Candy Cane Necklace Tutorial for the Ann Butler Designs & ETI Blog Hop

Welcome to the Ann Butler Designs/ETI Blog Hop!

Recently ETI - Environmental Technologies, Inc. sent each of the members of the Ann Butler Design Team a giant box of goodies including resin, molds, dyes and all of the other supplies needed to complete some pretty cool projects!

I have it admit that I was completely intimidated by the ETI resin when I first received the package and my first attempt was a complete CRAFT FAIL because I did not follow the directions exactly!  But I read through the instructions COMPLETELY and tried again.  The second time was a success and my projects are presented below - Enjoy!

Materials:

Ann Butler Designs Faux Quilting Stamps from Unity Stamp Company - 2" Diamonds and Plaid; 2" Stripes. Dots. Hearts.

Ann Butler Designs Crafters Ink by ColorBox in Aquamarine.

ETI EasyCast Clear Casting Epoxy; EasyCast Resin Jewelry Molds 8 Artistic and Fun Shapes; Castin' Craft Mold Release & Conditioner; Ultra Seal Multi-Purpose Sealer and Glue; 8 oz. Measuring Cups and Stir Sticks.

White, black and aqua cardstock, pencil, scissors, 2" bottle cap, 1 1/2" circle punch, snowflake sticker, paint brush, acrylic stamp block, Fired Brick Distress Ink, ultra fine iridescent glitter, jewelry bale, ball chain necklace, aqua ribbon 24"' Emory board, jewelry glue.

Instructions:

Candy Cane Necklace

1.) Stamp stripes in Fired Brick Distress Ink on white cardstock.  Draw a candy cane on a scrap of paper and cut out.  Use the negative to position the stripes diagonally and trace the candy cane shape.

2.) Cut out candy cane and coat twice with Ultra-Seal, making sure to seal front, back and sides.

3.) Prep Resin Jewelry Mold with two coats of Mold Release & Conditioner, allow to dry.

4.) Following directions explicitly, measure equal parts of Resin and Hardener from EasyCast Clear Casting Epoxy kit (making sure not to mix more than 6 oz. total).  Mix according to directions, then immediately fill half of mold.  Insert candy cane cut out, remembering to place stamped side down.  Fill the second half of the mold then sprinkle with glitter.

5.) Let resin set for at least 24 hours, then pop out of mold.  Sand edges (I used an Emory board).  I mixed the full 6 oz. of resin, so I ended up with ALOT.  I experimented with some of the colored dyes, chunky glitter, buttons and created over 25 pieces!

6.) Place cabochon on black cardstock, trace, cut out and attach to back with Ultra-Seal.  Attach bale with jewelry glue, let dry.  String on ball chain, wear and ENJOY!

Snowflake Bottle Cap Ornament

1.) Stamp diamond patterning Aquamarine on aqua cardstock.  Punch out circle and coat twice with Ultra-Seal, making sure to seal front, back and sides.  Repeat with snowflake sticker.

2.) Attach stamped circle to bottle cap and sticker to stamped circle using Ultra-Seal.

3.) Following directions explicitly, measure equal parts of Resin and Hardener from EasyCast Clear 

Casting Epoxy kit (making sure not to mix more than 6 oz. total).  Mix according to directions, then immediately fill bottle cap.  Remove any air bubbles with the quick pass of a hair dryer.

4.) Let resin set for at least 24 hours.  Tie a bow in aqua ribbon, leaving a 4" long loop at the top.  Attach to top of bottle cap.

I also had a complete craft fail when working with the ETI Resin.  EVERYTHING must be fully and completely coated in the Ultra-Seal in order to retain the integrity of the item you are imbedding in the resin.  I placed plastic rhinestones in other bottle cap ornaments and did not seal them, so they MELTED!  Still pretty, but not at all was I was going for!

Please visit each blog and leave a comment to be entered for the blog candy. YES, a comment on EACH blog gets you an entry for the BLOG CANDY shown below! Share the fun with your friends! We will Pick the winner on Saturday the 20th and announced on the Ann Butler Blog and ETI blog! Again, make sure and visit all the links and leave a comment. Here is my project for the hop.

 Ann Butler 

 Beth Watson - YOU ARE HERE!

  Carmen Flores Tanis

   Cindi Bisson

   Dana Kersey Joy

  Graciela Chavez De Mejia

  Irit Shalom

 Kristi Parker Van Doren 

  Larissa Collins Pittman

      Lisa Rojas

    Paula Weddle DeReamer

    Roberta Birnbaum

    Steph Ackerman      

Vishu Reberholt

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth