Craft: DIY Resin Pendants

Every now and then I craft a batch of these resin pendants using various methods, and I’m sharing with you today how I’ve made these hand-painted necklace pendants.

You will need:

-Resin

There are so many brands of resin to use. I’ve been using one called “Glass Coat”. They are sold as a two-part epoxy kit that you mix together. The individual brands will state on the bottles whether they are suitable for coating. 

-Wide wooden stirrer

-Wooden craft disks (I used 1 1/2”)

-Bails

-Gesso

-Acrylic Paint

-Sealer (I used a water-based gloss varnish)

-Necklace or cord and closure of your choice

-Small propane torch

-E6000 glue

First, seal your wooden disks using gesso.

Once dry, paint them however you like. I just "doodle painted". I had no plan; I just started painting. If you don’t like anything you’ve done, just paint over it! There’s no pressure here, and that’s the beauty of acrylics :) 

Paint the backs of the pendants in a solid colour.

Once my designs were dry, I sealed them using the gloss sealer front, back, and sides. 

Leave to dry.

Now, mix your resin. Pour the two parts of your resin into a disposable container, and mix following the directions on the bottle of your particular brand using the wooden stirrer. 

Place your pendants on some paper (baking paper provides extra protection if you need it) to protect your working surface. Pour the resin on, or ‘spoon’ on like I have in the photo using my stirrer stick, and gently coax the resin up to the sides of the disk using the stirrer. The surface tension keeps the resin from dripping over the sides, although unfortunately that sometimes happens!

Using the propane torch, quickly run over the resin close to the surface, but not touching the resin with the flame. This will pop any little air bubbles.

Leave in a dust free area to cure. I place a large lid over my work to keep dust off. You just have to make sure the lip is deep enough so it doesn’t touch the pendants.

Glue bails on the pendants using E6000 glue.

Once the glue is dry, thread your pendants onto cord or necklace, and enjoy!

Jules :)

New Handmade Statement Necklaces

I have just listed some new modern handmade 'Cloud Necklaces' my Etsy shop.

Bold, statement necklaces :)

They are each cut from polymer clay, then hand painted with acrylic paints. 

Each necklace pendant has a durable satin finish that is baked on, that protects the painted surface from damage. They are then sewn onto with metallic thread, cotton cord and feature an asymmetrically placed pom pom.

Each pendant is unique, which is the beauty of handmade.

I hope you liked looking at my new range of necklaces. Available in the shop now!

Jules :)

New Modern Style Brooches/ Pins in The Shop

Hello!

I have some new brooches/ pins that have just hit the (virtual) shelves!

They are handmade from polymer clay, hand- formed, hand painted, unique, arty, and bold.

Each brooch is rolled out from the clay, then I carve each one out in the flower shape that I am currently obsessed with. I am not sure when I will be done with this flower shape. It appears in lots of art & paintings that I do.

I then add some texture and bake.

Each is hand painted just as I would a painting; individually and each has no plan when they are started. I just get a 'feel' for a certain colour and just start painting away, adding more colour and texture as I go. It's quite intuitive and I stop when I feel no more urge to add any more colour anywhere and when I feel it is finished.

I think they make quite a statement and would suit someone with a love of colour and creativity.

You can find a range of these brooches in this modern flower range now in the shop.

Jules :)

Recent Art & Creativeness

So I'm really quite busy at the moment! No time to upload new products into the shop or get it out there properly, as I'm in a buzz of meeting deadlines and creating. But I thought I would show you a few recent pics of what's been happening. I will be back soon with new products in the shop and show you all my new goodies soon, promise! 

Jules :)

Fox Brooch Instagram Giveaway

Hello!

My new fox brooch

This brooch will be available from my Etsy shop on Friday 30th Sep 10am AEST.

To celebrate this, I am having a giveaway over on my Instagram page, and the winner will be drawn on the same date as the release.

This fox has been a pendant necklace for a while, and I kept getting requests to make it into a brooch, so here we are! I have remade her bigger to suit being a brooch, and here she is, all snuggled up and sleepy. I promise you, she will not eat any chickens!

Hope to see you over at Instagram.

Jules :)

Crafting Necklace Pendants With Kids

Everyone keeps telling me I should teach art. All the bones in my body are arty, but I'm afraid there's probably only one teaching bone, and it's probably one of those tiny little ones in one of my ears.

But I did promise an avid young fan of my artwork an art session, so she came over and we all decided to make some of my resin necklaces. My girls, of course, did not want to miss out on the fun.

These are the wire & resin necklaces I usually make to sell at markets and in my Etsy shop.

I usually play around with some imagery of mine (usually prints of my own artworks and illustrations), and do some painting over the top as well. So we did exactly that. I gave them their size and set out papers, paints, glue and stamps and they all set to work designing their pendants.

It helped them to have a cutout 'frame' of the final shape so they could make sure they were getting all the imagery they wanted within the available space.

Look at mine Mum!

Waiting for glue to dry means we get to have a play!

Looking so good. Mum seriously impressed and wondering if I need to employ helpers for my market stalls...

The best part of the process was after I had poured the resin and I got the butane torch out to pop all the bubbles in the top. Flames and craft = Cool. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of this as I was too busy trying to keep Miss 5 out of the resin/ glue/ glitter/ matches/ fire, etc etc.

And here they are all finished! I know three girls that should be super proud of themselves for a job well done.

Maybe the teaching bone is in one of my little fingers...?

Jules :)

PS If you're interested in how to actually use resin to make similar pendants see this post: DIY resin pendants

Introducing The Chunky Series Necklaces

Feeling like I wanted to come up with something bolder, chunkier and unique, I created these new 'Chunky Series' necklaces.

They are Earthy, inspired by nature, creative and modern.

I'm so happy to now have them all available in the shop.

They are one of a kind necklaces. All carefully handmade by me.

I've used many different materials from ceramic beads, to resin & felt. 

I'm happy to have achieved pieces that are so different, and can be considered wearable art.

I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed making them :)