The Creative’s Guide to Making Resin Paperweights

Space and galaxy patterns have become pretty popular lately. And being one who loves space, I couldn’t help but make my own galaxy-themed resin paperweights. This resin paperweight project will work with any paperweight mold.  Using smaller molds to make this galaxy design would make fantastic jewelry too.

Resin supplies list:

–Resin Obsession Super Clear Resin
–Castin Craft Opaque Black Dye
–Castin’ Craft resin mold release
-Acrylic Paints & Paint Brush
–Mixing Cups
–Stir Sticks
-Glitter
–Resin paperweight mold

Step 1:  Apply mold release

Split the two parts of the sphere mold.  You only need to use one-half of the mold.  Or use both parts to make two resin paperweights at once.

Prep the mold with a light mist of resin mold release.  Let it dry.

Step 2:  Mix resin and add to the mold.

Mix 1 ounce of Resin Obsession Super Clear Resin.  This resin for crafts is perfect for this project because it cures hard and vividly clear.

Then, fill the domes about two-thirds full.  Allow them to fully cure before moving on to the next step.

Step 3:  Paint the resin

For the galaxy effect, dab on the paint with the brush head flat.  This helps you get fancy blends between the colors.  Once you get paint on the brush, don’t add more until the brush barely leaves a trail. This makes some areas opaque while leaving others more transparent.  This is what makes your galaxy resin paperweights look real.

If you aren’t comfortable with your galaxy painting skills, practice on scrap paper first.

There is no real way to mess up painting on the resin paperweight since galaxies are such organic shapes.

Here are some of my tips to make your resin paperweights look like something from space:

*Have some galaxy images in front of you so you can have an idea of what you want.

*When working with colors, have at least three, but no more than five (not including white).

*Go in chromatic order or dark to light for painting your resin paperweights.  For example, build up the red first, dabbing on the color and giving it some shape.  Leave some parts more transparent than others.

Then, paint over some of the red with orange to give a gradual transition.

Next, use yellow paint on the resin paperweights.

Cover the center with a good amount of white. Add in stars too.

Let the paint dry for 24 hours.

Step 4:  Apply a second resin layer

Mix more resin.  This resin will go as the layer behind your painted resin surface.  I mixed 1/2 ounce of super clear resin and added Castin’ Craft opaque black pigment.  You can also add glitter to the colored resin.

Let the resin cure.

 

Step 5:  Demold

Peel your resin paperweights out of the mold and finish up the edges as necessary.  If you need to sand the back to make it even, this shows you how:  How to sand resin smooth.

Which of these resin paperweights do you like best?

Eager to try crafting with resin but want more help getting started?

It’s why I wrote the ebook, Resin Fundamentals.  I’ve condensed by 17 years of pro artist experience into a PDF book you can download in minutes.  It will take you from confused to confident with epoxy resin in only an afternoon.

This post originally written by Jasmine Moore

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