Japanese Paper Bezels

 One of the simplest techniques I can recommend to make fantastic resin filled bezels is to use Japanese papers.

I don't think you will be surprised to learn that I have a HUGE Japanese paper stash.  Living in and around Toronto my whole life gives me access to The Japanese Paper Place, the main wholesaler for these papers in Canada.  When I want to make some truly beautiful bezels I pull out some of my papers and punch one inch circles from them.  The one inch punch I prefer is from Fiskars because you can see where you are lining up your punch.

 The papers look very pretty just glued into a bezel.   They are about to become even better!

 This is one of the few instances when I do not apply any sort of a sealer to the paper.  Don't ask me why, the paper does not have the same staining issues.  The results are always stunning.  

For the project I mixed up a batch of Envirotex Lite.

 Here are the bezels curing.

Another thing I love about this paper is that the areas that are "white" become somewhat transparent after the resin has soaked in.  I hope you can try this technique!

The Bezel Recovery!

 Yeah!  I saved the kokeshi bezels!  

Whew.  I am so glad I kept my cool and didn't throw these away.

 Yesterday I showed you my over-pour incident.  It's been a long time since I have made a "resin mistake" involving all my bezels.

A few of you wrote in with ideas.  Thank you!  Here is what I posted back:

I do believe in this instance...I just over poured.  Usually when I want to add a "dome" I pour my resin into a squeeze bottle so I can carefully drip resin onto a surface.  This time....I just dribbled from a cup...too much, too fast.  Lesson learned....speed is not your friend with precision resin work!

 But you can easily save mistakes like these!  I let the resin cure for just under 12 hours.  At this stage it is still soft and easily trimmed with an blade or scissors. 

I ran my blade around the rim and peeled the excess away!

Isn't that a wonderful fix?  

You have to do it early though...if I had waited 24 hours I would have had to use a sanding tool.

Can I Blame the Studio?

 I had the sweetest bezels to share with you today.  Note the use of the word "had."

 My bezel project began as it normally would.  

I selected these kokeshi images, cut them, placed them in the bezel and then used Ultra Seal to seal the paper and protect it from the resin.  I added Envirotex Lite to each bezel after all the glue dried clear.

See how great they turned out?  I decided I wanted to add a dome.  I have demonstrated the doming technique several times on this blog.  I have added domes to lots of pieces.

 So you can imagine my surprise when I had an over-pour.

 Not once, not twice.....

....but with all six of my samples!

I just moved into my new studio so I am wondering if my table is sloped???

Tomorrow I'll show you how I can save this project.

Resin On Glass

 Vintage optical lenses have been very popular in the last couple of years.  They are unique and easy to turn into a pendant.  They can be found online and in antique markets.

 The lenses are glass so when you glue an image to one side it is already protected by the glass on the reverse.

 I chose this butterfly image from a napkin.  Napkins are fun to work with because they can become very translucent.  I glued the napkin to one side of the lens.  See how some of it was bigger than the lens itself?  I let this dry and then I trim away the excess.

 The side protected by the glass looks great.  But I want my back to be just as protected.  That way my image won't rub or wear away when it is worn.

Envirotex Lite resin makes the back as perfect as the front.  

Here is the back with one layer of resin.  It is as clear as the glass - shiny and permanent!

Spotting Resin Ideas In Magazines

The French publication Marie Claire Idees always has the most beautiful photography and home dec ideas.

These two peices really caught my eye.

I am not sure if these are flowers are sitting in glass tray or if they are permanently embedded in resin.
I thing the shapes are fantastic and this gives me an idea for a future project!

Mastering Resin - One Small Project At A Time

Every now and then I get an email from a new resin artist and I worry a little.

They are just about to try pouring Envirotex Lite (or another product from Environmental Technologies Inc.) on a newly finished piece of art.  I want to email right back "wait, did you do some test pieces first?!!?!!"

 The more you experiment with resin the more you learn about what it can do.  For example, I love how it makes black really black.  I also love the glossy sheen.  And, I really appreciate how it makes my paper or collage permanently stick to a surface.  This sample is a good way to experiment.  On this board I have glued and then protected my paper images with Ultra Seal.  You can use mod podge to both glue and seal paper too.

 I made a small batch of Envirotex Lite and covered this one panel on my board. 

This gave me a chance to see how the resin would look over the image.  Note that it did not pour over the sides.  I used a paint brush to apply the resin.  The "glazed" rectangle looks brighter and finished.

I hope you all try a few small panels like this one before you work on a 12 x 12 finished collage.

Vintage Resin Finds

 I found this odd triangular shaped piece at an antique market.  I'm not 100% sure but I think it might be a knife rest.

 I really like the artwork.  It wasn't till I took a closer look that I realized the scene was "carved" on the backside.

Here is the reverse.  

I have not carved resin, but this sure does inspire me!

EasyCast-Clear Casting Epoxy and Polymer Clay

 Recently I got some questions about working with polymer clay.  I love polymer clay but there are extra steps you have to go through when you want to add non-polymer clay additions (like the metal wings) you see on this piece.  You need to bake everything...then reattach all extra parts with glue.

I have been using either Envirotex Lite or EasyCast to both "glue" my extra parts and to also glaze my final pieces.

 I use a paint brush to apply a layer of my resin to the underside of any additions and then to the whole surface. 

My wings are now permanently attached and I love that extra shine from the resin.  The gold flecks I embedded in the clay are now visible too.  My piece is stronger and will not shatter if dropped.

Mosaics With Square Beads and EasyCast

My final mosaic for the week.  

I hope a few of you are inspired to make a mosaic soon!

 This bezel had me using square beads.  They are easy to place in random patterns since they lay flat in the bezel.  I did add a little glue to the bottom of the bezel to get my first curve.

 This was so much fun.  It is like doodling with beads!

Once my design was in place I covered all the beads with EasyCast and created this fabulous bezel.  I can imagine a day when I make dozens of these.  All one of a kind!

Mosaics With Paper and EasyCast!

 Bezel four of Mosaic week!

 A lot of artists create mosaics with paper.  Paper mosaics are much lighter and easier to cut and assemble than actual tile would be.  All you need is some interesting paper to start.

 I cut 1/4 inch strips of paper.

 Then I weaved the strips to create this fabulous looking paper mosaic!

 I taped the back of the weaved paper to hold the strips in place.  Then I cut it to fit the bezel I was working in.  I applied three layers (letting the glue dry between applications) of Ultra Seal to protect the paper.

Finally, I poured EasyCast resin into my bezel and added the charm.

Ta Da!!

Mosaics With Glass Leaf Beads and EasyCast!

 Sigh.  I love this bezel.  I am so glad I made it.  

It reminds me of stained glass windows.

 My plan was to use some interesting shapes in my bezel for this mosaic idea.

 I was starting to wonder if I should glue these into the bezel....

they are fairly light and I worried they might float around in the resin.

 And then I had my idea.  I decided to use some glass beads as a faux grout.

 I filled all the open spaces with glass beads.

 Now I was certain that after I poured EasyCast into this bezel that all the leaves would stay in place.

 But then I had my surprise.  Clear glass beads are invisible when you pour resin over them!

Oh, and I had to watch this bezel because little air bubbles got trapped in those glass beads!  I found this bubble about two hours after I poured EasyCast into the bezel.  I used a pin to pop it.

The cross just called to me when I realized I had created the look of stained glass.  I placed the cross into the resin after it had gelled for about four hours.