It's hard to estimate exactly how much one needs for resin projects. So prudent crafters make more than enough at each session.  The best way to use up the excess prepared resin is to have some molds handy.  

It doesn't have to be jewelry either!  Making resin buttons is so easy.  Customized buttons are also the way to go if you sew, knit or crochet and need them to match.

I used Little Window's Brilliant Resin and a number of their supplies like doming trays and molds for this tutorial. The resin is an excellent clear  jewelry grade resin with a long shelf life. It's also a low bubble producer.  (Readers get a 15% discount - just use the discount BG1516 code )

You can either mark the resin cups for correct measurements or weigh the required amounts with a mini scale like I do. Something like this is inexpensive. 



I'm sure you probably have alcohol inks, mica powders at home too.  I also used Little Windows' black and white resin dyes. Those are very useful colors. 
The black is a good background. The white makes many colors lighter in hue.  I added silvery mica powder to white for my first button project. 


Fran Valera of Little Windows has some awesome resin button inspirations including those which do not need any molds at all - you just dome up fabric, photo or paper cut outs.  Two hole buttons can easily be prepared by drilling two holes through the resin. 

Two holes I can handle but I balked at drilling 4 holes and used a 4 hole round button mold!  Shown here is a nifty Little Windows resin level which I placed on top of the mold. While my table was flat, I wasn't too sure about my floor.  Phew!  It was okay.


I was then able to pour the silvery mix in part of each button mold, then added the black portion. I then added some swirls with a toothpick. 


I was going to make some faux pearl buttons but temporarily misplaced my Ranger Perfect Pearl mica powder in white, so I went with gold instead.  I added just enough of the powder to get a solid mix, then poured into the second smallest mold size of the Little Windows cabochon set. 



I filled each mold to the brim, then covered the whole thing and let it cure overnight. Then I added a small amount of clear resin mix to use as glue for Little Windows' plastic button shanks. It's best to use the mix when it is not too runny otherwise, you have to come back and check for the first little while during the cure to make sure the button shank has not floated off center!  Been there, done that. 

Resin as a glue is terrific. Very strong!


I also used the smallest silicon mold set from Little Windows which has circles, squares and rectangles.  I used the first two. I was inspired by Fran's buttons to attempt bi-layered designs. Note resin pours have to be thin to work as buttons. Getting the depth right required getting down low and looking at the mold from the side. 


I used a couple of things for added interest. Little Windows has some dichroish- like film. I cut up some into little pieces.  Leftover scraps work as well. 



I also had some Judikins Roxs Glitter in turquoise. These are chunky! 


Here is how some of the buttons turned out. The far left was just clear resin. The Judikins glitter sank to the bottom which will show as the top of the button. The middle button was created by adding a little resin mix then the dichroish film bits. I let those cure before adding a solid salmon colored layers which was made by mixing a little white with a pinkish alcohol ink. The last button on the right had a mix of clear resin and the Judikins glitter. After curing, a black resin layer was added.  

This project was conducted over several months. So whenever I had a little resin leftover, I would add some color and poured it into a mold. I used Rangers Perfect Pearl copper mica powder . The mold was actually a cat and paw print silicone mold - the smaller ones were for stud earrings. The button shank turned out too big for the cat earrings so I will make those into stud earrings with stud posts.


I also played around with tiny beads and clear resin.  I should also add that it is easy enough to drill out a button hole which got filled by accident. 


And here is what I mean about "drifting" button shanks!



UPDATE : Fran commented below and suggests we use glue to first attach the shanks to the resin parts. Then add the resin all around the shank. Clever! 

Giveaway 

If you'd like to win a $50gift certificate towards charms, beads etc from Little Windows,  please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog.

Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank.

This giveaway is for US and Canada.

Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments. (The exception is Facebook - just like/comment on the giveaway status there!!)

It ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Monday, January 18, 2021. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck!

Photography 

I used my iPhone 8+ for final product photography in natural light. I used  the Orangemonkie studio which comes equipped with LED lights - for artificial light photography in my windowless basement studio. The Foldio2 Plus is excellent . I use the Foldio3 because I need the room for tutorial photography.  

My online class is now available : Easy Guide to Smartphone Jewelry Photography. 

Before You Go

Disclosure 

This blog may contain affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation. 

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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM