One of the cool things (or disastrous things) about resin is that it will stick to almost anything. So if you don’t have resin molds but want to make resin jewelry, you can do it with metal wire. It’s an inexpensive way to make resin jewelry with supplies you might already have on hand.
Step 1: Form the wire into a circle
Use wire to form shapes. Use something hard as a template to wrap the wire around.
What size should you use?
Whatever size you have on hand will work. But the size I always default to is 20 gauge. That size also works perfectly to make ear wires.
💡 Pro tip: While you can use any kind of wire — copper, brass, silver — to make these, use brass wire. Why? It’s cheaper than silver-plated wire, harder than copper, and looks like gold-plated wire. It keeps its shape pretty well too.
Step 2: Finish off the circle
Use chain nose and round nose pliers to create a wire-wrapped loop at the top.
[OPTIONAL] Step 3: Hammer
Hammer the round wire form flat with a planishing hammer on a metal anvil. This step is optional, but hammering the wire ensures you have a flat edge to press your resin jewelry onto the tape.
Step 4: Place onto tape
Once you’ve made your metal forms, press them onto the sticky side of a piece of masking tape. Make sure you have good contact all the way around the circle.
💡 Pro tip: Place your wire forms on a Resin Obsession drying mat. The holes in the mat make a perfect space for the loop to allow the wireframes to lie flat.
Step 5: Mix resin and add to the pendant
Mix Resin Obsession crystal doming resin for this project. It cures glossy and makes a high dome. The thickness of the formula is key to the resin staying inside your wire jewelry frame.
When adding your resin, dot it in with a toothpick. Then, use your toothpick to draw the resin to the edge of the wire. You won’t need much.
Step 6: Add beads
Sprinkle glass seed beads over the resin. You can add other small items like sprinkles or glitter too.
Once your wire frames are filled, cover the resin with a dome to protect it from dust while it’s drying.
Step 7: Finish
After the epoxy resin cures, peel the masking tape away from the back.
💡 Pro tip: If you have drips on the outside of your wire, peel the tape away while the resin is soft, which is about 12 hours after pouring the crystal doming resin. The resin drips will be soft and you can snap them off the metal frame. But be careful you don’t dent the resin or leave fingerprints.
Add jump rings and ear wires to make your pieces wearable. If you aren’t sure how to do that, here are some findings options for resin jewelry.
Do you want to learn the resin basics you need to know to make your own wire and resin jewelry?
Then you’ll want a copy of the ebook Resin Jewelry Making. You’ll learn the details you need to know to be a resin jewelry pro, in only an afternoon. Buy the PDF book now and get an email download link in minutes.
Unpublished Blog Posts of Resin Obsession, LLC © 2023 Resin Obsession, LLC
This is actually what I was planning to try in the coming week. 🙂 I have had it in mind for two weeks though but I have tried other resin things with the open back/tape method first to make sure it worked okay. So far so good. 😀
– Heidi
@Lillian, the resin went to the edge of this wire because I flattened them. It’s less likely to do that if leave the wire round.
I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile now, great tutorial! Does the wire (outer edge) have resin on it? Or will that only happen if you over pour the resin?
I know this comment is old but I wanted to post a little tip for anyone that wants to work harden wire and reduce the risk of smooshed fingers. I use pliers in my nondominant hand to hold my pieces in place while hammering. You can also try tweezers depending on how large or small your piece is. I’ve also seen people using that reusable tack adhesive but I’ve not tried this. (IMO is might get flattened and make a mess.) I hope this helps someone out there!
great thank you! also, i noticed you aren’t holding the piece while hammering, how do you keep it still…i hold mine down, but i don’t hammer hard enough because I’m concerned for my fingers lol
@Lillian, you’re correct, you don’t want to hit your fingers. If you’re hammering a small piece of metal resting on a small metal surface with a jeweler’s hammer, you should be fine.
Wow!!!
Exactly what I was looking for! What a fantastic idea…thanks for sharing Katherine!
I am still a little concerned at hearing stories of envirotex yellowing over time though….How long does this typically take to occur? Could I pour a thin topcoat of your resin obsession over the domed envirotex to provide uv resistance?
Many thanks in advance,
Hannah
@Hannah, no, I would not suggest doing that because our super clear resin isn’t a doming resin. It won’t stay on the surface. I wouldn’t be worried that much about the yellowing with the Envirotex jewelry resin.
Wow thank you , i have been need this 😉
I have been trying to succeed with this for weeks and weeks and the back of the piece when i peel off the masking tape remains sticky. Nothing I use removes the stickiness, I’ve tried acetone and also alcohol from Home Depot and the stickiness remains. Can anyone suggest anything to prevent this from happening?
I will definitely try the spray but the tape I’m using is the blue stuff for painters that is supposed to come off cleanly. It’s been very frustrating and extremely wasteful both in materials and time spent.
I would expect that would be fine because it’s not that sticky. I like to use good quality masking tape (meaning not dollar store brand). It sticks well and I don’t have a residue left on the back of the resin.
Blue tape can be temperature sensitive. Try putting it in the fridge before using. Warm tape can get extra sticky. It may not work but it can’t hurt to give it a shot!
Hi Katherine, I tried the wire method and my resin came out soft … it is not hard at all. Maybe it is too thin … do you think a second layer could help ?? Thanks
Sometimes thin resin can be soft. Yes, a second layer should help.
Wowww thanks for the quick response and I will let you know how the second layer turned out.
Thanks!
Great tutorial! Thank you 🙂
Besides the envirotex does Ice resin work or any other brands you can suggest? I have tried with ice resin and the surface tension isn’t strong enough the layer breaks no matter how close to setting the compound is.
ICE resin should work for this project as well. If the layer is breaking, it is likely because you are trying to add too much at once. Try a little less.
Hello! Thank you for all the wonderful information. I’m trying to find a resin that will cure completely solid in a shallow mold, to make earrings.
I used Easycast, but the pieces keep out rubber-like.
Will Envirotex cute harder in shallow molds?
Or should I just add another coat of Easycast on my finished pieces?
Hi Shamira, I’m afraid both of those resins cure bendy when poured thin. The Resin Obsession super clear resin works great for a project like this. You can find it in several sizes in our store here: https://shop.resinobsession.com/collections/resin/resin-obsession
Would this work if using pressed flowers?
Yes, you can do that.
Would this work for other shapes as well? I’d like to make a popcorn kernel. Would I have to solder pieces together?