A lot of people make a hobby out of preserving flowers, usually by drying them out or pressing them, so that they can be kept for years to come, as a memory or gift.
But recently, it has become a lot more popular to preserve flowers in resin, as it is a far better way to do so.
The flowers will be preserved for as long as you want, and you can shape the resin in any way you want to create a beautiful keepsake or even a piece of jewelry out of the flowers.
It’s also the perfect way to have special flowers, such as your wedding flowers, preserved and on display in a visually appealing way.
But how do you preserve flowers in resin? Don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything you need to know and walk you through the process. Let’s get right into it!
What you will need:
First of all, let’s talk about the materials that you will need in order to preserve your flowers in resin. Here is a list of all the necessary supplies:
- Artificial or dried flowers
- Clear casting resin (there are many different types, but the better the quality the better the result)
- Silicone molds of your choosing (depending on the shape or figure you are wanting to create with the resin and the flowers)
- Protective gear (this includes a mask, some gloves, and some goggles, everything needed to ensure you are protected from the chemicals of the casting resin)
- A mixing stick (this could be ice cream or lollipop stick if needed)
- Two plastic cups
- Tweezers or pincers
- Optional: a heat gun
Step-by-step guide:
Once you have your materials and supplies, make sure you have a good workspace in which to get to work.
Ideally, you should work on a flat surface, such as a table, and you should be in a well-ventilated area in order to avoid any respiratory issues with the chemicals from the casting resin.
Once you’re ready, it’s time to get started. So here is a step-by-step guide with some easy instructions that you can follow:
Mixing the resin:
Depending on the casting resin that you’re using, there will be specific instructions that you have to follow in order to use it right. So make sure that you read all of the instructions carefully, as not all resins are the same.
In almost all cases, you will have to mix the casting resin with a hardener (which should come included with the resin in the majority of cases).
To do this, it’s useful to use the two plastic cups, to measure out the right amounts before you mix them together. You can also use your mixing stick to make sure the resin and the hardener mix together properly.
During this step, avoid mixing the resin too fast, or else you will end up with a lot of bubbles, which is something that could ruin the end-result appearance of your resin piece.
But mix until the resin is clear and ready to be poured out smoothly.
Casting the flowers:
The next step is to cast the flowers in the resin. For this, pick out the silicone mold that you use, and decide beforehand which flowers you’re putting where depending on the end result you are aiming for.
Carefully and slowly, pour the resin into the mold of your choice. It’s extra important that you are working on a level surface during this step, so that you make sure that the resin is setting into the mold in an even way, for a good result.
With the help of tweezers or pincers, arrange the flowers of your choice into a mold full of resin. You might have to fiddle about for a bit until you get the flowers into the exact position you want them in, just be gentle and patient.
Sometimes, when using dried flowers, they will end up floating back up to the surface of the resin, before the resin has had the chance to fully dry out and harden.
If this is the case, then you can simply do the entire thing in two layers, or two halves.
The first in which you arrange the flowers, and the second in which you fill-up the other half with more resin, so that the flowers are in the middle inside, and not on the surface.
Let the resin cure:
Once you have arranged the flowers in the resin, all that’s left to do is wait. The waiting time will depend on the type of casting resin that you are using, so make sure to check the instructions on that.
On average, you should let the resin settle and harden for around 48 hours. You can also use a heat gun to pop any bubbles that might appear throughout the surface so that the resin surface is smooth and bubble-free.
Plus, the heat gun might help speed the process a little more.
Finishing touches:
Once the resin has fully hardened, you can take it out of the mold and you should be left with a resin shaped in the way you wanted, with the flowers beautifully arranged inside.
If needed you can perfect the end result even more by sanding down some of the resin, or some of the edges.
Advice for preserving flowers in resin:
If it’s your first time attempting to preserve flowers in resin, then here are some helpful tips and tricks to help you avoid mistakes:
- Make sure you mix the resin well. Otherwise, the end result will fail, and the flowers will be ruined.
- Make sure the molds you are using are perfectly clean and dry before use.
- Make sure the flowers you are using have been properly dried. If there is still moisture within the flowers, the resin might not be able to properly harden and settle.
- Be wary of bubbles forming! They can completely ruin the final appearance.
- It’s best to insert your flowers into the mold halfway through pouring the resin, so that it’s easier for them to remain inside, and to avoid them going to the surface.
