Welcome!
Today we are going to show you how to embed dried flowers into epoxy resin to make a beautiful memory flower piece.
Casting flowers in resin makes a great gift or precious keepsake. It is a way of preserving flowers that you can also enjoy as a piece of art.
Resin is a versatile material that can be used for a variety of different projects and dried flower crafts is just one way to use this product.
Resin is also easy to work with, so you'll be able to create beautiful resin crafts even if you're a beginner.
When you embed flowers in resin, you can use a wooden board like the one we show here or a silicone resin mold.
For this resin tutorial, use dried flowers from your garden or purchase bulk flowers on Amazon to make your flower resin casting.
If you have a special flower saved from a special occasion, what better way than to put your flowers in resin for display. It's such a pretty resin art piece to have on display and adds a special touch to any home décor.
Be sure that you are familiar with using resin before jumping right into this dried flower resin tutorial. Especially if you are going to be using a one of a kind item like an important flower from a special occasion.
There are many reactions that can happen like the color bleeding or even the flowers turning brown so be sure to test, test, test before casting your memory flowers.
If you don't want to use real flowers, you can also use artificial flowers.
FRAMAR Pink Paws Nitrile Gloves
Flowers must be completely dried out before setting them in resin.
You may have seen fresh flowers being used in resin crafts but they will eventually turn brown.
There are many ways to dry flowers. Check out our blog post how to dry flowers where we show you how to dry flowers in side books.
Before you pour the resin, it's important to make sure that the flowers are completely dry. Otherwise, the resin will not set properly and your finished product will be ruined.
Once your flowers are completely dry, you'll be ready to pour the resin and create a beautiful work of art.
Prepare all of your supplies ahead of time and have a plan.
You don't want to be searching for something right in the middle of a pour!
Dried flowers resin crafts are a great way to add a personal touch to any project. But before you start, it's important to have all of your supplies organized.
This way, you won't have to waste time looking for things when you're in the middle of a project.
So before you start your next project, make sure you have all of your resin supplies organized and ready to go.
Choose what you will be pouring the resin onto and prepare your surface.
For this dried flowers resin tutorial, we used a wooden plaque for the resin casting.
Apply two coats of white craft paint and let it completely dry before going to the next step.
Create a well for the resin with painters tape.
The resin will settle in nice and even because it's self-leveling. Be sure to press down on the tape really well so that the resin can’t get through.
Take your time with each of these steps to get it perfect, remember there’s only one chance at this.
Arrange your flower or flowers before pouring the resin on top.
Once you have a perfect position for your dried inclusion, you can tack it down with a tiny bit of hot glue to keep the arrangement in place while you are pouring the resin on top.
Apply the first layer of resin and wait until cured.
In this tutorial, we are putting on one sparkle coat, one base coat and then the last flood coat. This first layer is approximately 80ml and then we added about 1tbsp of glitter.
This amount is going to add just a nice sparkle into the background of the piece without covering the rose too much.
When you're working with resin, it's important to make sure that you follow the manufactures direction on how to mix resin.
Also, the first layer is fully cured before pouring another layer on top. Otherwise, the two layers will start to interact and the resin will become sticky and difficult to work with.
By taking the time to cure the resin properly, you'll be able to avoid these problems and create beautiful resin crafts that will last for years.
As you are stirring, be sure to scrape the sides and bottom while trying not to stir in too many air bubbles.
When working with clear resin it's very important to stir it thoroughly according to the directions of the manufacturer, which on this ArtResin brand is 3 minutes.
When adding glitter or color, you should check with the manufacturer's instructions on how much you can add into the mixture without compromising the reaction that needs to take place between the resin and hardener.
Here's a helpful article on how to color resin.
If you have any leaks you can go ahead and fix those areas and go around making sure the tape is secure.
Pop any bubbles that rise to the surface with a heat gun.
As the resin starts to settle in, you can start popping the bubbles that are rising to the surface. Check on these every 5-10 minutes until the resin sets.
Cover your piece with a box to protect it.
This is an important step so that nothing (like lint) will float onto the surface of your resin flower while it's curing.
To cover your curing resin, you can use a box, a Rubbermaid container or anything that will not come close to the surface of your resin art while covering it.
After 5-6 hours, you can apply the next layer of epoxy.
For the second coat, we used 50ml of clear epoxy resin. Pop any bubbles that rise to the surface with your heat gun, and again check on it from time to time.
Then wait another 6 hours.
Cover it up again with the box so that nothing lands on your piece while it's curing.
If for some reason you can’t add the layers during the gel stage and your piece has gone into a hard cure, you can wait for 24 hours and then sand the surface with 80 grit sandpaper, wipe it clean, and then go ahead and add the next layer.
This is the flood coat and is going to spill over the sides. We used 50mls for the flood coat which is a good amount to cover the piece without too much waste. Also, lay down dome parchment to protect your surface because this is going to drip now.
As the resin starts to settle, use a stir stick to get the resin to the edges and it will start to flood down and over your piece.
Repeat the popping bubbles process but this time you’ll want to take your stir stick to smooth away any drips that develop underneath.
After about 5 hours you can go ahead and take off the tape. If you have any stubborn spots just use a small screwdriver to help remove the tape.
Let your resin art cure for at least 72 hours
Once your resin has fully cured after 72 hours, you are all finished!
Resin is often used to preserve flowers in a dramatic way. Resin crafts are a beautiful and creative way to display flowers in your home. Here are some more tips to help you preserve flowers in resin:
1. Choose the right resin for your project. There are many different types of epoxy resin, so make sure to choose one that is compatible with dried flowers.
2. Prepare your work area. Cover your work surface with wax paper or plastic to protect it from spills and messes.
3. Measure the resin according to the instructions on the package.
4. Add the measured resin to a silicone cup or bowl.
5. Use a toothpick to help place the flowers where you want them.
6. Allow the resin to cure according to the instructions on the package.
7. To make cleanup easier, use silicone cups and wax paper when working with resin.
8. Store resin in a cool, dry place.
Should You Wear A Respirator Mask When Working With Resin?
The answer is yes. Always practice proper resin safety handling.
More Helpful Resin Resources
Resin for jewelry making beginners
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Join our community of 1M+ DIY'ers just like you and learn how to bring more fun into your life!
