Instructor: Mary Ann Stage

Email Mary Ann with questions: [email protected]

Visit Mary Ann's website at: http://www.picturetrail.com/ssmaryann

Materials/Tools Needed:

• molds made in lessons #1-3 

• two plastic cups, one marked "A" and one marked as "B" 

• resin kit 

• wooden popsicle stick, coffee stir stick, or disposable plastic spoon to stir resin with 

• sandpaper

You now have flexible rubber molds to pour resin into and make as many items as you need for your project.

First, using new plastic cups marked A and B, pour equal amounts of resin in each cup up to your marked lines. There is only a slight color difference in the two parts.  Pour both A and B cups into another larger cup and mix thoroughly until the resin is clear - usually about one minute.   This resin starts to cure fast in 3 minutes so I usually stir the mixture for about one minute until I feel the cup getting slightly warm then pour it into my mold.

Lay your one-part mold on a flat surface.  For your two-part mold you have to put the two parts together matching the locking pieces and secure them with some rubber bands.  Stand the mold up so you can pour the resin into the opening you created on one side.

Pour the resin in slowly until it reaches the top of your mold.  Let it set for 10 minutes in the mold until the resin turns completely white and feels hard to the touch. I usually gently pull the mold away from the now resin item then it's easier to pull out.  On the two-part mold take off the rubber bands and slowly pull apart the two halves.  The item will be somewhat flexible when you first take it out but it will firm up quickly.  This is usually the time to trim any mistakes away.  Usually on the two-part mold there will be extra pieces of resin from where the two parts meet.  These are easily scraped  off and then sanded smooth later.  I also keep sandpaper near to sand the item flat after it has firmed up.  You can also sand any other parts of your item when it is totally set then paint it.  I use regular acrylic paints.

There is another 2-part casting resin from Micro-Mark that starts to cures in 7 minutes instead of 3 minutes if you need a longer working time but you have to let it set for 30 minutes before you demold it instead of 10 minutes.

Happy Molding!  There are lots of other ways to make molds and other products to use, but this way serves my purposes.  Thank you.