Time For Tea

Make a kitsch three-dimensional tea tray necklace using resin and charms

Posted by Helen Bowen

About

I really love to make quirky and original jewelry and resin really gives me the freedom to do this. Embedding items into the resin but leaving some parts sitting proud of the surface adds interest and texture to the piece. You can find the large circular pendant trays at BronzeMetal on Etsy. The resin is from www.resin8.co.uk, the faux suede from www.spellboundbead.co.uk and the cute teapot clasp is available from www.bojanglebeads.co.uk

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You Will Need (27 things)

  • Supplies

  • Willow Pattern Plate
  • White Card
  • Hairspray /Sealer
  • Round silver plated Pendant tray
  • Two-part Epoxy /glue
  • Low Viscosity Resin
  • Low Viscosity Resin Hardener
  • Tea themed charms e.g. Teacup , teabag, teaspoon, clock, teapot
  • Blue faux Suede
  • 2 Silver plated cord Crimp(s)
  • 2 7mm Silver plated Jump Rings
  • Teapot Clasp

  • Tools

  • Camera
  • Color Printer
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Electronic Scales
  • Acrylic Block
  • Blu Tack
  • 100 Mixing pot and Stirrer
  • Cocktail Stick
  • Lighter
  • Flat nosed Pliers
  • Wire Cutters
  • Needle File

Steps (10 steps, 1440 minutes)

  1. 1

    These are the majority of the tools and materials you will need for this project. You will also need an apron and some barrier cream for working with resin plus an acrylic block or similar to keep the pendant flat when adding the resin.

  2. 2

    First, take a photograph of your willow pattern plate. If it’s a very large plate, a section will suffice.
    Use a high quality setting on your camera and ensure good lighting. You can use this photograph again for more of my projects including Polymer Porcelain, Deceptive Drops and Temple Tassel. Print it out so the pattern is the same size as the pattern on the plate. Create the words ‘Time for Tea’ in a word processing program. I used a typewriter font and left enough space between the lines to allow cutting out. Print out onto white card. You may have to experiment until you get the right size.

  3. 3

    Use a pencil to draw around the pendant on a prettily patterned part of the willow pattern print. You’ll then need to trim a little off all the way around so that it will fit inside the pendant tray. Keep trimming until the circle fits flat in the base of the tray.

  4. 4

    Spray the willow pattern circle and the ‘time for tea’ words with hairspray or spray sealer to seal the ink. Cut the words into separate pieces. Trim the loops of the tea-themed charms using wire cutters. File gently to remove any sharp edges. Lay out the words and charms on the willow pattern circle to decide your design. Some of the charms will sit proud of the resin. In my design, the teaspoon overlaps the pendant edge. I’ve kept the teapot to one side to add to the pendant later. Photograph your layout so you have it to refer to!

  5. 5

    Mix up some glue and spread a thin layer in the base of the pendant tray. Stick the willow pattern circle in and then glue all the charms and words into place, referring to your photograph. Leave to dry.

  6. 6

    Put on an apron and protect your hands with barrier cream. Place the pendant tray so it is flat on the acrylic block, securing with Blu Tack so it can’t slide about. Mix up 6g of resin according to manufacturer instructions. I mixed 4g of resin and 2g of resin hardener to get the required quantity to fill the pendant tray.

  7. 7

    Add the resin carefully and slowly to the pendant, allowing it to spread naturally and making sure not to drip it over the charms. Keep adding resin until it reaches the top of the tray frame. Some parts of the charms will be visible above the resin. This is part of the intended look.

  8. 8

    If you are using non-flammable resin, you can pass a naked flame (match or lighter tool) carefully over the surface of the resin to draw out any air bubbles. Leave the pendant somewhere warm and dust free to cure. I leave mine overnight if possible.

  9. 9

    Glue the final teapot charm onto the surface of the pendant. Roughen the resin surface where the charm will make contact. This will help the glue to bond. I love to add elements in layers on my resin pendants as it makes them interesting and very textural.

  10. 10

    Thread the pendant onto a length of faux suede cord. Add a cord crimp to each end and attach the clasp using jump rings.