an electric drill. The hole needs to be about 3mm from the edge - too close to the edge and the resin will be weaker - too far and you will need a very big jump ring to attach it to the earring. I like to draw a dot on where I want my drill hole with a Sharpie pen.
To open jump rings use two pairs of pliers and always slide it open to the side rather than stretching the two ends apart. I use a 5mm jump ring to go through the actual resin bead and a 3 or 4mm jump ring to attach it to my French drop earring finding.
Open the loop on the base of the fishhook ear wire to the side with a pair of pliers and then slip the smaller jump ring onto the ear wire loop. And your beautiful glittery resin earrings are finished!
To make a bracelet I simply took lots of similar sized nuggets and drilled a hole on either side. Using this same principle of inserting larger jump rings through the drilled beads and then connecting them with smaller jump rings you can make bracelets or necklaces in any length.
This resin doughnut looks great just looped onto some thong and worn as a long necklace.
To turn this larger resin pendant piece into something I could use on a necklace I simply wrapped it with some 8mm silver plated wire. I formed the coil shape first with some pliers. I then held the spiral of wire at the front while wrapping the rest of the wire around the top and then the bottom, finishing by forming a hanging loop at the top with some round nosed pliers.
It then just needs a jump ring to attach it to a long chain and you have a one of a kind necklace.
Please do have a go at my glitter resin tutorial - there's always something much more satisfying about making jewellery out of elements you've made yourself and are completely unique, rather than mass produced beads that you've purchased along with countless other jewellery makers.
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