Crafts made from acrylic resin. DIY epoxy resin and unique crafts made from it

Transparent epoxy resin - universal material, allowing you to do original table, jewelry, 3D floors. See how to create it yourself.

Transparent resin: types and their characteristics

For home crafts, epoxy is most often used. But in addition to making jewelry and souvenirs from it, this material is used to create polymer floors with a fashionable 3D effect. Thanks to this, the lower part of the room resembles the ocean with its underwater inhabitants, flowering fields and everything you could wish for.

The self-leveling floor is multi-level, one of the layers is a special canvas on which a drawing is applied using the color printing technique. Whatever story is captured there will be the same on self-leveling floors. Their surface consists of transparent resin, so the image on the canvas is clearly visible.

Products made from epoxy resin are durable, resistant to water and sun. One of the most popular epoxy resins is Magic Crystal-3D. It is used to create jewelry, decorative items, for filling 3D and glossy coatings.

Epoxy CR 100 epoxy resin is also used to create polymer floors, which is characterized by antistatic properties, wear resistance, and good chemical resistance.

Epoxy resin sold together with solvent. Typically these two substances are mixed in a 2:1 ratio immediately before use.

The second type of resin is acrylic. It is also used to create self-leveling floors and souvenirs. Acrylic resin is used for the manufacture of bathtubs, waterfalls and artificial reservoirs, and molds for casting products. Artificial stone, including artificial marble, is made from this material.

Perhaps you have heard about transparent designer sinks and bathtubs. This type of resin is used for them.

Transparent polyester resin is also used to create sanitary products. But this type of polymer is most often used in industrial production, not in home production. Transparent polymer resin is used in the automotive industry, shipbuilding industry, and auto tuning. Fiberglass, known to almost everyone, is made from polymer resins.

The most popular for home crafts is epoxy resin, as it costs less than acrylic. But for the production of small pieces of jewelry, it is better to take acrylic, which does not absorb air bubbles like epoxy. However, there are subtleties that will help prevent this trouble when working with cheaper material. You will soon learn about them.

How to make a countertop from epoxy resin?

If you need to update the old one, then take it into service interesting idea. To implement it you will need:

coins;
epoxy resin with thickener;
pliers;
mites;
varnish on water based;
autogen;
wooden slats;
glue.

If you are decorating wooden surface, wash it, let it dry, prime it and paint it. If you have an old coated countertop, you will need to remove it, then paint it.

The most difficult thing is to bend the coins and cut them. Pincers and pliers, as well as male power, will help you. But if any of this is missing, do not make side ends on the tabletop, place the coins only at the top, it will still turn out beautiful.

The coins will need to be washed. There are several ways to do this:

Pour Cola drink into the pan, put in the coins, and put on fire. The solution will boil and cleanse your money. You can simply pour this drink over the coins, do not heat them, but leave them overnight. By morning they will be clean.
Place the pan with coins and water on the fire. When the liquid boils, add a little vinegar and soda. The solution will foam, so add enough water to fill the pan no more than halfway.
Take advantage special means for purification, which is called Tarn-X. It is diluted in water according to the instructions, not in food containers, and coins are placed in it. The container must be carefully rotated over the sink to evenly moisten the money and thus wash it.

After using any of these methods, you must rinse the coins thoroughly in running water and put them to dry on towels. But you can also buy new coins from a bank.

Here's how to make the tabletop itself. Place coins on its surface, after which you need to fill them with a mixture of epoxy resin and thickener. But before that you need to make preparations.
If you don’t want to fuss for a long time, lay cellophane under the surface to be treated, and you can pour the resin. But after mixing with the thickener, you need to leave the mass for a while so that it hardens a little and is not too liquid.
In any case, it will flow down a little, so in order to save the solution, you need to periodically collect these drops with a spatula and apply them where there is little resin. But even if this is not done, the wiped resin will be on the cellophane, which should simply be thrown away when the work is completed.
You can first make from wooden slats or edging bars for the tabletop, then place coins and fill with epoxy resin.
Don't be disappointed if you see air bubbles on the surface you create. We drive them out with autogen flame.
Now you need to let the product dry completely, this will take a couple of days. At this time, the main thing is that no one touches the surface, that dust and animal hair do not settle.
After the resin has completely dried, coat the surface with water-based varnish; after it has dried, the new product is ready for use.

If you are interested in this process and have a whole piggy bank of coins, or maybe some metal money of the old denomination remains, then make a self-leveling floor, for example, in the bathroom or kitchen.

Epoxy resin jewelry: bracelet and brooch

See how to make a stylish bracelet from this material.

For him take:

a set consisting of epoxy resin with a thickener;
silicone mold for a bracelet;
plastic cup;
toothpick;
a stick (you can use an ice cream stick);
scissors;
dried flowers;
disposable syringes.

Pour 2 parts resin and one thickener into a glass.

To measure exact amount thickener and epoxy resin, use disposable syringes. To create as few air bubbles as possible, mix these mixtures slowly.

If air bubbles still remain, let the mixture sit for a while until they disappear. But don’t let it get too thick.

Pour the stringy mixture into the bracelet mold. Place dried flowers cut with scissors there, helping yourself with a toothpick. You can also use them to pierce air bubbles so that it comes out.

Leave the bracelet to harden for a day, then carefully remove it from the mold and try on your new fashion accessory.

Instead of dried flowers, you can decorate the bracelet with beautifully colored buttons.

If you want to make a brooch in the shape of a butterfly, then watch the next master class.

For it you will need:

dry butterfly bought in a store;
scissors;
epoxy resin with solvent;
two toothpicks;
gloves;
aqua varnish;
brooch mechanism.

Manufacturing instructions:

Cut the butterfly into 5 parts: separating the wings and bodies. Coat these parts with aqua varnish first on the reverse side.
Place the blanks on a surface covered with film. Suitable for this tile, on which the package is put on and secured.
Apply varnish to the front side of the butterfly. While it is drying, dilute the epoxy resin with the solvent, stirring slowly.
Place the container in a warm place so that the solution thickens a little and does not drip off the workpieces when pouring. Cover them with a small layer and spread it over the surface with a toothpick.
We wait until the parts dry, then we cover them with epoxy mixture on the back side. We also wait for this layer to dry, after which we dilute a third portion of the solution, set it aside so that it thickens well, but is plastic. This will make it easy to glue the wings to the body, which is what you will do. At the same time, give the wings the desired position.
Using the remaining solution, attach the metal mechanism to the back of the brooch. Remove the decoration, covering it from dust so that the solution is completely dry.

That's how you got a beautiful new brooch.

How to make a pendant: 2 master classes

See what other wonderful resin jewelry you can make with your own hands.

You will need:

epoxy resin with hardener;
metal mold;
disposable cups and spoons;
small scissors;
mandarin;
stained glass paint;
Fimo Vernis brillante fixing varnish;
stained glass paint;
sandpaper;
brooch holder;
Alcor silicone compound.

Peel the tangerine. Take the most beautiful slice, carefully, using scissors to catch the skin, remove it from one side. On the other side, a pin will subsequently be attached, not to the slice, but to a blank made from it.

Form 2 slices in this way and place them in the mold. Knead the silicone compound and pour it into the prepared container. Let the silicone harden.

Now you can remove the slices from the container, throw them away, and rinse the form itself in cold water. If the edges of the indentations are uneven, trim them with scissors.

After a day, the silicone will completely harden, then you can pour the prepared epoxy solution into the mold. When the workpiece is dry, sand it a little with fine sandpaper or an engraver. Attach a brooch clasp to the back of the blank and paint the tangerine with orange stained glass paint. Apply 1 layer first, then the second. After drying, brush the surface with varnish.

You can make such wonderful decorations from epoxy resin in the shape of a tangerine if you are diligent.

If you want to know how to make a pendant round shape, then check out another master class. For it you will need:

dried flowers;
molds for filling round shapes;
epoxy resin;
thickener;
disposable plastic cups;
tweezers;
scissors;
sandpaper;
polishing paste;
felt nozzle;
accessories for a pendant.

If you don't have round molds, then take a plastic ball. It needs to be sawed in half, greased inside with Vaseline. After pouring the resin, seal the cut with plasticine so that it does not leak out.

In the absence of purchased dried flowers, make them yourself from a given bouquet. Dry voluminous flowers, such as roses, by tying them to the stems and lowering the buds down. If you want to dry individual petals, then place them between the pages of an old book. Fragile voluminous flowers are dried in a container into which semolina is poured.

It is important to dry these blanks well, since if the process is not performed well, the flower or part of it will rot over time while in the pendant. To ensure that the plant retains its color for as long as possible, use epoxy resin that protects against ultraviolet radiation.

Assemble a mini-bouquet by gluing flowers, petals, and leaves using epoxy resin mixed with a thickener.

When it hardens, carefully place this small bouquet in a round mold or half a plastic ball. Freshly prepared solution epoxy mixture you need to leave it for 2-3 minutes so that the air comes out and the bubbles do not spoil it appearance products. Now you can pour the resin into the mold and wait until it thickens.

While you get a ball like this, it will not be completely even in shape. To fix this, first go over the surface with a coarse-grain sandpaper, then with a fine-grain sandpaper. It is better to do this in water so that there is no dust and the process goes faster.

The next stage is polishing. A polish for plastic or for headlights, purchased at a car dealership, works well for this. Apply it to a felt nozzle, go over the workpiece from all sides.

Here's how to make the pendant next. To attach the chain to the ball, take a cap and a pin.

Place a pin on the cap and use pliers to fold it into a loop. Glue this blank to the pendant with epoxy resin.

All you have to do is attach the chain and enjoy wearing such an unusual pendant.

And now we invite you to sit comfortably in a chair and watch an educational story about how to make a ring from wood and epoxy resin.

These two materials are also the main characters next video. From it you will learn how to make a table using a similar technique.

Material such as plexiglass is widespread and used in many fields.
human activity. It is used in the roof glazing of modern greenhouses; the material is also in great demand in industrial and household glazing, different kinds protective fencing is also made using this durable material, production is also not complete without durable acrylic.

In stores you can find a huge selection of plexiglass products, these are:

bathroom accessories;
shower cabins;
kitchen aprons;
all kinds of shelves;
advertising posters;
boxes;
awnings, canopies;
dishes;
stained glass windows and various other elements.

Products made from this durable material are in demand. transparent material in offices, advertising, trade, these are price tag holders, stands for various products, menu holders, stands for business cards, stands for Cell phones, holders for jewelry and cosmetic products.

It is convenient to make products from acrylic and plexiglass, because processing the material is quite simple, there is no need to use special tools. It is thanks to these characteristics that plexiglass is actively used in the manufacture of various decorative elements, both on a production scale and with your own hands.

DIY acrylic products

If you wish, you can do it yourself, without special equipment make a product from plexiglass at home. Making such an item will require you to have this very acrylic; you may also need a cutter or jigsaw for cutting; for gluing, prepare a special glue based on acrylic shavings. If you are not going to work with a new element of plexiglass, then you may need to perform a polishing or grinding step in order to remove any existing damage or scratches from the surface of the material.

Plexiglas phone stand

A product such as a phone stand can be made at home. You can come up with a non-standard design, for example, adding a round or other geometric shape element. Below we will consider what is required to make such a stand and directly describe the manufacturing process.

You will need:

wire, it should be nichrome, 0.5-1mm thick, length within 30-50cm;
12V power supply;
a flat board, a furniture board will do;
plexiglass.

The peculiarity of the chosen material is that products from plexiglass and acrylic can be made with a smooth bend. In order to make a homemade cutter, you need to secure the prepared wire along the even end of the board. On the one hand, you can hook it onto a self-tapping screw, on the other hand, it is worth providing a “tensioner”, this is necessary in order to eliminate the possibility of the wire sagging when it is heated. You can use a spring available on the farm as a “tensioner”.

When the thread is secured, connect it to a power source, it is better if it has the ability to adjust the power. At this stage, you already have a product ready for bending plexiglass.

Now you need to prepare the workpiece of the desired size. Sand its ends with sandpaper, this will be the first stage. To get a really neat edge, use final stage processing GOI paste and a soft piece of fabric. After processing the ends, your workpiece should have neat edges, without grooves or hooks.

Next, you need to carefully bend the future stand. It is necessary to place the part on the edge of the bending board, the bend line should be located directly above the tensioned wire. Turn on a heating element and wait about five minutes. When the workpiece is warmed up, start bending.

Important!!! You need to bend the workpiece in the opposite direction from the heater.

When performing each new fold, give the workpiece time to cool, so to speak, fix the action. As a result of these simple manipulations, you can make your own acrylic phone holder with your own design.

Designers and craftswomen have learned to preserve entire worlds frozen in glass. In fact, all these shells, tiny buds, leaves and insects are forever frozen not in glass or amber, but in simple epoxy resin that is accessible to everyone. And you don’t need to have a laboratory or a separate room to create it yourself. Today we will learn how to create epoxy resin with your own hands, and then use it to make your own masterpiece.

Advantages of epoxy resin and its differences from epoxy glue

Despite the fact that the word “resin” is present in the name, you will not find natural ingredients, because it is a completely synthetic product, created in laboratories for many areas - from construction to handicrafts.

Epoxy resin is a mixture of two components: a hardener and the resin itself. Depending on the ratio of the parts of the hardener and resin included in it, it can be thick, liquid or even dense. Therefore, it is very important to follow the label instructions when mixing epoxy resin at home.

Properties of epoxy resin

Epoxy resin is great for creating jewelry, decorative items, and even coating large surfaces. It has the following properties:

it is very durable
not subject to abrasive wear,
transparent,
well waterproofed,
absolutely non-toxic after hardening.

Don’t forget that you can also find epoxy glue on store shelves, which is completely unsuitable for us. Let's start with the fact that the glue itself is a derivative product of resin. It contains not only epoxy resin, but also a solvent, plasticizer, hardener and filler. Therefore, it is also durable, not subject to wear and holds the parts being glued tightly.

Differences between resin and glue

There are significant differences between resin and glue, which reveal disadvantages that are unacceptable for our purposes:

The glue has certain time hardening, which cannot be controlled, while the hardening of the resin can be accelerated.
The resin remains transparent for a long time, while the glue quickly begins to turn yellow.
Epoxy glue is less elastic and hardens faster, while resin is more pliable and allows you to work with it with more precision.
Glue can only be used to join parts together, while resin is suitable for making beads and other shapes of a given shape.
Depending on the proportion used when mixing the resin and hardener, we can get the desired consistency that suits our needs; the glue is sold as a ready-made mixture.

Safety rules when working with resin

In order to avoid harm from the vapors that are formed when mixing the hardener and resin (the polymerization process entails significant heat generation), it is necessary to follow some safety rules.

Arm yourself with gloves.
Wear a protective mask or respirator to prevent harm to yourself.
Ventilate the room while working.
Warn your household not to enter the room while you are busy, or be sure to wear a mask.
Before you start, organize your workplace so as not to be distracted afterwards.

If you don’t have a special surface to work on, you can use film or a simple file so you don’t have to worry about the table and what might happen to it during work.

How to make your own epoxy resin

After reading the instructions, preparing all the materials and work area, and following safety precautions, you can begin creating epoxy resin for your ideas.

So, to create epoxy resin with your own hands we will need:

resin and hardener,
disposable syringes or measuring cups,
stirring stick (toothpick, skewer or other piece of wood of suitable length).

Carefully read the instructions for the components of the epoxy resin

First, mix the components in one small container.

The components must be mixed in accordance with temperature regime no higher than +25°C.

The most convenient way to measure required quantity resin and hardener with disposable syringes, so you will know the exact proportion and will not lose a single drop when pouring them into a common vessel. Or use measuring cups, bearing in mind that from now on they cannot be used for anything else.

Do not try to make reserves, because once the mixture polymerizes, it becomes unsuitable for further use.

Gently mix the resulting composition in a circle to reduce the likelihood of bubbles appearing, because they can ruin the appearance of the epoxy resin craft.

If bubbles cannot be avoided, then they can be dealt with. To do this, you first need to let the mixture settle and then heat it up. The bubbles will definitely rise to the surface, which will allow us to carefully remove them. After this, the mixture can be used for your ideas.

Treatment of resin after hardening

Once the resin has cured, it may need to be treated as the composition may appear cloudy or uneven. Thanks to the elasticity of the composition, we can bring it to mind, and not throw it away in disappointment, thinking that nothing worked out for us.

The resin became cloudy after hardening

For sanding the product, sandpaper or even a milling cutter for polishing nails is suitable.

Since there will be a lot of dust during sanding, it is worth wearing a respirator, and it is best to moisten the sandpaper with water.

In this master class from DreamWorkshop you will find step by step photos resin creation process and several great advice How to make cured resin transparent and smooth using the simplest tools.

DIY epoxy resin crafts

So, we learned how to make epoxy resin ourselves, talked about precautions and organization of the workplace. It's time to try your hand further. After all, creating crafts from epoxy resin with your own hands is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

To begin with, it is worth noting that a material such as epoxy resin is quite versatile and can be used in needlework in different ways. It is used to create both individual jewelry and fittings, which complement works made using other techniques. It is great for figurines, cabochons and even stained glass.

Creating crafts using pouring molds - molds

The most common form of using resin is to fill silicone molds with it. The resulting blanks can be used in the future as pendants, beads, pendants, key rings, etc. The variety of molds allows you to create even rings and bracelets from epoxy resin.

Such molds should be made of high-quality platinum silicone, which will be resistant to the solution being poured and will allow the frozen product to be easily removed from it.

Advantages of molds

The advantages of such filling forms are precisely that:

Currently you can buy them at any handicraft store
they are plastic
do not react with resin
don't stick to it

What decor to use when creating crafts

Molds are great for pouring dried flowers, foliage, moss or shells into them - any three-dimensional element. To do this, you only need epoxy resin, a suitable silicone mold, and pre-prepared decorative elements.

Be sure to pay attention to preparation! Leaves, flowers and buds must be thoroughly dried so that over time they do not turn black, spoiling the appearance of the finished product. It is best to degrease shells, crystals and stones with alcohol or solvent, and then dry them too.

You can add not only dense decorative elements to the resin, but also gold leaf, glitter and even stained glass paint, but not much (so as not to spoil the ratio of the main components and not to violate the specified consistency).

Crafts made from epoxy resin can be decorated with plants...

...sparkles...

With this method of filling, decorative elements are most often unevenly distributed over the shape of the product. This is clearly seen in the example with the bracelet:

In the case when the decorative elements are small, heavy and/or you just want to place them in the center of the mold, it is first recommended to fill the mold with resin, and then immerse the necessary decor into it - leaves, small shells, dried berries - whatever your heart desires!

Method 2. When the resin has settled, pour it into the mold in a thin stream, distribute it evenly throughout the entire mold, and then immerse the selected decorative elements into it, helping yourself with a toothpick.

If you are limited in time or are afraid of bubbles, you can put the pan in the oven, preheated to 80°C (turned off and ventilated) for 15-20 minutes. After this, let the workpiece stand in the mold for at least a day so as not to damage the surface of the resin. Carefully remove the bracelet and polish it with top side and varnish for greater preservation.

First, prepare the clay - roll out or twist strips of the desired length using a paste machine, rolling pin or extruder. Then wrap the resulting blank around the shape you like to make a frame, and send it to the oven, following the instructions on the clay pack.

When the frame for your future decoration has cooled, free it from the mold and you can start filling it with epoxy resin.

More details on the technology of making frames from polymer clay can be found in the master class by the author Rusalina.

Method 2: wire frame

If you are familiar with the basics of the Wire Wrap technique, then wire will come to your aid, which can be twisted into any frame or base to surprise others with your author’s vision of jewelry.

Method 3: working with wood

Working with homemade poured molds allows you to go beyond the boundaries imagined by hardware manufacturers. But still, such a combination of techniques requires more perseverance, accuracy and time, since now you create frames and frames yourself, which is a labor-intensive, but at the same time very interesting process.

Natural wood means naturalness...

…beauty…

…and style

However, such products are not so easy to make, and they also require a whole arsenal special tools, because the tree itself needs full processing and cleaning so that the result does not disappoint.

But if difficulties and painstaking work are your passion, and you already have tools for woodworking in the house, then be sure to try yourself in the unique technique of creating crafts from epoxy resin different sizes and appointments.

Is decoration all epoxy resin can do?

And yet, despite the fact that these days we most often see epoxy resin only as decoration, it continues to be popular in other areas. So it is used to fill knife handles, to decorate flash drives, key rings and even pens.

A experienced craftsmen We went even further by using epoxy resin to fill larger surfaces. Tables with an incredible imitation of water in the middle or a simple and smooth surface from which an original image emerges, more resistant to fading - this is a reality created by those who love to challenge their talent.

Wooden tabletop with transparent epoxy resin insert

The table top is completely filled with epoxy resin

Those who remain faithful to small forms have also found their own signature style: pocket mirrors and even articulated dolls! It turns out that resin can realize any of our ideas.

As you can see, epoxy resin is capable of a lot and is limited only by the imagination of those who are seriously interested in working with it. Try and go from your first cabochons and beads to masterpieces worthy of the world’s museums of crafts made from epoxy resin!

Greetings, brain talents! How about making a painting... a 3D painting? This article will help you create one brain games, consisting of several painted layers of epoxy resin.

Disclaimer 🙂 3D creation crafts will require a lot more 4-dimension. All these spaces require patience, but the results are worth it.

Step 1: Materials

First of all, let's talk a little about security.

It is important to take appropriate precautions when working with epoxy resin, including reading and following the manufacturer's warnings. I will not retell them, but nevertheless I will note that when working with epoxy it is necessary to avoid contact with brain mixtures on the skin and inhaling its vapors during mixing and hardening.

I use the following protection measures:

eye protection
latex gloves
respirator
and an isolated room in which the homemade product is left while the epoxy resin is curing.

We've sorted out the safety, let's move on to the materials and tools:

epoxy resin (such as Parks Super Glaze)
disposable measuring cups 230ml
wooden mixing sticks
a reservoir that will serve as a boundary contour
construction hair dryer
paint brushes
acrylic paints

Step 2: Preparing the Mixture

If you are going to be precise in the thickness of the layers, then you first need to calculate the required number of mixture components for one layer. To do this, determine the number of layers that you plan to obtain, and divide the depth of your restrictive tank by this value, thereby obtaining required thickness layer. My layers are usually about 3mm thick.

Then we multiply the calculated layer thickness by the area of the tank, and we get the volume of one medulla. One fluid ounce is 29.6 cm3.

Divide the number of ounces in one layer by 2 to get the final number of ounces that should be measured for each of the resin components, A and B.

Now we put on protective equipment. After this, pour equal amounts of component A and component B into a measuring cup - for my epoxy resin their ratio is 1:1 - and mix for at least two minutes. The mixture is quite viscous, so we carefully “scrape” it from the sides and pay attention to places where it might not mix. In the end, the mixture should be homogeneous (although at this point there will be a large number of air bubbles in it). Now we are ready to pour!

Step 3: Pouring Resin and Removing Bubbles

The following steps must be performed in a space free of dust and hair, although dust will be present in your homemade, but we will dwell on it later.

Fill
Pour the prepared mixture into the restrictive tank and tilt it in different directions so that it spreads evenly along the bottom. If you want, you can rock it so that the resin covers the walls of the tank, and this will make it easier to scrape off any pieces of paint that may have been there by accident, without wetting the walls it will be more difficult to do this.

Removing bubbles
Turn on the hairdryer at minimum power and heat the reservoir with the mixture, evenly moving it over it. We don’t stay in one place for too long so as not to burn the resin and cause it to crack. ( Valuable advice: blow out dust from the hairdryer by turning it on and rotating it in some other place, not over under the tree).

The bulk of the large bubbles will come out quite quickly (and at first glance will look quite satisfactory), but it is worth paying more attention to the “crumbs”. We highlight the filled layer and look for the presence of small bubbles; if they are present, they will cast shadows.

Step 4: “Dusty” procedures

When we highlight the filled layer and look for bubbles, we can see specks and fibers on the surface of the layer. During the implementation of this brain games, short of creating it in a sort of "laboratory environment", these specks of dust, hair or fibers are so annoying, but almost impossible to get rid of them completely. However, with correct technique(and a little luck) the dust in the 3D painting will be almost invisible.

FYI: It's really amazing how much dust and hair there is everywhere. They “float” in the air and we breathe them all the time... I think working with epoxy resin will surprise you a lot with how much is happening around us at the micro level.

Search for dust particles and hairs
So, highlighting the resin layer, we take a closer look at the highlights on its surface. Specks on this surface will be visible due to the “disturbing” reflection surface tension resin. We explore the entire surface brain pictures to find these annoying particles. At the same time, we concentrate on the larger ones, since the too small ones mostly disappear after pouring the next layer, but you should make sure that all the large hairs and fibers are found, they will be visible.

Removing debris
To “catch” garbage, you can use “bait” from scraps of paper. The corners of paper are especially good at this, as they catch the fibers nicely. These “baits” should not be used again, otherwise you can again “contaminate” the layer with previously caught garbage.

Covering layers
After the resin is cleared of debris, it is worth covering it with something while it hardens to protect it from debris. For this I mainly use foil or a board with which I cover the tank. The advantage of metal brain foils the fact that it can tightly wrap the entire tank, because dust is such a “magical” substance that it can seep through the smallest holes...

Actions with “mean” specks
But what to do if large specks of dust, or even worse, hair, are embedded in the layer, but it has already frozen? You may have to change the concept of the painting to hide them. For example, I had to add elements to paintings more than once to do this. But nevertheless, usually all these additions, caused by initial defects, I ended up liking. Problem solving is one of the most attractive features art and design. Don't cry over spilled milk, find something nice brain solution! However, if you need to really clean something up, you can sand it with epoxy to remove the defect, it's a bit of a hassle...but we'll look at it later.

Step 5: Curing the Resin

While the resin is curing, you must keep the reservoir in a place where you will not inhale its fumes. The resin hardening process itself occurs due to heat, and not exposure to air or evaporation, so you should not leave the resin reservoir in a cold place, as this will significantly slow down the process. On the other hand, you can warm it up brain trick to speed up hardening, but not too much - follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

I once left a reservoir of resin in a preheated oven for too long, and it turned out... really bad (see photo). At room temperature The layer takes about 8 hours to dry, after which you can paint on it!

Step 6: Drawing

Now that the epoxy resin layer is ready, the fun begins!

Painting on resin is different from painting on canvas because the surface of the resin is so smooth that the paint doesn't "catch" to it, making it difficult to paint opaque strokes in one go, but at the same time it gives a great opportunity to paint translucent details!

The photo shows a brush stroke, and as you can see it is transparent, but if you need to make it opaque, you will have to wait until it dries braincolors and apply another layer on top. Another big advantage of painting with resin is the ability to wash off the paint without much difficulty if it is not dry, and if it is dry, you can scrape it off. That is, you can create sketches and experiment with the brush, and if unsuccessful, simply erase or clean off the paint. At the same time, even if while cleaning you slightly scratched the surface, then when pouring a new layer these small scratches will disappear.

To get crisp, even edges, I sometimes use duct tape, and you can see this in the photos provided, the last 4 of which show the first 4 layers.

Preparation for pouring the next layer
After the drawing process is completed, it is necessary to clean the surface in order to brain picture was “crystal” clear. For this I use damp paper napkins, after which I also wipe with microfiber, and I control the process using the same trick of highlighting the surface and observing the reflection, thereby finding stains and removable debris. And again, don’t worry about minor scratches that may appear after cleaning.

Having finished cleaning, return to the previous step and repeat brain procedure pouring the layer, hardening and applying the pattern, and so on until the tank is completely filled crafts!

Step 7: Repair Large Defects

With your homemade may happen various troubles, which may become critical. For example, in the photo above, the top layer of epoxy resin was touched by the material I used to cover it from dust during curing, and which left an unpleasant mark on the layer in the lower right corner. The flaw was significant, and I needed to somehow fix it...

Stripping
If the defect is critical and needs to be eliminated in any case, then you can simply clean the defect completely and fill it again, so that ideally it becomes transparent again. If this is the case, DO wear a respirator, yes, and take other precautions to ensure that neither you nor anyone else breathes in the dust being scrubbed off. You don't want to clog your lungs with particulates, which are essentially very small pieces of plastic.

If the defect being repaired is too deep, you can use a Dremel or other similar tool to clean it out to speed up the process. Next, you should clean the area with high-grit sandpaper, and gradually increase it, bringing it to 600 grains, while wet sanding will significantly reduce the amount of sprayed solid particles.

After finishing sanding with 600 grit sandpaper, you can pour a new layer. brain pictures, and it will become transparent again. I'm still in the process of fixing the defect in the above painting, but the resin manufacturer has assured me that everything should turn out just right.

Step 8: Finishing Touches

To protect your brain games from exposure to UV radiation, due to which the epoxy turns yellow, it is necessary to cover it with a special protective filter. Epoxy 3D painting turns out to be quite heavy, so for its finishing you should use materials that can withstand its weight. I cut the body of my first painting using a laser cutter from white acrylic, which holds the UV filter, but does not hold the painting itself. under the tree. So to hang my 3D painting, I screwed eye hooks into a wooden containment tank and tied wire to them.

Step 9: Get creative!

Here are some more photos of my masterpieces, and I hope you like them...:) I also started experimenting with glass containers, and these homemade products quite elegant, since you can see right through them from different sides. Besides, upper layer reflects the internal ones and looks cool - you can see this in the second photo.

If you are interested, you can check out my other crafts, and I can't wait to see what others have created using this 3D painting technique! And let all your bubbles come out and the dust particles be invisible! Good luck to all!

Epoxy can be used to make various items; it is actively used in industry and construction. Unusual jewelry is made from this material, they are poured into prepared molds, and after a day the material hardens thanks to a hardener.

Benefits of epoxy resin

Epoxy items have a number of advantages, first of all, they have good resistance to acidic environments, and chemical compositions. After curing, the workpiece does not emit toxic substances and does not shrink. The items are durable and have a low level of moisture absorption. The resin has a long service life, that is increased wear resistance.
It takes time to harden when adding larger portion hardener, the process does not occur faster. In order for the resin to quickly harden, the material is heated, increasing the temperature by 10 degrees of the required value.
Some material may harden without heating. The speed of hardening is affected by temperature and the type of material with which you have to work.

Using epoxy to fill various items?

In order for the composition to harden, it is necessary to perform work at a certain temperature -5, +190 degrees. That is, resins can be of two types, cold and hot curing. When doing work with your own hands, you usually use cold-set material, this makes it possible to make products if heating cannot be done for some reason.
In order for manufactured items to be resistant to aggressive substances, it is necessary to perform the work by heating.
Epoxy resin is used in different directions; it is used to impregnate fiberglass, which is used in mechanical engineering or radioelectrics. The material can serve as an excellent waterproofing material, thus the resin can provide reliable protection basements, swimming pools or flooring. Various room decorations are made from resin to add originality to the interior.

Proper preparation of the composition

To make resin products, it is necessary to prepare materials, that is, epoxy resin and hardener. When working, be aware that when a lot of resin is heated, a large amount of heat can be generated.
There are several types of resin that can cure instantly or after mixing with a hardener. When working with such material, you must comply the right technology, otherwise the resin may boil and deteriorate. Therefore, when choosing a material, you need to consult with the seller about the method of preparing the resin. After hardening, you should get a transparent, uniform piece.
To make large or bulky items, a plasticizer is added to the composition and the temperature is increased, heating the material, the viscosity of the epoxy becomes less. Heat the resin in a water bath, then lower the material into a bowl of water and cool to 50 degrees. This heating method can increase the curing of the resin. If the composition boils, foam will appear on top and the liquid will become cloudy. This mixture is not used; it is necessary to reduce the viscosity of the material; for this, a solvent is added, but this will affect the quality of the product.

Water should not get into the resin or hardener, otherwise the composition will begin to become cloudy. A plasticizer is added to the resin, gradually heating the material. To thoroughly mix all the ingredients, use a special electric mixer or drill with an attachment. Plasticizer is added in amounts up to 10 percent.
Then the hardener is poured, the resin is cooled to 30 degrees in advance. In this case, the ratio of substance and resin is 1 to 10. All components must be well mixed to obtain a high quality product. The hardener is poured in gradually to avoid boiling of the resin.

Self-filling of objects

When performing work, it is necessary to act consistently, adhering to a certain technology. The manufactured item must be of high quality, transparent, and free of air bubbles. It is necessary to achieve uniform hardening of the resin from the inside, and outside.
The resin is poured into prepared molds, which are lubricated with Vaseline so that the workpiece can be easily removed. To give the workpiece a certain color, various dyes are used in powder form. Three hours after pouring the mold, the resin begins to harden. Complete hardening of the product occurs within a week.
Then they begin cutting and sanding the product. When using dyes, the powder in the composition must be thoroughly mixed so that the coloring is uniform. Coloring elements must be different high quality, otherwise the resin may become cloudy.

Safety rules when working with resin

When working, you must remember that the resin releases toxic substances when heated, so you should use all protective equipment.

When performing work, you cannot use food utensils, which will later be used for products. Such containers are considered unsuitable for food purposes.
Hands must be protected with long gloves to avoid burns or allergic reactions. Goggles are worn to protect the eyes, and a respirator will ensure respiratory safety.
The resin can be stored for about a year, and then is considered unsuitable for making products, so the material must be used within this period.
If the resin gets on the skin, wash it off with plenty of soapy water. This must be done immediately to avoid burns.
If the composition is prepared indoors, it should be well ventilated.
All components must be on hand for quick execution. necessary work. Forms can be made independently or purchased in stores.

How to make jewelry from resin?

To make earrings you will need resin and dried flowers of forest grass. First, prepare the epoxy composition using the instructions, mix all the ingredients, then leave the material until the required viscosity appears, this takes about 2 hours. After this time, air bubbles will disappear from the mixture.

Stencils of any arbitrary shape are drawn on paper; they can be round, oval or unusual.
Then you need to prepare the surface; it is covered with oilcloth. There should be no grains or dust particles on the surface. And its structure should be smooth without differences or flaws.
Stencils are laid on the film, and regular files are placed on top. Resin is poured onto the file and distributed over the entire stencil, the edges are formed using a toothpick. The filling is made up to 3 centimeters high, and the top is covered with an oilcloth dome to prevent dust from getting onto the surface of the product.
Then the molds are left for a day to harden. After this, the blanks are removed from the film and shaped using a nail file or sandpaper. Thus, the edges of the product are processed.
Now you need to prepare a new portion of the composition and arrange the dried flowers. To do this, apply a little resin to the product and glue dry blades of grass onto it, leave it to dry, and cover it again with epoxy resin. Give the product its final shape using sandpaper.
A hole is drilled at the tip of the product into which the eyelet is threaded. After this, the product is considered ready.

To make a bracelet out of resin, you need to use a special mold, a mold. In this case, the pouring is performed slowly; the more accurately the work is done, the less sanding needs to be done. Twigs and leaves of dried flowers are placed in a circle and straightened with a toothpick. To remove air from the product, place the mold in the oven for 15 minutes, and the temperature should not exceed 80 degrees. Then the mold is taken out and the product is left to harden.

When the bracelet has completely hardened, it is removed from the mold and all uneven areas are sanded with sandpaper. To add shine to the surface of the product, it is coated with acrylic-based varnish. Countertops are also made from epoxy resin; for this you need to prepare old surface, build formwork around the edges, and pour the composition evenly. Dried flowers, coins or other decorative elements can be placed inside the resin. Using resin, they make an original bathroom floor with shells, starfish or other unusual jewelry. For beautiful picture use printed drawings. You can also make unusual decorative ornaments for rooms that will highlight the interior.