How to Add Flowers in Epoxy Resin?

From crystal clear casts to swirling colours, epoxy resin allows you to create beautiful pieces. But what if you could add a touch of nature's brilliance to your art pieces? Introducing dried flowers to your epoxy art opens the door to a new level of creative expression.

By using them, you get to preserve the beauty of nature in a decorative and long-lasting way. Whether you are making jewellery, coasters, or art pieces, using flowers in your resin projects takes your designs to the next level. This guide will walk you through embedding flowers in the material, ensuring your florals are preserved and beautifully displayed. To learn this technique in detail, enrol yourself in a resin art workshop. 

How to Choose the Right Flowers for Epoxy Resin Projects?

Choosing the right ones is the key when it comes to using flowers in your ideas. Not all flowers are created equally; some hold up better in resin than others. Here's what you need to consider when selecting the perfect floral companions for your project:

• Moisture Matters: Fresh flowers hold too much moisture, which can cloud your resin and lead to mould growth. Look for wholly dried flowers instead. You can either air dry them or use the pressing technique. Both methods work, but air drying can preserve the flower's natural 3D form while pressing creates beautiful flattened shapes. Look for naturally low moisture content flowers, like baby's breath, statice, or lavender.

• Size and Shape: Flowers with thin, delicate petals work best. They dry faster and are less likely to curl or break when arranged in the mould. Choose flowers that complement the size and shape of your mould. Smaller flowers are ideal for delicate jewellery pieces, while larger ones can add a bold statement to coasters or wall art.

• Colour and Vibrancy: Flowers with strong, natural colours maintain their vibrancy better when preserved in resin. Choose deeply coloured ones or add a touch of colourant to your dried flowers if desired. If you want a more ethereal look, consider using white or pale-coloured flowers. They can create a soft, diffused effect within the resin.

[Pro Tip: Before using any flowers in your final project, test a small piece with a dab of resin. This helps you see how the flower reacts to the resin and avoid mishaps.]

How to Prepare the Flowers for Epoxy Resin Projects?

Now that you've chosen the perfect flowers for your project, it's time to get them ready for their part. Here's how to properly prepare your dried flowers for flawless embedding in resin:

• Drying Techniques: Even if your flowers seem dry, ensure there's no residual moisture by gently feeling them. If you still need to dry your flowers, hang them upside down in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated space for several weeks. This preserves the flower's natural 3D shape. If that doesn't work, place your flowers between sheets of parchment paper in a heavy book. Weigh down the book and leave it undisturbed for a few weeks. This method creates beautifully flattened flowers.
• Handle with Care: Dried flowers are fragile, so use tweezers for gentle handling and arrangement. Use tweezers to carefully reshape any petals that may have become crumpled during drying.
• Colour Boost: If your dried flowers have lost colour, you can carefully touch them with acrylics or resin tints. Test on a small area first to ensure compatibility.
• Avoiding Bubbles: To minimise air bubbles trapped within the flowers, gently tap them on a clean surface before placing them in the mould.

[Pro Tip: To prevent some flowers from reacting with the resin, apply a very thin layer of diluted white glue (PVA glue). Let it dry entirely before embedding. However, test this method on a small, inconspicuous flower first, as some glues might cause discolouration.]

Steps to Adding the Flowers to Epoxy Resin

With your perfectly chosen and prepped flowers ready, it's time to test your creativity and embed them in the material! Here's a step-by-step guide to ensure perfect results:

• Safety First: Before starting, wear gloves, eye protection, and a respirator (if recommended for your specific resin).

• Mixed epoxy resin according to instructions
• Mould (silicone mould recommended)
• Tweezers
• Dropper (optional)
• Heat gun or butane torch (optional)
• Mixing containers and stir sticks

• Plan Your Placement: Arrange your flowers artistically within the mould using tweezers before pouring the resin. Consider depth, dimension, and how the flowers will interact with each other in the final piece.
• Secure Them in Place: Pour a thin layer of mixed resin over the flowers to secure them in their positions. Allow this initial layer to cure partially as per the resin's instructions.
• Carefully Pour: Once the first layer has cured, slowly pour more resin into the mould, ensuring it covers the flowers completely. Use a pouring spout or aim the stream away from the flowers to minimise bubbles.
• Filling the Gaps (Optional): If there are small spaces around the flowers, use a dropper to add small amounts of resin to fill those gaps and create a smooth overall look.
• Eliminate Bubbles: Gently use a heat gun or butane torch (held at a safe distance) to remove any air bubbles that rise to the surface of the resin. Be careful not to overheat the resin, as it can scorch or become uneven.
• Cover Loosely: Once you're happy with the placement and there are minimal bubbles, loosely cover the mould to protect it from dust but allow for some air circulation.
• Curing Time: Let the resin cure entirely according to the manufacturer's instructions. This could take 24-48 hours or even longer, depending on the thickness of your project.
• Reveal and Enjoy: Carefully remove your creation from the mould once fully cured. You can now admire your stunning piece of floral epoxy art!

Extra Tips:

• Work in a well-ventilated area.
• Consider using a deep-pour resin for thicker projects with larger flowers.
• For a professional touch, you can sand and polish the cured resin for a crystal-clear finish.

Conclusion

By following these steps and tips, you can easily add flowers to epoxy resin and create stunning and personalised pieces that showcase the beauty of nature. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, adding flowers to epoxy resin is a creative and rewarding way to enhance your projects. So why wait? Start incorporating flowers into your resin creations today, and let your creativity blossom! To learn more about this art medium and to perfect your skills, please visit Arts Shala. Contact Us for more information!