Another phone holder

 A gift for a Portsmouth football club supporter.   Kept it fairly simple,  Just a little resin to the top triangle, with the added sticker, and then the rest is casting compond.

Ice Queen

I  used my green lady mold for this one, but decided to dust the mold with mainly blue, white and silver mica powders.   I then poured clear resin in the mold, and when it was nearly set I poured plain white casting compound to fill the mold.

I am really pleased with the effect, and decided to call it Ice Queen.   It can go on my wall outside in the winter.

Experimenting with resin and casting compound

 Using an idea from a friend I have made this for a Christmas present for a family member who supports Brighton and Hove Albion, using resin and casting compound and a little blue glitter.

I might have to redo it - as the sticker I created or the top part moved, much to my dismay.   Mind you they do have dive-bombing seagulls in Brighton - so I might was it was intentional!  - lol!

Resin Astrolobe

Have you missed me?  I have finally found some mojo for crafting - must be the sunshine that has done that.   However, I although I have been playing with a few bits, I have been a bit lax in posting to the blog.  Hopefully I am going to make up for it over the next few days, as I have schedule some bits.

I finally managed to pour this mold - It has been my nemesis, as the first one I did in pouring compound broke, and then I mislaid the mold; and even when I came to put this together the little piece of platic that is supposed to go in the top indicator - only pinged off when I was putting it together and is nowhere to be found (serves me right for assembling it outside - no doubt I will find it in the wintr when the plants have died down!)

It was poured in various shade of green resin for the three sections, and then I applied silver and gold gilding wax to it.

I must confess Zuri molds are not my favourite - they are not that deep, so the finished piece can be a ta fragile. 

 

Resin Geode

 

This is actually the "wrong" side of the geode, but I really like it - and was what I was trying to achieve.  Having trickled all the colours in in circles, I then blew on it to distort them,

Below is the "right" side, but not the effect I wanted - hey ho - resin has a mind of its own!

I shall add some more clear resin to the side I like, and perhaps add a bit of glitter at the same time.   I will share the result in due course, when my new glitters arrive.

Paint Pouring and a Resin Geode

 As I am so far behind with blog posts, I am combing two posts today.  I used some of the left over resin from the jewellery to start a geode.    This is the back of the geode, which was the first layer I did.  I didn't like the effect much, so when I poured the second layer I used slightly different colours and some gold leaf flakes.

This was the finished result.

I then did some paint poring with a ready mixed paint kit that I had, which contained various blues, a beige, white, silver and gold.  The silver was brilliant - although you can't appreciate it in the photos.  Maybe when I have either top coated them or resined them it will show up better in the photos.

This first one started off as lines of paint dribbled across the surface - and then I went a bit mad!

This one was poured over the cut off end of a small water bottle - look at that silver!

These three coasters were done with a ring pour - alternating the colours on each one

Resin Jewellery

 

I confess I have been a bit remiss and not posted recently, although I have been playing with various "goodies. so I am tempting to catch up over the next few days.   My excuse is that family matters have had to take priority (as they do from time to time).

I had a lovely play with some resin and jewellery findings the other day when it was lovely and warm and I could work outside and in the Den.   (I try to avoid doing resin indoors, as it can get a bit messy!)  The top picture wee using various molds with either dried flowers of coloured resin.

The next two pictures were made in cabouchon molds and then stuck onto bezels:

These next two photos show resin done in backless bezels (you have to have them stuck to special sticky tape to pour them, which you then remove.   I have used various colors of resin, dried flowers and glitter bits/   The second picture shows the backs 

Using up some resin

 I had some resin leftover from Hoots, so I grabbed the nearest molds on the table and poured them.  The top one is a little frame - that may go on a card or a journal page - possible with some Pebeo fantasy paints in it.

The three ovals are star signs - so I need to fill in the recesses of the symbols -either with Posca pens, or am thinking as I type this Pebeo Fantasy Paints.  I will then drill holes in them to take a cord.

The hexagon has a hole in it ready for a necklace, but it is quite plain at the moment - not sure if I will decorate that with something - maybe a peel-off.

Finally a couple of scrolls that were in the same mould as the little frame - these will be embellishments for something in due course.

Resin Owl

I have had another little play with resin - this time it is Hoots- he is a sort of steampunk owl.   I shall do another one eventually (although it is not good weather for pouring resin at the moment as it is too cold).  I shall also have to wait for a new mould to arrive, as we discovered my mold was one that wasn't quite as perfect as it should be - his tail feathers are a bit thin,   No worries, I now have a clear example when I come to dust the next one.

A Little More Resin - a bit of a catastrophic day!

I decided to try Uncle Bob Christmas again using white resin as a background, as opposed to clear resin with a little liquid white pigment in it.    It was all a bit catastrophic from the start.   I didn't have my glasses with me in the Den - (too lazy to go back down to the house to get them as I thought I could manage! - wrong)   So I didn't realise that I had got some stray red pigment in the wrong place on Uncle Bob.

I then started tomix the resin - the first part went into the plastic cup ok, but when I started to pour part B in - the scales seemed not to be registering properly .... erm yes, well ........ it helps if you don't have a crack in the cup!   Heck there was resin everywhere - all over the scales (yes they are a right off) all over my work table - fortunately covered in plastic.   Mad panic to mop up most of it before it set - the resin I was using was very quick setting - the resin that was still in the cup got chucked out, still in the cup on the garden! (Anybody want a cup shaped block of resin - lol!)  Oh what a mess - although I managed to get most of it mopped u, as I said apart from my little jewellery scales -just as well I had ordered a new larger set on my next Sains order already!

Undeterred, I started again and mae another mix - I don't like the effect of the white resin - regardless of the fact that not having my specs on I couldn't see the dodgy dusting until after it was set.   So you win some you lose some - at least I hadn't lost my expensive clear JenArt resin.

 You can see more clearly on the separate pictures the mess I made of brushing the mica onto uncle bob, and the butterfly wasn't that much better - albeit looks like a piece of old porcelain!  Good job I am not afraid to post my mishaps on my blog !!!!!!

Large Green Man

Having had a catastrophe with the nose of the green man the other day - I did another pour - and thankfully no problems - it set with 24 hours .  I did breathe a sigh of relief as it was the resin from the same batch as the items I poured over previous days!

Another view:

 

A few bits of resin

I had a mega pouring session over a couple of days last week.   It didn't all go to plan, as the resin decided it wasn't going to play nicely .... I don't know why and probably shall never know.    The first batch was still sticky on the top after 24 hours, and had to be left for another 24 hours- and I still wasn't quite happy with it.   I did a second pour and left that for 48 hours - most of the items were ok, but the green man still ha a stick nose - which of course my finger caught!  It still wasn't dry after a further 12 hours.

The coaster was part of the first pour and when I moved it, because it wasn't set - the resin wrinkled!

The body of the large bee was an experiment using a different resin, which was black.  I blocked the wings with some special clay.   However, when I went to add the resin for the wings, it managed to creep under the black resin - it made for a different effect.   (I will probably apply gilding wax eventually, so it won't notice quite so much!.

Close ups of the different items:  large green man (with his dodgy nose) , ickle bee, ickle owl, sunflower, the "iffy" coaster with a dried anemone in it, and the large bee with the double cast of resin.

Resin Mushroom Man

I love this little mushroom man.     Now that he has been poured, I can see where I missed some bits of dusting.   I didn't realise he had a mouth under his moustache.    It is quite difficult to see the details sometimes.   I must learn to create a quick test with clay to help.   I know I shall be making him again though!

Also it was difficult to capture in the pictures, but there is quite a bit of shading in his "hat"

 

Resin Bee

I have been playing with resin again this week and some new moulds.   I didn't realise how big this mould was - his wing span is about 8 inches!

I "painted" the mould with mica powders and Indigoblu Luscious Powders (these were mainly used for the wings).

I want to make another one, but use some clay to block off the wings in order that I can pour them, and when set then pour the body in a different colour.

 

Seahorse Plaque

Following on from the seahorses I shared the other day.   I created a plaque to showcase them.   The MDF oval was painted with Kielty porous surface converter to seal it, and then brushed with various shades of mica powder with a little Kielty blending solution added.  A little more of the converter medium was added and the stones applied.  The rim was painted with gesso and glued to the back oval.

Clear resin was then applied ....... however, I had a little problem - the seal between the rim and the back oval was not perfect, and most of the resin ran out!     I added some structure paste to the gap around the outside and then prayed that the original resin coating would create a seal - Phew it did!

I then poured another layer of resin and added some more stones etc, which has created a 3D effect.

Autumn Man

I had such fun with this experiment - an Autumn Man.   I dusted the mould with Forest Green for his face, and light green and silver for his beard, and then the leaves were dusted with gold, bronze, copper and coffee micas.   I wasn't sure what colour resin to pour him, but ended up with a mix of coffee and greens.   Which was the right choice!   He really turned out well.

It was difficult to capture his colours in a photo - so I took a few - in sunlight and shade.

A bit more resin work

 At the risk of being boring ......

...... my original Green Man now has a hanger on him and is in pride of place on the wall of my house between my porch and lounge window.   I must admit he looks fab, particularly as the render is a pale green, so his dark green really stands out.

I had a little resn leftover when I added the hook to the green man, so I quickly dusted a mould with blue and gold and poured another dragonfly with the remaining green resin.

Before he was completely set, I shaped his wings, and when set I put him on my hanging basket ... he might even end up dangling from the trellis.

3rd Green Man

I poured another green man for a friend this week,   Having found my darker green mica, I was able to add a bit more colour to his face,   I also added a little red blush to his face,   I am trying to make them all a bit different.

Here are the three different ones I have made so far:

Not sure what I will attempt next.   I have seen him made in black resin, and also fancy making one with autumn leaves (maybe I will experiment with the small one for that), but I also have some craft concrete powder ..........  decisions, decisions !

Another Resin Green Man

I poured another green man this week.    Really pleased with how he turned out - really shin and glistens in the sun.   I had intended to make his face a bit darker - but couldn't find my darker green pigment at the time.

Because I didn't have a large container to mix the resin ( he does take rather a lot) I had to do two mexes to fill him, by which time I had found my darker green pigment.   I could have done him in two layers, but decided to pour the slightly darker green before the first layer had set - as it started to sink into the first layer, I just stirred the two different colours together in the mould.   Wow loved the effect   The picture below of the back doesn't really do it justice -it looks as though there are lumps in the resin, but no -it is just the different shades.

I have another one to make for a friend - so shall use a similar technique - although I intend to change the colour of his face a little.   I would also like to make one with more autumn colours for his "hair".

I thought I would add a photo comparing the first greenman I did (on the left) with the latest one.   amazing how different they can look with the different colouring.

I love these moulds they are such a pleasure to work with, and the final finish is spectacular.

Resin Owl

 I poured a resin owl a couple of days ago.    The mould isn't really made for resin, but I thought I would experiment.   He was quite difficult to dust, as he is a very dark mould.   It would have been nice if his chest was more plumage rather than a pattern, as he would be great as a barn owl.    I also used some matt pigments in with the metallic ones, so he hasn't turned out as shiny as I had hoped.    That of course maybe the effect of the mould itself.   He has turned out looking more as if he was made from bronze.

Now that I can see the detail better - I will do another one.  He is very shallow - so would make a good fridge magnet if I attached a magnet to him.

I might try him again as well with a grey "pewter" look.