There are so many creative crafts that can be done with epoxy resins. They make incredible gifts and you can also start a business selling your crafts. If you are planning to learn resin crafts, there are certain things you should be aware of first.
You will find that epoxy resin comes in two parts including the hardener and the resin. The combination will start to heat up when you mix them. The chemical reaction that takes place will convert the liquid to a solid. You need to read the label of the brand to see which ratio you should mix the hardener and the resin. This is usually 1:1. Once you mix, you are left with a limited amount of time to work with it. Make sure to mix the two parts slowly. Once they are mixed, there should be no streaks. Any bubbles that form will rise to the surface and you can use a heat gun to remove them. Before you start, you need to set up your work area in a ventilated space. You should wear gloves to keep your skin from being in contact with the resin. The work area should be covered with a material that will not stick to the resin. Parchment paper is a good option to consider. You should be working on a level surface and make sure you are working in an environment that will not be disturbed for a few days allowing the resin to cure well.
There can be pet hair and dust that gets into the resin while it cures. To prevent this, you can cover the mould with a plastic container. You also need to consider the additions for the craft you are using. This can be glitter, pigments etc. If you are adding coloured paper, you need to make sure they are sealed before you put it in the resin. Otherwise, it will change colour when wet and the final product will not look as good. You can seal the paper using glue. There are also items that will not change colour when wet such as beads and stickers. You don’t need to seal these. You can use any kind of pigment with resin but if you want to achieve what you are expecting, it is best to use colours that are designed for resin. This way, you can be sure that the colours will not fade over time or affect the texture of the resin. For example, if you are selling your crafts, you need to make sure the pigments used will not fade over time or change into something else. You have to be careful when pouring resin into a mould. You will be able to control the pour if you use a smaller cup. When using a combination of colours, it is best to add a lot of white as it can get overwhelmed by other colours easily. To prevent bubbles from forming in your resin, you can use a heat gun. If you mix the resin and hardener violently, it will create a lot of air bubbles that will be hard to get rid of. When using acrylic paint to colour resin, it is best to go with thicker paint. However, water colours should not be used with resin as water will prevent the resin from curing.
