Filling an open bezel with resin and dried flowers.
I got a 50pcs kit of open bezels, dried flowers, and resin tape online recently. I thought I'd use my DecorRom UV Resin to make a dried flower bezel resin pendant. I worked in layers and did the best I could with this being my first time filling a bezel with resin. However, I struggled to know when to stop.
Setup and First Layer of UV Resin with Alcohol Inks
I worked in a well-ventilated area. In other words, I worked in my dining room with the back doors and windows opened. The curing process of UV resin emits a strong odor that triggers my migraines, so ventilation is important to me.
I opened my new 50pcs Open Bezel Pendants kit I got online a few weeks ago. The kit came with a variety of open bezel shapes, pressed (dried) leaves and flowers, and resin tape.
I picked out an open bezel and pressed it onto a piece of resin tape. I then poured a thin layer of my DecorRom UV Resin. I shared my thoughts about this product when I was first Trying DecorRom UV Resin last month. I used a toothpick to push the UV resin along the sides of the bezel.
After pouring what I hoped was a thin layer of UV resin, I added a few drops (no more than four drops total) of blue and pink alcohol inks. I used my DIY alcohol inks I mixed years ago, but store-bought alcohol inks would work as well. I used a toothpick to create a random swirl design in the UV resin.
I torched the bubbles, let the piece sit for a couple minutes to settle, and then cured it under a DIY dual UV lamp setup for four minutes.
Second Layer of UV Resin with Pressed Flowers
Once the piece cooled after curing, I peeled off the resin tape. I figured I didn't need the tape since I had a thin layer of cured UV resin that now served as the bezel's backing.
I pulled out the container of pressed, dried leaves and flowers. I looked through to find a flower that contrasted well against the darker blue and pink back of the bezel. A white flower showed best over the UV resin backing.
I poured a thin layer of UV resin over the already cured and colored UV resin in the bezel. I used tweezers to place and press a dried leaf in the bezel. I then used the tweezers to place and press the white flower over the leaf.
The pressed flower was raised. I wasn't sure how to flatten it more to fit within the height of the bezel's wall. I didn't know if I should've flattened the leaves and flowers prior to starting a resin craft project.
Then the UV resin started to "eat" holes into the flower petals. I didn't recall seeing this happen in YouTube videos I watched prior to trying this craft for myself. I'll need to research what I should do beforehand to prevent the UV resin from "eating" holes into the flower petals.
I added a few drops of UV resin over the leaf and flower. I wasn't sure if the leaf and flower needed to be submerged completely or not prior to curing. I added the few drops to play it safe.
I torched the bubbles, let the piece sit for a couple minutes to settle, and then cured it under a DIY dual UV lamp setup for four minutes.
Third Layer of UV Resin to Dome the Top
Because the flower was raised when I worked on my second layer of UV resin, the surface was textured and not leveled. I poured a thin layer of UV resin to dome the top. Doming allowed me to create a smooth, leveled top surface to my bezel piece.
I realized the UV resin pooled towards one part of the bezel. I looked at the bezel from the edge of my tabletop to see that my tabletop wasn't a leveled surface. I folded a piece of aluminum foil and placed it under a part of the bezel to make it more level.
I used a toothpick to push the UV resin towards the edges of the bezel. Doing so allowed me to cover the entire top surface without any UV resin flowing over the sides and edges.
I torched the bubbles, let the piece sit for a couple minutes to settle, and then cured it under a DIY dual UV lamp setup for four minutes.
I should've quit with this third layer, but I kept going.
Fourth Layer of UV Resin to Dome the Top... Again
The top surface wasn't completely smooth, so I decided to add another thin layer of UV resin to re-dome it. Unfortunately, the resin flowed over the cleft (V-shaped indent) of the heart-shaped bezel and onto my tabletop.
I used antibacterial wipes and paper towels to clean the mess I made. I then cleaned off the bezel piece with paper towels to start again. I placed a small piece of wax paper under the bezel in case I encountered this issue again with my next attempt to re-dome the top.
Sure enough, the UV resin flowed over the cleft and onto my tabletop. Fortunately, not as much UV resin overflowed. I used a Q-tip to clean up a bit of the overflow. Some of the resin made its way onto the back, or underside, of the bezel. I decided to not worry about it at the time.
I torched the bubbles, let the piece sit for a couple minutes to settle, and then cured it under a DIY dual UV lamp setup for four minutes.
Fifth Layer of UV Resin
Because of the previous overflow of UV resin, the back was no longer smooth. I poured a thin layer of UV resin on the back. I used a toothpick to spread the resin on the back and towards the edges of the bezel.
I torched the bubbles, let the piece sit for a couple minutes to settle, and then cured it under a DIY dual UV lamp setup for four minutes.
So, How'd I Ruin It?
I didn't think the top surface was smooth enough, so I added another thin layer of UV resin to re-dome it. I followed my steps leading to the curing process. However, dimples formed on the top surface after the sixth layer and curing.
I then added yet another thin layer of UV resin to re-dome it again. I followed my steps, cured it, and the top surface looked worse. It was textured and covered with dimples.
I figured because I didn't quit after my third layer of UV resin, I wouldn't be able to fix my wrong doings.
I ended up chiseling the resin out of the bezel. I now have a heart-shaped open bezel with no signs of having once been filled with UV resin.
My Thoughts
I enjoyed doing this resin craft project! Working in layers is the best way to minimize the tackiness of cured UV resin. Unfortunately, I didn't know when to quit and ultimately ruined my piece. It was a lesson learned before my next attempt at this.
What's Next?
Now that I'm mostly recovered from my latex allergy, I've started a few craft projects. Hopefully, I'll be able to share them with you next week.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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