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EasyCast
Resin Jewelry Projects
By Hilary Stephens
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OCEAN BLUE NECKLACE |
Make this fun and sparkly necklace and enjoy all the compliments from your friends.
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Supplies: |
Castin’Craft – EasyCast Clear Casting Epoxy, 8 oz kit., EasyCast Resin Jewelry Molds, #33610 (tray of assorted shapes. 3 trays are recommended).
Transparent Dyes, Blue and Green Colors
Mica Flakes from US Art Quest
Vintage Glass Shard Glitter, Blue Topaz color from Art Institute
Glitter 30-40 Assorted glass beads in red and turquoise color
50-60 #11 Seed beads in soft neutral color |
Tools: |
Measuring/mixing cups and stir sticks
Metal crimp beads and clasp 16 in.
Beading wire Jewelry tools: wire cutter and flat nose pliers
Drill or Dremel with small drill bit. (Drill bit should be slightly larger than wire.)
Sandpaper 600 grit or nail file |
Instructions: |
- Mix two ounces of EasyCast per package instructions. If you have only one tray of assorted mold shapes, mix only one ounce of EasyCast and follow the steps below.
- Add one drop of green dye and two drops of blue dye per ounce of mixed EasyCast, blend well.
- Fill each large teardrop mold half full. Fill the angled rectangle mold completely.
- Place a tiny piece of mica flake and glitter into each of the teardrop mold spaces.
- Finish filling the teardrop mold with the remaining EasyCast. Remaining Easy Cast may be poured into the extra mold spaces for use in other projects.
- Gently exhale on the freshly poured EasyCast pieces to remove bubbles as needed. Allow cast pieces to cure for 24 hours.
- Gently remove cast pieces from mold. If pieces are difficult to remove, twist mold tray, then push on back of mold cavity.
- Carefully position and drill a hole through each cast piece. Gently sand the back of each piece to remove edges. If needed, clean hole with a piece of wire or paperclip. Putting a few drops of clear nail polish through the hole will make the hole less noticeable; wipe excess polish from cast piece immediately.
- Cut a 16-inch length of beading wire. Begin by first stringing the center cast piece onto the wire and then alternately add 1 seed bead, 2 glass beads, 1 cast bead, 1 seed bead, two glass beads; continue stringing beads (see picture for suggested bead arrangement) on each side of the center bead until necklace is complete. String one part of the clasp onto wire and secure it using a crimp bead. Attach the other part of the clasp to the remaining wire end and secure the crimp bead.
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This pretty necklace looks a lot like Italian glass beads but at a fraction of the cost! |
Supplies: |
Castin’Craft – EasyCast Clear Casting Epoxy, 8 oz kit. EasyCast Resin Jewelry Mold, #33610 (tray of assorted shapes. 2 trays are recommended) Opaque Black pigment
Gold Foil sheets and Metal Leaf Adhesive from Mona Lisa
Gossamer Fiber, Rose and Periwinkle color from US Art Quest
44 ea. 4mm turquoise colored beads
14 very thin gold beads
14 ea. 4 mm gold accent beads
4 crimp beads
2 crimp tubes with loop
1 clasp with jump rings
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Tools: |
Small paint brush
Mixing cups, stir sticks and plastic spoon
12” x 12” smooth ceramic tile or flat board
Plastic or wax paper
Drill or Dremel with small drill bit. (Drill bit should be slightly larger than wire.)
Clear nail polish
16 in. Beading wire
Jewelry tools: wire cutter and flat nose pliers |
Instructions: |
- For each jewelry mold used, measure and mix one ounce of EasyCast per package instructions. Add four drops of Black pigment and stir thoroughly.
- Fill each desired mold shape 1/3rd full. Gently exhale over EasyCast poured pieces to remove bubbles as needed. Allow pieces to cure for 24 hours.
- Gently remove cast pieces from mold. If pieces are difficult to remove, twist mold tray, then push on back of mold cavity.
- With a small brush, apply a thin layer of the metal leaf adhesive to the concave portion of each cast piece.
- Apply gold leaf by gently tearing a small section and smoothing it onto cast pieces. Gently brush off excess gold leaf.
- Wrap the large ceramic tile with wax paper, then secure with tape to back; the tile must sit absolutely flat or level. Place each cast piece flat side down on the wax paper covered tile. At this point, the cast pieces will have a concave shape that will hold the next layer of EasyCast. This concave area can be filled, creating a dome effect on each piece.
- Cut small pieces of both Gossamer fibers and arrange on the surface of the EasyCast pieces; overlap gossamer fibers onto gold leaf sections.
- Mix one ounce of EasyCast. Using a plastic spoon or a thin stir stick, fill each cast piece. To control filling, apply mixed EasyCast drop by drop until a slight dome is created. Be careful not to overfill! Allow pieces cure to 24 hours.
- With a small drill or Dremel tool, drill a small hole approximately 1/16 inch from top of each cast piece. Clean hole with a piece of wire or paperclip. The hole may look white, placing a few drops of clear nail polish in the hole will make the hole less noticeable; wipe excess polish from cast piece immediately.
- Cut a 16” length of beading wire and begin stringing the necklace. The pattern from the clasp is one 4mm gold bead, one crimp bead, 2 gold 4 mm, one thin gold, one gold 4mm, three turquoise beads, 1 gold 4mm, 1 thin gold, 1 gold 4 mm, 3 turquoise, 1 gold 4mm, three turquoise, cast piece followed by 1 turquoise, one thin gold, 1 turquoise. Use the two turquoise plus 1 thin gold combo between each cast piece. String the last two inches with 3 turquoise, 1 gold 4mm, three turquoise, 1 gold 4mm, 1 thin gold, 1 gold 4mm, 3 turquoise, 1 gold 4mm, one thin gold, 2 gold 4mm, crimp bead, one gold 4mm, then attach the crimp bead with loop. Attach clasp with jump rings.
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Supplies: |
Castin’Craft – EasyCast Clear Casting Epoxy, 8 oz. kit.
1 Sheet Mylar Fantasy Film Strawberry color from Art Institute
Glitter Gold Dust Flakes and Mylar Flakes from Arnold Grummer.
Chunky gourmet sea salt (Sea salt is optional but will give the piece a more crystalline look).
1 Metal photo charm bracelet with pre-drilled holes.
24-30 5mm gold beads |
Tools: |
White acrylic craft paint
White craft glue 18 in.
Stretch beading cord
E-6000 glue
Mixing cups, sticks and plastic spoons
Plastic or wax paper |
Instructions: |
- Paint the inside of each charm bracelet section with white acrylic craft paint, let dry.
- Cut small squares of Mylar Fantasy Film and glue one to the inside of each charm.
- Apply a small amount of Gold Dust flake and the Mylar flake on top of the Mylar Fantasy Film with white glue.
- Sprinkle just a couple of salt chunks on top of the Mylar flakes and gold dust.
- Measure and mix one ounce of EasyCast per package instructions.
- Place each charm flat on work surface; protect work surface with plastic or waxed paper. Using a plastic spoon, carefully apply a small amount of EasyCast to each charm. EasyCast will form a slight dome. Take care to not overfill charm.
- Gently exhale on the freshly poured EasyCast charm pieces to remove bubbles as needed. Allow pieces to cure 24 hours.
- Gently remove cast pieces from mold. If pieces are difficult to remove, twist mold tray, then push on back of mold cavity.
- Cut two 9-inch lengths of stretch cord. Thread a cord through each of the two holes in the charm. (I alternated the direction of the rectangle shaped charms.) After threading both cords through, add two gold beads onto each cord, add a charm and continue until all pieces are strung. Seven-inch length is average for bracelets; adding or subtracting beads may be needed to create a comfortable fitting bracelet.
- Tie the ends of the stretch cord using surgeon’s knots and secure with a dab of E-6000 glue. Let glue dry for 24 hours then trim cord ends.
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