Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Our First Artist Play Date Featuring Allover Art's Incredible Tutorial and Awesome Giveaway!

Do you know Allover Art? If you do, you just got ridiculously excited - I know it - and if you don't, you're about to!

Ruth, creator of Allover Art, is a talented, fun-loving, down-to-Earth artist who specializes in custom pet portraits in oil paint, hand-painted resin pendant necklaces, and original oil paintings. When you visit her shop, it's impossible to not fall in love with at least one of her distinctive designs - I think I have a list of five things I need to have - and you won't be able to stop yourself from returning to see what's new. Basically, you won't be able to stop the craving for more wearable art.

Today, this inspiring artist shares her, "How To Create A Resin Finish On A Tile Pendant" tutorial which is followed by a Giveaway you won't want to miss!



In my Etsy shop you can find a wide variety of hand-painted resin pendant necklaces. Once I began creating and selling these unique pieces of wearable art, people began asking me about the process and how to work with resin. Resin is actually quite simple to work with, but it can be troublesome and messy if you don't know what you are doing. I'm sure that different people have different methods of working with resin, but here's my process.



All of my pendant necklaces start out with a wooden tile. After I create the miniature painting on the tile and seal it, I then mix up the resin and add the resin finish to the surface of the tile.

Here are the materials that you will want to have on hand to create the resin finish:
  • two-part resin mix

  • 3 oz. plastic bathroom drinking cups

  • 1 oz. measuring cup/spoon

  • tongue depressors

  • toothpicks

  • paper towels

  • a timer or clock that counts seconds
  • a flat surface to work on that you don't mind getting messy

  • lots of light
To begin with, make sure that you are working in a well-ventilated area. Set up your workspace on a flat surface that you don't mind getting messy. Feel free to lay down any paper or board to catch any drips or mess that you make. Lay out your tiles face up. Check to make sure that they are dust and lint-free. To the left is an image of some of my tiles that have been painted and sealed, and are ready for the resin finish.











Next you will want to mix the resin. Using the 1 0z. measuring device, measure out 1 oz. of water and pour it into a 3 oz. plastic cup. Mark on the side of the cup where the top of the water is. Add another 1 oz. of water and make a second mark. Pour out the water and dry the cup. Pour 1 oz. of the resin into the cup up to the first mark you made. Add 1 oz. of the hardener up to the second mark you made.


Make a note of the time. Using a tongue depressor mix the two parts. After two minutes the resin should be mixed. There will be bubbles in the resin. This means that you have mixed the resin properly. In the image to the left you can see the bubbles that remain in the resin after mixing.











Next, use the tongue depressor to drip resin onto the surface of the tile. Some people pour the resin on, but I find that using the tongue depressor gives me more control. I suggest putting less resin on the tile than you think you need. If after a minute or two the resin hasn't reached the edges of the tile(like in the image to the left), add a little more. Resin is self-leveling, which means it will spread until it reaches an edge to "cling" to.
You will notice that there may be bubbles in the resin on the pendant. You can see this in the image below.


After a few minutes, you should be able to use a toothpick to pop and or pull out the bubbles. Some people use a small blow torch to get rid of the bubbles, but I do not have one and have found that a simple toothpick works just fine.


After you have removed any bubbles, closely examine the resin for any lint or dust that may have fallen into it. Make sure you have several different light sources at different angles so that you can see reflections on the surface of the resin. Once you are finished, cover it with one of the 3 oz. plastic cups.




This will keep the tile and resin protected and keep dust from falling into the resin while it dries. Follow the timetable for drying time in the instructions included with the resin. For my tiles I allow three days total drying time before I turn them into pendant necklaces.

Good luck and happy resin-ing! :)


Drumroll, please.....and NOW our Giveaway!!

We have a very special giveaway! Allover Art is offering a $15 gift certificate to her shop so I suggest you run over and take a peek at her fabulous work. To enter:

1. Please visit Allover Art's shop at http://alloverart.etsy.com/ and then in the comments section of this post tell me what item you love most.

2. Then look below at the hilarious picture of a card that Ruth sent along. Please tell me what occasion this card is for - birthday, Christmas, etc. (Isn't it a riot??)

3. Be sure to leave your name and email address so that I can contact the winner! The first person to guess the correct answer will win. This giveaway begins February 11th and ends at midnight on February 15th. The winner will be announced on February 16th!


Need more Allover Art? Please visit her website : http://www.alloverart.net/ and blog: http://www.alloverart-nc.blogspot.com/ and share some love!

Thank you, Ruth for this incredible tutorial and giveaway! You are a fantastic artist. Please don't ever stop creating these unique pieces!

37 comments:

Ruth said...

Thanks for the fabulous feature! Good luck to everyone in the giveaway. :)

Natasha said...

Ruth - Thank YOu! It's an honor for me to feature your work here! Can't wait to see the guesses for the giveaway woooohoooo!

Rowena said...

Thanks Natasha. I have been dying to try resin pendants, although I wasn't thinking tiles, but molds.

I had to put off the attempt now that I have two sticky, get into everything kids running around, but maybe I'll try again when I have some larger blocks of time to myself.

I'm bookmarking this so I can come back when I have more time and take a look at everything else.

Start To Finish Supplies said...

I love Allover Arts necklaces. My favorite is the one with Harvey sitting on the fence post.

As far as the card, I have no idea, 4th of July?

katie at starttofinishsupplies dot com

Natasha said...

Rowena - I love that you wanted to try this...this tutorial is awesome and will be such a help! YAY!! You will have to share with us when you try it...so excited for you...hey did you get so excited about the tutorial that you missed the giveaway?? Would LOVE to read your guess!!

Start to Finish Supplies - welcome. Her necklaces are fabulous! Harvey is great...great card guess too!

Dale Anne Potter said...

Oh, I LOVE this idea & will have to go pick up this resin stuff.

My pick over on All Over Art, I just LOVE Budding Spring Tree Handpainted Art Pendant Necklace as I have this thing with trees right now!
FABULOUS all the pieces tho....

Amanda Fall - Sprout editor said...

What an awesome tutorial! I've also been curious about using resin to make pendants from my marbled paper. Thanks so much, Ruth, and thank you to Natasha for facilitating this!

I love, love, love any of the white bird feather pendants. I think this is a (hilarious) birthday card... although I'm not sure to whom I would give it! lol

Reesa said...

Molly on the Swing brooch is my favorite. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20027560
And I loved the wonderful tutorial!

Reesa said...

I think that card must be for a birthday. :)

Natasha said...

Dale! Welcome...yes this tutorial made me want to try it as well. Wasn't it great! I love the pendant you chose too...ahh trees. It's gorgeous....as are all her pieces!

Amanda - your marbled paper would be awesome as a pendant...isn't this tutorial so informative and fun...I agree those pendants are amazing and awesome guess...thank YOU and to all of you for commenting!

Reesa - hello there! Such a great choice for the pendant...and a fabulous card guess!!

Anonymous said...

Tash, thank you for introducing me to this site..the art is beautiful!!
My favorite is the Cosmic Pastel pendant - it is gorgeous!!

as for the card... I'm going to say it's a 'hang in there' encouragement card :)

Natasha said...

Piaget91 - thank YOU for coming to visit. I love all the art here as well. The Cosmic Pastel is a fantastic choice! And awesome card suggestion!

I'd like to invite everyone to come visit tomorrow as well for the unveeiling of this week's Thursday Sweet Treat!

jacjewelry said...

I love Ruby Red Flower Handpainted Adjustable Art Ring! I am going to guess Happy Birthday...

Lorrie Veasey said...

I loved the blue ring with the bird so much THAT I BOUGHT IT. I thought her jewelry was some of the most unique I've ever seen and I really liked seeing the process.

That card is so obviously for NATIONAL BOSSES DAY. I will be needing several.

Followed shortly by an application for food stamps, no doubt.

Natasha said...

jacjewelry - welcome...oohhh I love that ring too!!! And awesome card guess!!

Lorrie Veasey - I LOVE that you bought it...that ring is SOOOOO fabulous!!!!!! How exciting!!!!

I laughed SO loud at your card guess - that's genius!! Oh I love that one...I want to make that card!

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for the tutorial, I'm anxious to try it out myself.

My favorite is the Barking Dog Silhouette Handpainted Art Pendant Necklace, we have 3 dogs so I'm a fan or anything dog.

FlightFancy said...

What a great tutorial! thanks both of you for sharing, this was written better than some craft books!...AlloverArt I love your Bob the bunny ring, That made me smile.
Oh and I'm going out on a ledge and saying valentines day card...just to be different :)

Natasha said...

Shel - welcome! I think we are all excited to try this...thanks Allover Art! Great choice...I'm a fellow dog lover big time!! (What kinds of dogs??)

Flight Fancy - welcome!! I agree Allover Art's tutorial was first rate...it was so well written...she rocks! Bob the bunny makes me happy too....and your card suggestion is aces...another that had me on the floor.

I love all these responses!

Clairebear said...

Natasha, what a great site!

I love the White Bird Feather pendant. The soft white amidst the beautiful blue is gorgeous!

I think it's a "Congratulations for losing all of that weight" card.

Natasha said...

Clairebear - thank you so much for the kudos onthe site...I truly appreciate it! Great choice on that pendant...and hilarious card response LOVE it!

Tracey Gurley said...

WooHoo Ruth!!

Unknown said...

So it's completely impossible for me to choose one (i know, you're all shocked) but i'm going to say that ANYTHING with Harvey on it belongs in my jewelry box...I L-O-V-E him!

Now for the card, i'm going to say a "get well" card!

Thank you for introducing me to this site!

Live, Love, Laugh, Write! said...

hehehe - my name is Ruth as well! :D

I love her art work, and it was hard to pick a favorite, but I LOVE this :)

Fiery Sun Mandala Wood Block Original Painting


And could the card be for the first day of summer? Hey .... doesn't have to be a big holiday!

OOO....or Father's day? *wicked grin*

Unknown said...

Really nice "How to" post. Thanks for sharing. Lovely work & amazing skill she has!

My fav is the red heart bird and the lone tree and sunset pendants.

My guess is a feel better and "Get well Soon!" card.

Mary said...

wow, what an amazing shop, amazing tutorial and a fun attitude! my fave in the shop is the spring tulip art ring. fun, just like spring should be!!!!!! now, the hilarious card! it should be an anniversary card. that would be a riot!!!!!! thanks so much for this fun giveaway! hugs, Mary aka PinqueChocolat

Laksaware said...

Ruth, what a great tutorial!

And my fave in your shop is the white flower pendant. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17545065

As for the card, It is hilarious!
I think it might make a funny Over-the-hill birthday card :)

Lori Storrs said...

what a great tutorial! it's definitely difficult to pick just one favorite, but if i must, i think i'll go with Black Swirls On Orange Handpainted Art Pendant Necklace. i'll have to go with anniversary on the card, although humor is nice for (almost!) every occasion.

The ChainMaille Lady said...

Great article! I like Bob the rabbit. Such a cutie! My guess for the card is Halloween! :)

Chain
www.thechainmaillelady.etsy.com
www.thechainmaillelady.blogspot.com

Linda B said...

Great tutorial. I might be inspired except I have 2 cats who like to help me make beaded jewelry.

My absolute favorite item in Ruth's shop is the budded spring tree pendant.

The card is a riot, could be birthday, anniversary, thinking of you (to make you laugh).

Thanks.

jodi said...

Great! Great! Great! Tutorial. Thanks for taking the time to put this together and sharing with all of us. I'm eager to try it out too.

I love the blue snowflake tile pendant. So delicate and beautiful.

I think the card is a belated birthday card.

Natasha, again, a great blog post.

www.jodihorgan.etsy.com

Natasha said...

I want to thank everyone who has left comments so far an apologize for my lack of responses...I've been working on the Sweet Treat which grew this week...thank you ALL for visiting, reading, sharing a little love with Ruth (isn't she great) entering this giveaway and leaving such amazing messages. You are so great!

Three Yellow Hearts said...

I love the Bobby Pins (Orange And Gray Cosmic) ...such a great idea.

I did have one question. What do you seal your painted tiles with before applying the resin. (If it was in there - sorry I missed it)

Great tutorial!
-Tiffany Patterson

www.PollyAndEster.etsy.com
www.cursewordsandbirds.blogspot.com

Digital Misfit said...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=19476936 This white tree silhouette pendant is my favorite piece. Wearable art rocks!

I think that the card is a fabulous birthday card (though it would be an awesome baby shower type card or post-vasectomy card for a guy!)

Hugs,
Heidi
heidig@gmail.com

Baroness Bijoutery said...

Some truly stunning work here...fantastic feature...

Amber said...

I love the White Tree Silhouette Handpainted Art Pendant Necklace!
The card...hmmm...that is a hard one. I would say a birthday maybe?
Thank you for the giveaway and please enter me.

hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

demmi said...

I like the Gnarled Tree Silhouette Adjustable Art Ring I think the card is for a birthday con5459(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I love the White Bird Feather Handpainted Art Pendant Necklace. Frilly white feathers always remind me of quill pens, I have always loved to write. I think the card would be great for a birthday. When you can't figure out how to put on a thong, you're probably too old to be wearing one.

boldnessbe(at)gmail(dot)com