How Pressed Flowers and Resin Interact

I just finished pouring resin for about 15, each very different pendants. Some are clear, some are on pendant settings, some are second or third (or even fourth) layers. I've learned I have to creep away from the pendants and keep my hands off until morning--even if I see something, through the clear cake coverings, that needs correcting.  Absolutely guaranteed, if I fix that one, I'll tip over or dip into or otherwise mess up two or three next to it.

In the morning I'll go out and anxiously inspect my pendants. Because of experience, most will be ok. But I'm sure I'll find at least one where the flowers have migrated to the edge --or off the edge, or otherwise  skewed.  I'll find one where the resin dissolved through part of a petal--hopefully  I'll be able to correct or cover it with another petal.  I'll find another where the flower or leaves are sticking out and will need two or three more layers for the pendant to be smooth. And I'll always find somewhere on one where the resin totally darkened part of the flower. 

Here's some examples of these common problems, and some possible but not foolproof solutions:

 In the above picture, part of the little wildflower migrated. Generally they wait to do this until you leave the room. Some flowers you can affix with a little glue, but I've found that most discolor when the glue hits the resin. Another solution is to pour just enough resin to fix the flowers in place, then go back in 45 minutes and pour over that to round off the pendant. I've found that if a flower wants to migrate, it will, even in 3 drops of resin. They're stubborn little things. And, admittedly, once I've spent two hours bending over pendants and resin babysitting arranging the  flowers, pouring the resin, clearing the edges, walking the resin out to the edges, etc, I'm usually too tired to go back until the next day. When its usually too late.

 

 The resin almost immediately (within 12 hours) discolored the red verbena.  That is more common with Johnny Jump Ups, so I was surprised.  I could have put another petal on top and repoured resin, but I didn't like the pendant enough to bother. A tosser.

The last  two show two problems: the fading and discoloring; and the daisy's center was so thick it would have taken several coats if I had continued with it. Note, though, I have put up to 12 coats to cover a flower I really wanted, and the pendant came out great.

I want to introduce you to a silver artist who just ventured into pressed flower and resin, and turned out a masterpiece in her first piece (her silver work really compliments it. Boy am I envious!)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/lissa73.  Lissa's pendant:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lissaharlin/4961410953/

Thanks for stopping by!  Chris