In this class, you will be turning your own illustrations into resin domed brooch designs to use, gift or sell. Just about any design can be turned into a resin brooch, from cute cat faces to delicate florals, the sky is the limit.

To begin you will need to collect these materials:

Inkjet Printable shrink film such as Grafix.
An inkjet printer to print your designs.
2 part epoxy resin such as Art Resin.
Silicone mixing cups, mat and stirring sticks.
Silicone doming tray is optional but helpful.
Toothpicks for applying resin, and etc.
A heat gun. Does not need to be expensive.
Plastic containers to cover your curing pieces.
Nitrile or silicone gloves, NOT LATEX.
A respirator mask.
Brooch or pin backs.

Despite the long list, the upfront cost to begin with resin is small budget friendly and the tools can all be reused for other projects.

Getting Started

To get started, look over your sketchbooks and digital art pieces to find something you are excited to make into a brooch design. Illustrations with simple forms/silhouettes are easier than more complex forms, but you are welcome to go as complex as you want. Just know the more complex, the more difficulty and time it will take to create. You are welcome to go full color or choose simpler monotone designs. All will work well. Really the most important thing is for you to be excited to make it!

Once you have chosen which design to turn into a brooch, then it is time to begin the printing and cutting process. If your design is in a sketchbook you will of course need to scan in your artwork and make necessary adjustments first. Follow the printing and cutting instructions in lesson 2 and lesson 3 videos.

After you have successfully print and cut your pieces, it's time to bake the shrink film pieces. It is best to follow the instructions of your selected shrink film brand. Below is a photograph of the back of my Graphix Shrink Film package which lists the step by step instructions for this brand.

After you have successfully baked your items, it will then be time to prepare then to take resin. You will want to follow lessons 4, 5 and 6. In these lessons I will tell you how to best sand rough edges and give you an in depth explanation on how to best set up your workspace, collect the materials you will need as well as other various tips and tricks.

Once you have finished those lessons it is time to finally start applying resin. The video for lesson 7 will take you through the entire process of using and applying resin. For this class we will be using a 2 part resin that you will measure, mix thoroughly and apply to your pieces, creating a hard glossy dome that not only protects the piece but also adds clarity and brightness. After you apply the resin you will leave the pieces to set for a soft cure in 24hours, trim and sand any spillage and then wait until they are hard cured at 48 hours to once again mix up a batch of resin by which to affix your brooch pin backings. Adding the pin backs is similar to doming except you only want a very thin coat of resin on the backs.

After you have completed your pins please do share photographs of them to the class gallery! I will be looking forward to seeing all of the lovely pins you make.

Jenna Van Amstel

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