Resin Pendant Tutorial

Before I begin this tutorial, I want to share with you where I purchased some of my supplies

I bought the very cute pendant settings from ChristianHaylie

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6047415.

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The awesome Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes Collage is from Herculiz

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6470117

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The adorable Halloween Collage is from Cachecache

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5529873

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And the fantastic fireworks and floral pictures are Cynthia's. You can see more of her pictures under the "pictures" heading on this blog.

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For this project you will need:

Resin ( I used Easy Cast )

Mod Podge

Pendant settings

Pictures

Embellishments

Chain, satin cord or pin backs

Jump rings

mixing cups

spoons

measuring spoon

I used these pendant settings on most of my projects. I also used a very tiny pendant setting I just recently purchased. All of the settings can be found here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6047415

I printed out the fantastic collages I bought from my fellow Etsians.

Agatha Christie/Sherlock Holmes http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6470117

Halloween http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5529873

Both of these sellers have a lot of wonderful collages!!!

(The collages were too large for my projects so I made them smaller. Since I am not very good at sizing pictures, I made them a little too small. To combat that problem, I used satin cord to line the inside edges of the pendant. The cord covered my size problem and also embellished the pendant.)

Once you have your pictures, coat both sides with Mod Podge. I usually coat the front 3 times, allowing each layer to dry and then repeat for the back.

Once your pictures are dry, cut them out. Coat the inside of your pendant setting with Mod Podge and place your picture in the pendant, allow to dry. Once dry, cover your picture and your pendant (inside) edges with Mod Podge and let dry.

This is how they will look.

I know this seem like a lot of Mod Podging but you will have great results every time. If you miss a tiny spot by skipping some of the Mod Podge steps, you run the risk of your picture being discolored in that spot. Your color may also run.

Now you are ready for the resin.

**Work in a well ventilated area**

**Wear gloves to protect your hands**

**Cover your work surface - lol!!**

I used Easy Cast which is mixed with equal parts resin and catalyst.

I measured the resin into a plastic cup and the catalyst in a separate plastic cup.

There are special resin measuring/mixing cups on the market but I just used what I had. I used an old Tbsp. to measure with (do not use for food after using the spoon for resin) because I needed such a small amount of resin - 3 Tbsp. was plenty. I used regular plastic cups - the red ones in the picture below and regular plastic spoons.

Pour the catalyst into the cup with the resin. Stir for 2 minutes. ( I use my cell phone as a timer. )

After 2 minutes, pour the entire mixture into the cup that the catalyst was in and stir 2 more minutes.

Most people use new cups and spoons for each step in the mixing process. I always use the catalyst cup and spoon for the second mixing. It comes out fine so why waste more cups and spoons?

Once your resin is mixed, use a plastic spoon to fill your pendant settings. Less is more!!! Pour half of the resin you think you need. These settings are very small and it is so easy to over fill. If you need more, add more, but be very careful.

Inspect your pendants. Make sure all areas of the pendant is coated with resin.

At this point you can use a blow dryer or heat gun to gently blow the air bubbles out of the resin. I usually do not have air bubble problems and if I do, I simply blow on the resin. I know not everyone is full of hot air like I am, so use a blow dryer if needed.

Check for air bubbles several times over the next hour - blow when needed.

Cover the pendants with something once you have filled them. As you can see in the picture below, I use whatever I can find.

That's it!!! Allow the pendants to remain where they are, covered, for at least 24 hours. Read your resin package to get the best information on curing time.

Here are some of my finished products.

I used Cynthia's beautiful fireworks pictures for some of the pendants. I think they look great!

Another awesome fireworks picture.

And the last one. I embellished this one with a head pin and a Swarovski Crystal.

Sherlock Holmes - using the collage I purchased from Herculiz

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6470117

I embellished the pendant on the left with a simple bow using the same cording that I used for the necklace. I embellished the pendant on the right with a cute little key.

I love Agatha Christie!!! She is my all time favorite fiction writer. I have all of her books and re-read them all the time. I have taken some of these pictures with my matching books.

Evil Under The Sun - I embellished this pendant with one of my polymer clay roses.

A Murder Is Announced - one of my favorite Agatha Christie books. I didn't embellish this one at all. I made it into a pin by simply gluing a pin back on with E6000 glue.




Black Coffee - I embellished this pendant with a tiny key. For some reason, I feel a mystery novel and a skeleton key go well together.

A very, very cute Halloween image from Cachecache. You can purchase the collage here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5529873

I embellished this cute pendant by inserting a black bead on a head pin and attaching to the pendant loop.

Halloween will be here before we know it!!!

I want to share my OOPS with you.

I did not inspect some of my pendants as well as I should. Therefore, I had problems with areas on my pendants that were not covered with resin.

Cynthia's super sweet floral picture.

The entire top of this pendant had a tiny space of missing resin. I inserted 3 Swarovski Crystals on a head pin and curled both ends. I glued the crystals to the pendant with E6000 glue.

Another one of Cynthia's stunning floral pictures.

This pendant was missing a tiny bit of resin on the bottom corner. I used E6000 glue to attach a flat backed Swarovski Crystal to cover my mistake.

Sherlock Holmes - I made this one into a pin. It had a tiny speck of lint trapped in the resin. I used a key to embellish the pendant so that it would hide my lint problem. I used jump rings to attach the key to the pendant.

Brilliant Dame Agatha Christie - I over-poured Ms. Christie.

The resin flowed over the side of the pendant well. I attached a charm to cover the spilled resin.

I used a charm that says "JOURNEY" because Agatha takes me on a journey every time I read one of her books. I used head pins to attach the charm - curling up the ends to hold it in place.

I then glued a pin back on the pendant.

Agatha Christie - I used the tiny pendant setting I just received from ChristianHaylie.

You can purchase this tiny treasure here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6047415

I used a key pendant and attached the Agatha Christie charm with a jump ring.

How cute is that!!!!

For the satin cord necklaces, I used E6000 glue to attach the cord ends into cord caps and squeezed the caps closed. I attached a jump ring and toggle end to each end of the cord.

Resin may seem like a difficult product to use. But...you can see how easy it actually is. Just make sure you follow all the instructions that comes with the resin.

All little mistakes can be covered with embellishments so you don't have to worry about imperfections.