making moulds for beads

the_raging_quiet · Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 1

Hello all you craftsters!!!

I adore resin jewellery but they are so expensive!!!

The Dinosaur Design range
( http://www.dinosaurdesigns.com.au/html/jewellery
/jewellery.htm ) is fantastic but i dont think i can afford $300 for a necklace anymore.

Anyway, a friend gave me the idea of making resin jewellery in the style of DDesigns myself. Apparently all i need to do is to get resin from craft store, melt it? and put into moulds.

The bit i'm having trouble with the most is the moulds-how onearth do i make bead moulds?!!!

I'm new to jewellery making and so am VERY inexperienced. Any help is greatly apprieciated.

stella · Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2005 9:58 pm Post subject:

resin is usually something you buy in two components, mix, and pour into molds. it hardens because of a chemical reaction between the two components.

i have no idea how you'd make the molds other than having them made in silicone by a mold-maker, but you'd have to drill the holes after the beads were molded.

DJules · Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 232

You could use Miracle Mold:

http://www.puffinalia.com/miraclemold/miraclemol
d.html

Linda (who owns the site) has fabulous customer service, and is a neat lady!

decayedsea · Joined: 27 Feb 2005 Posts: 48 Location: WA

I really don't know anything about resin, but I have made clay molds from polymer clay before. I usually take decorated buttons, pendants, plastic beads or other such textured things to make the molds from. I used a handle on a mirror w/ raised flowers once.