Open Bezel Necklace

Step 1

Prepare your Organics
Use dried organics or dry them yourself by using Silica Gel for great results.

Step 2

Cut a piece of packing tape and place it on your work surface. Place your Open Frame or Open Bezel onto the tape. Press down and rub your bezel back and forth on your work surface, burnishing the tape onto the backside of the bezel. Trim away any excess of the packing tape to avoid it from getting attached to anything while you are pouring or letting your piece cure. Trust me…it happens!

Tip: Check to see that your packing tape is clear and there is no residue or mottling in the adhesive. If there is, it will show up in your finished resin piece when you remove the tape once the resin is cured. Try to use an area of the tape that does not have blotches or marks.

Step 3

Mix your resin. Read the resin instructions for safety concerns regarding the Lima Resin. When I work with resin, I always:

1. Place a large plastic bag over my work surface and tape it down.
2. I make sure I have ventilation in my workroom.
3. I wear gloves.
4. I wear glasses (readers because I can’t see anymore. Plus it protects my eyes!).
5. I have a pile of wet wipes handy.

See Tip: Preparing and Using Resin

Step 4

Arrange your organics within the bezel.

Step 5

Embed Your Organics

All right, there are two ways to do this; the fast way and the slow way.

The Fast Way:
Place your organics into your open bezel or frame. Make sure the organics are fully pressed against the tape. This will prevent the organics from rising to the surface and “floating”. Slowly drizzle your mixed resin over the organics filling the bezel until partially full, but not domed. Use a toothpick to agitate the resin and make sure there aren’t any air bubbles lurking below the surface. Once you are confident, continue to pour your resin until the bezel is filled and highly domed and set aside to cure. This doesn’t work 100% of the time. I have had my organics rise to the surface and poke out of the resin.

Step 6

The Slow Way:
The slow way requires you to do two pours of your resin, but the results are 100% spot on. Place your organics into the bezel and fully press against the tape. Slowly drizzle your mixed resin over the organics filling the bezel partially full, but not filled. Use a toothpick to agitate the resin and make sure there aren’t any air bubbles. Let your resin cure. Mix up another batch of 2-part resin and drizzle the resin into your bezel. Before your bezel is completely full and domed, use a toothpick to slightly agitate the resin and to make sure there aren’t any bubbles lurking! If any bubbles do come to the surface, use your breath to apply some hot air to the resin. This will cause the air bubbles to expand and pop.

Step 7

If you have any resin where you don’t want it, use a wet-wipe to clean up the surface.

Step 8

To finish your open bezel or frame, remove the packing tape from the backside once fully cured. If you have any excess residue from the packing tape on the backside, use the tape to remove it like you would when you are removing lint or animal fur from your clothes. Keep touching the packing tape onto the sticky surface until it is no longer sticky.