How to Make Your Own Resin Candy Filled Bracelet Using EasyCast

I have always seen and had an attraction to clear bracelets that were filled with unique embellishments such as candy, plastic buttons, gems, or in some cases metal zippers or chain links. The clear resin bracelets are like glass filled wonders, and I was always curious as to how they were made.

As a kid, I never over thought the process. I figured they were all just plastic with high price tags. As I grew older though, and my liking toward just about any craft, became a hobby.

I never worked with resin before tough, and had no idea where to start. As with every hobby though, I won't stop at trials and errors until I find perfection.

Luckily for me, working with epoxy is a real simple task, and I aced my very first bangle bracelet filled with candy on my very first try, and here is how I did it:

Tools You Will Need:
 
1- EasyCast.
2- A plastic bangle bracelet mold. (These can be found online for under $5.00)
3- 3 cups for mixing. Using disposable Dixie cups are he cheapest and easiest method.
4-Candy of your choice. I chose Good N Plenty candy. Try not getting candy that will melt quickly such as
M&Ms.

How To Set Your Bracelet
 
First and foremost you will want to submerge your bottles of EasyCast into some lukewarm water. Your bracelet will come out shinier and less dull with warm water. 75 degrees is the most ideal temperature.

Next take your candy and place it into your bracelet mold.
 
Going back to your EasyCast you can now pour them into the Dixie cups. Make sure your pour the exact amount of each solution into 2 separate cups. Some people measure, but if you have a good artists eye you will be able to level up your solutions to make sure you have equal amounts in separate cups.
Once your solution is poured into 2 cups you now need to stir them around for about 2 minutes each.
 
Once stirred you can now pour the solutions together into the third cup.
 
Mix for 2 minutes.
 
Now that the resin has been mixed you can begin to slowly pour it into your mold on top of your candy. Luckily for me, my Good N Plenty candy did not bleed into the resin causing color distortions.
Leave the mold alone and let it dry for up to 24 hours.
 
The following day you can slowly remove the finished bracelet from the mold. Pushing down on the middle center of the mold allows it to release easier. Some use a mold release before pouring the mix, but I find it works just fine without it.

Now you will notice that your bracelet looks dull, and may have side flaps. You can cut these flaps off with scissors, or you can attempt to yank them off with your fingers. I find scissors work best. If need be you can use wet sandpaper on the ridges to even it out.

In order to get your bracelet to shine like crazy you will either want to buy some spray resin, or you can simply whip up another tiny batch of your own epoxy using your EasyCast. Brush on the epoxy all over the bracelet, and let it dry again for 24 hours.

You will see as you paint on the epoxy, how shiny your finished product will look. Just like glass, filled with candy!

Making Jewelry from Epoxy? Discover How to Add Color to Your Resin Jewelry

Recently I began working with clear epoxy. I have always had an attraction to jewelry that would be crystal clear, and have little embellishment's like candy, seashells, or sand added to them. They seemed to float on ice that never melted, and thus was born my newest craft.

I like sticking to bracelet's as I am new to the hobby, yet picking it up with such ease, that I feel it's a craft anyone can do, and the results are stunning.

After making a few pieces I wanted to try something new, I wanted to add a little color to my resin bracelets, and realized I already had supplies on hand that would make this desire a simple reality.
They are called Pearl Ex Pigment Powders, and using them to add color to clear epoxy is a cinch, and you end up with some really beautiful pieces, because Pearl Ex has a huge assortment of colors that shimmer, shine, and mix really well with epoxy.

How To Add Color To Epoxy Jewelry:
 
First you need to have your pigment color on hand. For the project you see in the photograph I used a simple blue green pigment powder.

Once you have decided the color you want your piece to be, you can begin to mix your epoxy. I use EasyCast, as I have never had any trouble with it, and it's simple to use.

Once you have mixed your epoxy, and mixed the 2 together, you can add just a small sprinkle of the Pearl Ex color you chose. Add very small amounts, like a pinch, and mix. If you want your color to be darker, add another pinch until you get the desired color.

A little really goes a long way, so keep that in mind when adding your pigment powders.


To Make The Bracelet In Photo
 
To make the bracelet you see in the photo, only use a small amount of a blue green colored pigment powder.

Let the mix sit to the side for awhile, and add a bunch of seashells to a bracelet mold. You can take your time here, as your epoxy is not going to grow hard for another 24 hours.

Once your seashells are placed in where you want them, you can begin to slowly pour your colored epoxy into the mold. Do this slowly to avoid masses of bubbles.

Once your mold is full, tap the sides to try and release any bubbles to the surface. I pop the bubbles with a toothpick.

Once your epoxy seems to be sitting well without any air bubbles, you can now set your bracelet aside and wait for it to dry.

That is basically it. It's a fun and simple project, with beautiful results.

How to Get Finished Epoxy Jewelry to Really Shine like Glass

I absolutely adore working with epoxy. I have been making bracelets left and right, slinging them out like pancakes, and during my adventures with epoxy, I learned a few tricks to the trade, and I know how frustrating it was when I first began working with the stuff.

The very first issue I ran into when working on making epoxy bracelets with embellishments, was that after removing the piece from the mold, I noticed that the entire thing looked really dull, and the only area that seemed to shine, was the area exposed to air.

I had no idea how to get the dull appearance off of the bracelet without ruining it. Figuring it out though was not too hard. I knew underneath this lackluster outer shell sat a beautiful piece just waiting to be displayed.

Someone recommended clear nail polish on the surface of the bracelet, and as much as I knew it would work, I knew it would smell, and fade.

I figured if nail polish would work, why not some epoxy?

You have the option to buy resin spray, which will bring the bracelet to life in all its glory...or...you can do it the easy and cheap way, without having to go out and buy another product.

Mix yourself up a very small portion of EasyCast, and use a small paint brush to simply brush the epoxy on to the finished piece. You can use any epoxy you want really, but EasyCast is my favorite.
The clear coating will bring the bracelet to life, and no longer will you have to worry about the dull lack luster texture.

Before adding this coating of epoxy though, make sure you wet sanded the piece of any bumps, or miss-shaped areas on the piece.