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Alcohol Inks and Photo Silhouettes in Resin

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SCROLL DOWN FOR DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES

resin tutorials jewelry making alcohol inks photo keepsakes casting

 

 

PART 1: CASTING LARGE SHAPES

Here's the first in a series of quick tutorials showing different effects you can create when layering alcohol inks behind photo silhouettes.

For these projects you'll need:

Brilliant Resin

Shiny finish molds

Special Photo Paper for Resin

Alcohol Inks - any colors + white  CLICK HERE for recommendations

Sharp scissors

Clear Packing Tape (optional)

Whatever ribbon, chains, or other findings you want to finish your projects.

This shows the fronts and backs of these pretty ornaments:

alcohol inks in epoxy resin with photos colorant keepsakesalcohol inks in epoxy resin with photos colorant keepsakes

 resin casting photo keepsake alcohol ink

 

Another example with another cheeky photo!

alcohol inks in epoxy resin with photos colorant keepsakes

PART 2:  CASTING Special Effects for JEWELRY MAKING

resin casting alcohol inks photo keepsakes jewelry making

For these projects you'll need:

Brilliant Resin

Shiny finish molds

Special Photo Paper for Resin

Alcohol Inks - any colors + white  CLICK HERE for recommendations

Sharp scissors, straight pin and/or toothpick

Paper towels

Clear Packing Tape (optional)

Whatever pins, jumprings, keychains, chains, or other findings you want to finish your projects.

 

resin casting alcohol inks photo keepsakes tutorial       resin casting alcohol inks photo keepsakes jewelry making       resin casting alcohol inks photo keepsakes jewelry making
resin casting alcohol inks photo keepsakes jewelry making resin casting alcohol inks photo keepsakes jewelry making

PART 3: DRAMATIC EFFECTS in Cabochon Castings

resin casting jewelry making alcohol inks photo jewelry dramatic effects

resin casting jewelry making alcohol inks photo jewelry dramatic effects

Same supplies as above, used in different ways to create amazing and dramatic color effects in resin.  Try with our without photos for unique, dimensional resin castings!

 

 resin casting jewelry making alcohol inks photo jewelry dramatic effects

resin casting alcohol inks special effects jewelry making

resin casting alcohol inks special effects jewelry makingresin casting jewelry making alcohol inks photo jewelry dramatic effects

Same materials as above :)

More videos to come!

ALCOHOL INK DRIP TECHNIQUE

resin casting alcohol inks bangle bracelets

There's lots of fun to be had by incorporating alcohol inks into Brilliant Resin, here are a few techniques you can try,  CLICK HERE for alcohol ink recommendations:

Simple colors

You can add color between layers of resin for beautiful organic looks, or to add dimension.  Inks can be painted on, or dripped and blotted. 

resin casting alcohol inks blue waves earrings

resin casting alcohol inks jewelry making earring necklace

 

STICKER RESIST TECHNIQUE

resin cast alcohol inks resist stickers jewelry

resin casting alcohol inks monogram jewelry making

Step 1 - Cast clear layer of Brilliant Resin in any mold and allow to set up.

Step 2 - Place a monogram sticker on the resin, rub it down well, then drip, daub, or paint inks over it.  Allow to dry, then remove the sticker. 

Step 3 - Add a layer of clear Brilliant Resin to seal it in.

 

Here's one on a white cast resin piece, outlined in silver ink:

resin casting alcohol inks monogram jewelrymaking

 

DRIPPING INKS ON CLEAR PHOTO FILM

resin casting doming alcohol inks jewelry

This is a fun way to create gorgeous glass-like looks. In the image above I dripped inks on a sheet of Clear Photo Film, which holds the inks very well, and then blew through a straw to splat them out. 

 resin casting alcohol inks bangle bracelets

resin casting little windows alcohol inks jewelry suncatcher

Here's what you'll need...

resin casting little windows alcohol inks bangle bracelets

Use the guide that comes with these molds to size your strips.

resin casting alcohol inks bangle bracelets little windows

resin casting little windows alcohol inks bangle braceletsresin casting little windows alcohol inks jewelry making

For these bangles and sun catchers, attach a sheet of Clear Photo Film to a stiff board (cardboard, a clipboard, or other white surface), prop it up at an angle and squeeze your inks at the top of the sheet, allowing them to run down.  For distinct colors let each one dry before adding the next color.  You can tip the sheet different ways to get all kinds of rivulet patterns, and try dripping pure alcohol in spots to create more intricate looks.  CLICK HERE for alcohol ink recommendations.  Have fun experimenting!

 

 

 

PETRI TECHNIQUES

As anyone who has tried this technique knows, it's trial and error until you figure out how to get the look you want. Our friend Myriam of Myriam's Nature has tons of well done video tutorials that can save you time and money, and give you great new ideas. 

resin casting petri bangle bracelets mold alcohol inks Myriams Nature

 

 

resin casting petri technique alcohol inks bangle bracelet

Here are some resin eyes I made using our Silicone Cabochons Mold, Brilliant Resin, White Resin Colorant, alcohol inks, and a black nail polish pen:

resin casting silicone cabochons mold resin petri eyes

 resin casting eyes petri alcohol inks

resin casting petri alcohol inks eyes

This is done in a similar way to the glitter eyes in this how-to video.

 

 

COLOR PHOTOS WITH ALCOHOL INK

You can also paint or blot alcohol inks onto our Special Photo Papers for selective color or design.  While the inks stay put nicely even with layering resin, some colors of alcohol inks shift in resin, and some fade faster than others.


resin casting alcohol inks test 

 

 

 

Ways to COLOR RESIN

Ways to COLOR RESIN

by Fran Valera

There are many ways to add color to Brilliant Resin, they each have pros and cons.  Here are the ones I love best, WITH HOW-TO VIDEOS:

 

Resin Color Film

This is the cleanest and easiest way if you're going for transparent color.  Just cut to fit the shape of your mold or resin piece.

resin casting color film for jewelry makingresin casting color film for jewelry making rainbow

resin color film triangles

 


resin cast cabochon collage sea vacation

 

resin bezel jewelry color film rose nunn hoops

resin jewelry color necklace earrings doming

WATCH THIS HOW-TO VIDEO: 

 

Here are some examples of how you can layer Resin Color Film:

resin jewelry layered color necklace casting

resin jewelry color film glitter heart necklace

 

Dichro-ISH Films 

Used with or without a black resin backing, these films add beautiful color and dimension.  Add a sheet, bits and pieces, or a cut-out shape.



WATCH THIS HOW-TO VIDEO: 

 

 

Liquid/Gel Resin Colorant

Great options for opaque color, these blend easily without adding many bubbles.  The black pieces below were made with our Dichro-ISH Black Colorant, the white stripes were made with our opaque White Resin Colorant.

resin crafting cast black with white stripes ASMR resin art black and white ASMR

resin crafting black and white hair clip barrette bracelet jewelry

 

 

resin casting black white marble jewelry making

 

resin casting jewelry making black white in bezels

Layers with colorant and glitter mixed in.  Shallow cast in 2" cavities.

resin casting color bands red glitter white black

You can have fun mixing colors too, either letting one set up a bit before adding another, or blending them together to create unique designs. 

I made the projects below using a bit of leftover black and white colored resin. I had some in my mixing cup from another project.  It was nice and thick as it had been sitting for about 1/2 hour, so I used it to make spots in the bottom of my Medium Rectangle Mold. I let those spots harden, then poured resin with our White Colorant mixed in over it. For the one with the white spots and black background I reversed the application.


This is a super-easy project, but the key is to let the color you'll use for the spots get nice and thick so it stays where you put it in your mold.

 

resin casting black white coloring cow designs moo

 

WATCH THIS HOW-TO VIDEO: 

Layering paint, nail polish, glitter, or photos:

resin casting crafting eyes glitter costume dragons

WATCH THIS HOW-TO VIDEO: 

 

Glitter 

From fine cut to big and chunky, WE LOVE GLITTER!  You can mix any color in with your resin batch.  CLICK "Resin Glitter Fun" to the right for more info and a how-to video 

resin casting color film for jewelry makingresin casting color film for jewelry making

resin casting glitter hearts for jewelry making

resin casting Halloween glitter hearts

resin casting photo glitter ornament stickers
resin casting glitter hearts hair clip

FOR MORE INFO WATCH THIS HOW-TO VIDEO: 

 

Combine Resin Color Film and Glitter!

resin casting cabochons glitter color jewelry making

 

resin casting earrings glitter hearts color film

 

resin casting color film glitter wire pumpkin necklace

 

Acrylic Paint 

Between layers of set resin, not mixed in as that can affect cure time and final results.

This piece was incorporated into a cabochons necklace.

resin casting cabochon frog on bezel necklace

 

These are acrylic paint skins, punched into heart shapes and domed with Brilliant Resin.  They're lightweight and each one is unique so they make great jewelry.

resin acrylic paint pour jewelry

 

resin acrylic paint pour jewelry making

 

 

Nail Polish

As with acrylics, paint between or over layers of set resin, don't mix it in as that can affect cure time and final results.

 

You can also combine acrylic paint and nail polish

FOR MORE INFO WATCH THIS HOW-TO VIDEO: 

 

Alcohol Inks 

Such fun!  From petri projects to painting on photos to splatter patterns, alcohol inks are so much fun to use in Brilliant Resin!  Here are some projects from our Double-Sided Molds tutorial
You can see the petri bangle technique in detail in this tutorial from Myriam's Nature
resin alcohol inks bangle bracelet mold petri technique
This can be hit-or-miss as some ink colors react with the resin in weird ways. Here are some experiments we've done by applying inks to a photo, and between layers of resin:

 

For this test I spashed alcohol inks onto our Clear Photo Film, then punched out some circles and domed them with Brilliant Resin.

brilliant resin alcohol inks splash on Clear Photo Film

Then I figured out how to create these tie-dye type looks:

Here's a hit from our friend Chrissy Lampitt, she added inks to the tile, then stamped, then sealed it all with resin:

You can mix a little alcohol ink into your resin for transparent color, but results vary, and if you add too much it will affect resin set-up.

 

In the Petri Technique you drip white and colored alcohol inks into resin, here are some examples of how this can look in cast eyes:

This technique is random, some are amazing others are duds.  Here are some of my favorites:

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON COLORANTS:

In this how-to video, you can fast-forward to 5:30 and 10:00 to focus on colorants:

  

 


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