When I was attending Creativation (fka CHA) this year, I met up with my friend Cat Kerr at the Alumilite (Amazing Casting Products) booth. I was floored by the complexity of products she was making, from assemblage to embellishments for artwork to jewelry. She rocked my world with her artistry of the mysterious(at least to me) art of making molds and casting resin pieces. The idea of a Blog Hop was born.
In case you don't understand how a Blog Hop work, this is what happened. The lovely people at Alumilite sent my StencilGirl peeps some product and us, here at StencilGirl, sent their peeps some stencils.
Playtime ensued. At my house, this always includes a cat. Ahem.
But I digress, let me show you what I received. Keep in mind I had absolutely zero ideas what to do with these products.
But I digress, let me show you what I received. Keep in mind I had absolutely zero ideas what to do with these products.
Seriously. I learned by reading the box. First you mix up the putty and make a mold. Then you pour resin into the mold to make your object. It is really quite simple, I am sure a chemist could explain why this works, hahaha.
Naturally, I was interested to know if I could use stencils to make 3-dimensional objects. And voila! Yes, it can be done. The first picture below shows a Seth Apter stencil and the second shows a Rae Missigman feather mask. When you use a stencil or a mask, the result will be flat. In order to transform this into a mold (that will hold resin), you need to make a little wall about your imprint. The second picture shows the 'wall' which was made by rolling the putty into a little snake and then attaching it - it basically attached itself on contact, so this is super easy.
But I couldn't stop at stencils because I also wanted to make a mold of something else, something fun! I searched and searched for something cute, buttons, acorns, shells, hmmmmm, such potential. I settled on a tiny tube of paint that met my requirements and oooh la, who knew how much I would love making wee resin paint tubes.
Here is an images of my final products prior to painting and after painting.
Here is an images of my final products prior to painting and after painting.
Not sure what I am going to do with them as of yet. I am amazed they are quite strong and I am thinking a closure on the front of a journal for one of the feathers, wouldn't that be cool!
After playing for several days, here are my tips:
- Don’t be stingy with the product. I had a couple molds that were too thin just because I was trying to ‘save’ product. You will get much better results with a beefy mold that will stand up to multiple uses.
- If you are using a stencil or a mask, pick an isolated image rather than one where the image is part of an intricate pattern.
- When using a stencil, first, use a brayer over the stencil (on the mold putty) and then use a thin palette knife to press the stencil even deeper.
- After making your resin piece, you are easily able to trim off ugly edges. I found you could also trim the resin the next day too. I imagine you could also poke holes in it (to make jewelry).
- To add color, I put the Alumidust in the mold prior to pouring the resin. Gorgeous!
- I forgot to do this a couple of times and my resin piece dried to solid white. No worries though because I was able to add color with Pitt pens, Acrylic paint (craft and Golden), Sharpie marker and Stayzon ink. Seems like nearly anything might work.
All in all, I had a terrific time and know that there is more mold making in my future. Can you say paint tube earrings?????
Here is a list of the participants in our Hop and the dates you may read their posts:
April 19
Here is a list of the participants in our Hop and the dates you may read their posts:
April 19
Mary Beth Shaw (you are here)
Tina Walker
Kristie Taylor
Susan Brown
Lyn Gill
April 20
Gwen Lafleur
Karen Gaunt
Tracy Alden
Brenda Burfeind
Kristie Taylor
Susan Brown
Lyn Gill
April 20
Gwen Lafleur
Karen Gaunt
Tracy Alden
Brenda Burfeind
And YES!!! There is a give away, of course there is!
GIVEAWAY
One lucky winner will receive both a $25 Gift Certificate to StencilGirl Products
AND a $25 Gift Certificate to Amazing Casting Products!
AND a $25 Gift Certificate to Amazing Casting Products!
Visit the fabulous designers from both teams and comment for your
chance to win!
chance to win!
The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to WIN!
(One comment per blog please.)
(One comment per blog please.)
You have until Sunday, April 23rd at 11:59PM Central Time to leave your comments.
on Monday, April 24th.
Wow! This looks like you had a lot of fun! I am going to have to try making molds! My email is honstead@paulbunyan.net
ReplyDeleteLove the fun pieces you created...and of course the photo of Harley, too! I'm sure he enjoyed supervising! :) Your ideas are great about adhering these to an art journal cover or creating jewelry from them! So happy you are on the hop!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Looks so fun!
ReplyDeleteThose are sooo cool. Love what you created and yeah those would be amazing on a journal cover or as a closure for one !!
ReplyDeleteAnother great way to use stencils.
ReplyDeleteJan Krassner email: krassnerjl@aol.com.
ReplyDeleteWow! The possibilities are endless!!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of paint tube earrings!!! Interesting!!! mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteLove to get messy.
You can go into business
selling paint tube earrings -
just let me know when they're
ready.
thanks for sharing a new technique
(new for me)
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
This looks like it's so easy, and perfect for all the assemblages I've been doing! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove your resin paint tubes - so fun! And that stenciled feather turned out awesome!
ReplyDeleteOoh lala! Loving that leaf, and the paint tube is adorable. ❤️
ReplyDeleteWow - I've never seen that stuff before! Now I've got to go look for it. Lol
ReplyDeleteonce you start molding and casting, you just can't stop. great to see you having fun
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful results Mary Beth! You have now entered the Resin Obsession world! ♥
ReplyDeleteAlways looking for new ways to use my stencils. This one is really unique!
ReplyDeleteWhat possibilities! The paint tube earrings idea is total fun...you have inspired us to go 3D!
ReplyDeleteFun ideas, Mary Beth, and I think a paint tube would make a great necklace.
ReplyDeleteWow! That looks like so much fun. I love the versatility of coloring it.... So many options. Hope I am lucky enough to win so that I have a chance to make molds and resin pieces.
ReplyDeleteOop! Forgot my email address in the above message: Prpldy (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteHow fun!!! I'd love to see those paint tube earrings!! garciacoach (at)gmail (dot)com
ReplyDeleteSo cool!
ReplyDeleteI just love SG's blog hops with these new products. I would love to make some molds with my SG stencils. suzschultz23(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI have never seen anything like this! Love what you made!
ReplyDeleteI love how you play with new materials! I will have to try this as well.
ReplyDeleteAlways excited to try something new. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
ReplyDeleteAlways excited to try something new. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
ReplyDeleteSo very cool, and love your kitty too!
ReplyDeleteHow fun is that paint tube! glad you went that way instead of buttons or acorns, I look forward to seeing those paint tube earrings! heehee
ReplyDeletevery cool, thanks for sharing Mary Beth!
Jackie ")
Love seeing your kitty in your art photos because I know how my cat reacts when I am trying to work she wants to see what your doing and be in the big middle of it so if you cannot beat them enjoy them and make them part of the experience. The articles you made with this combination of products will serve you well when the right opportunity pops up.
ReplyDeleteVERY cool! Such an amazing product!
ReplyDelete