Here’s How To Make Resin Papers Like A Professional

Hi resin lovers, Karen Bearse here. I am excited to be joining the Resin Obsession team! We will start with my absolute favorite thing, a tutorial on how to make resin papers that we will die cut into pretty resin flowers. Follow my next few posts where we will explore the world of resin paper and how to use them to make resin crafts.

Resin supplies for the resin paper project:

• Resin Obsession Super Clear Resin A&B
• Plastic measure cups, stir stick or foam brush, rubber non-latex gloves.
• Decorative Paper Napkins &/or tissue paper.
• Craft sheet, &/or Parchment Paper.
• Timer
• Eileen Hull Stitchy Flower & Leaf dies by Sizzix
• Die Pick (pokey hole tool)
• Cropodile

Step 1:  Get Your Supplies Ready

You want to have everything ready so that you don’t have to take your gloves off when you start pouring the resin. Resin is sticky! Layout a parchment sheet on a table that will be undisturbed for 24 hours. Make sure you have enough room for the papers to lay side by side with space in between. I used resin for crafts for this tutorial, but you can also make resin papers anytime you have leftover resin.

Step 2:  Choose your paper

Paper napkins are beautiful, plentiful, and not expensive. I love to make resin papers with them.

You can make two different designs:

*If you peel the napkin pieces apart, you will get one or two — usually white tissue pieces plus the printed piece. This method will result in a very translucent, fine paper resin piece.
*If you leave the napkin intact, your resin paper will be thicker and less transparent.

I used the fine piece method for my flowers.

Step 3:  Mix the resin

Put gloves on and have your timer running. Mix your resin as per the instructions, two parts A to one part B, and stir for 2 minutes. I have to say I like only having one mix using Resin Obsession, and it is way less sticky than other resins. If you get it on your fingers, it comes off easily.

Step 4:  Apply resin to the paper

Treat the napkin carefully as it can tear. Pour some resin on your craft sheet or parchment paper, then using the stir stick, spread out a thin layer approximately the same size as your tissue pieces. Lay the tissue, pretty side down, on top of the resin layer. Then, pour more resin on top and carefully spread using the spatula, covering the edges. This is an excellent way to have a bit of firmness for die cuts. If you want thin resin paper, use a sponge or foam brush to spread the resin, making the paper more pliable.

Step 5:  Flip the paper

Use the stir stick to peel up part of the paper and turn it over, so the printed side is up. Add a little more resin, so the front is nicely covered in a thin, even layer. You can already see how translucent it is.

Let dry for twenty-four hours.

Step 6:  Remove the cured resin paper

Peel your paper off the parchment paper. Experiment with different thicknesses of epoxy resin and other papers to see impressive results. A light coat of resin will give you a very cool translucent plastic like a piece of resin paper. The thicker the coat, the more stiff the work, almost like a laminate. This makes for a great bookmark, planner divider, or mini album cover.

If using the Resin Obsession super clear resin, you can break the thicker pieces like mica. Experiment to see which you like. I keep notes so I can look back and remember the different results. It’s resin science!

Step 7:  Let’s make resin paper flowers!

This is my favorite part of how to make resin papers.  I get to turn these love prints into flowers!

If your layer is not too thick, you can cut it with thinlet dies to make flowers. If you have never die cut before, you’ll want to read my article on using a die cutter to cut resin papers. Then, follow the directions on your cutting machine and cut flowers out of the paper resin. Again a thin layer of resin (i.e., not much thicker than a piece of paper) should cut pretty easily. I ran my dies through 2x, to be sure, but they cut very well. I also decided to hand cut the butterflies out. Bonus embellishments!

Have you ever had a project that sounds great in your head, but when you go to execute it, it doesn’t work as well? One of the challenges with using translucent layers is sometimes the pattern gets lost. Here I added a piece of lightly patterned cardstock to my smaller flower. Next, I inked the edges of the resin flower with archival ink so it would stand out more. Problem solved!

In this case, I inked the cardstock flower yellow to work with the silver tissue pattern. I was excited that the metallic showed through the resin loud and clear. Just cut out many resin flowers and cardstock flowers, then play with them to get a good result.

Step 8:  Finish the flowers

Now layer your flowers however you like & using a pokey hole tool or Cropodile put a hole in the center of each flower. Add a brad to hold the layers together. You can also glue beads in the center. Just have fun decorating your flowers. Now I have a lovely bunch of flowers and butterflies ready to go as I art! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Take the time to make some resin flowers!! Thanks for playing with me today!

Ready to try more projects beyond how to make resin papers?

Then you will want a copy of the instantly downloadable ebook, Resin Jewelry Making.  It takes resin beginners on a clear path to help you create beautiful resin jewelry and crafts that you can’t wait to share! Buy the book now and have it to read in minutes.

Originally written by Karen Bearse

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