I’ve been playing with resin. These faux resin crystals don’t look like much just out of the mold, but after I clean them up and buff them on my JoolTool they’ll be really beautiful! I have many uses for them in my work…employing them as focal stones in bead embroidered pieces as well as pendants and earring components set in silver bezels. But what I truly feel like making right now are a collection of big, bold, beautiful rings…statement pieces that will be great fun to wear!
I’ve just finished this ring set with a pale rust resin faux crystal and I so love wearing it! One attribute of using resin instead of natural stone is that I don’t have to worry if I drop the ring or accidentally hit the faux crystal against a surface that would ordinarily break or shatter a natural stone! That’s a huge plus for someone who seems to always be dropping and bumping into things! I also love the fact that I can create faux crystals in any color I wish with the addition of alcohol inks. Ultra-fine glitter and glass shards can also be added to the resin to obtain an opal-like effect. I’m just beginning to experiment and will be working on faux druzy-like stones next week. I have a tutorial in the works too! There will certainly be good times and a lot of play in the studio in the coming weeks!
Can you control the size? I am looking for a round, pointed crystal stone that measures 27 mm at the base. I have just learned how to make a box from Delicas and 15s and would like something similar to the purple crystal in the picture. It does need to be smooth and round at the base for the technique that I have in mind.
Thanks,
Judy
Judy, I’m experimenting with that idea. I make molds from actual crystals, but What I’m doing this week is playing with a druzy idea in which I’ve made a mold from a 30mm bottle cap to create a cabochon. When the mold has cured, I embed a faux crystal(s) inside the mold with resin, glass chards, glitter, whatever. I’ll have results of my experiments in my next blog…stay tuned!