Resin can be used not just to cover up small items, but to actually lock something larger on top of a finding. For this project, I used an iron-on crystal piece with a separate crystal eye embellishment. Keeping the sparkle of the crystals is key, so you don’t want to coat them with resin. The trick is that the piece on top must be slightly larger so that it won’t fall inside the bezel of the jewelry finding, but it must also not be so big that it hangs over the top edge more than a little bit.
Skill level: Easy
Time: 10 minutes plus curing time
Supplies
♦ Disposable gloves
♦ 1 oz. (30ml) plastic measuring cup
♦ Disposable wooden stir stick
♦ Marker
♦ Two-part clear resin
♦ Protected work surface
♦ Wet wipes
♦ Jewelry finding with a deep bezel
♦ Iron-on crystal transfer with hole in it
♦ Fancy stone eye
♦ Chain
♦ Lobster claw clasp
Gay Isber
1. Remove the backing on the iron-on crystal piece and try it on top of your jewelry finding to check the size, making sure that it doesn’t fall all the way in. Practice setting the eye stone into position, too, so you can see the piece complete before you pour the resin. Mix the resin and use the stir stick to add the resin into the bezel to almost the very top.
Mike Mihalo
Gay Isber
2. Gently add the iron-on piece. If you don’t see the entire piece change color as the resin wets it, then fill with resin a little more carefully. You can pour it through the hole or use your wooden stir stick to add a little more drop by drop. Bubbles will not be a problem for this project, since the resin is all hidden underneath the crystals.
Gay Isber
3. Add the eye over the hole in the iron-on piece. The eye should be touching the resin so that it locks into place. Double-check that it is straight (you don’t want a wonky eye!). Use wet wipes to clean up any excess resin. After curing, thread the pendant onto a chain with a lobster claw clasp.
VARIATION
If you don’t have a premade iron-on crystal shape, or if you want to make several smaller charms like this, you can use individual crystals and enough resin to hold everything in place. Remember: don’t cover the crystals with resin, or they will not sparkle!
Gay Isber