Fright night

Create Helen Cant's novelty Halloween jewellery set using resin and funshaped moulds!

Helen Cant, MJ Designer

Try another... Fill a hollow pumpkin sprinkle with spare orange resin, leave to set then glue a ring blank to the reverse.

Resin is an ideal material for making eyecatching novelty jewellery whatever the occasion. Create this cute set to celebrate Halloween using table confetti, glitter and fun skull and cat-shaped moulds. It’s perfect for adding an extra touch to a spooky fancy dress costume or simply team with a plain black or purple T-shirt for a more subtle glam goth look!

Heart Necklace

1. Mix 15ml of resin according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Pour into a large heart-shaped mould, filling to two thirds. Gently warm the resin with a heat gun on a low setting for a few seconds to remove air bubbles. Position a bat and ghost table confetti face down into the mould so that the backs are level with the resin, pouring in a little more if necessary. Using a cocktail stick, position a piece of spider’s web confetti to the left of the bat and ghost then add a selection of small confetti stars in the space around them. Leave to set for at least eight hours or until the resin has solidified.
2. Prepare 12ml of resin as before then add a generous amount of fine orange glitter, stirring well with a lolly stick to ensure it is evenly distributed. Pour over the first layer of resin to fill the mould then leave to fully set for 48 hours. Gently ease the piece from the mould then smooth the edges and back with wet and dry paper, using plenty of water. For extra shine apply a coat of clear car lacquer. Prepare a small amount of epoxy resin glue and stick a bail to the back of the piece before leaving to set.
3. Cut 46cm of medium link gunmetal trace chain and pass through the bail. Thread a 8mm faceted clear glass bead followed by a 10mm black and white striped resin bead and a 5mm black glass bicone onto a head pin, trim the excess then form a neat loop using round-nosed pliers. Repeat, then create two more beaded drops using a selection of single glittery star beads, and another pair with 5mm black glass bicones and 10mm orange wooden beads. Using 6mm jump rings, attach three of each type of drop to the chain, either side of the heart. Fasten a lobster clasp and extension chain to the ends of the necklace.

Skull Necklace

1. Apply a thin coating of petroleum jelly to the inside edges and base of a skull-shaped silicone mould. This will act as a mould release, making it easier to remove the finished piece. Ensure that any lumps and fingerprints are smoothed out as these will cause indentations in the resin. Prepare 20ml of resin then stir in a generous amount of fine white glitter; for extra sparkle add a little white holographic glitter. Pour to fill the mould then leave to set for 48 hours.
2. Gently ease the piece from the mould then smooth the back and edges using wet and dry paper. Place a length of strong tape around the edge of the mouth section of the skull, forming a ‘wall’ that protrudes around 1cm above the surface. Prepare 5ml of resin, dip the end of a lolly stick into black resin pigment and stir in well. Carefully pour the black resin into the eyes, nose and mouth detailing. It may be easier to pick up small amounts of resin on the end of a cocktail stick and drip it into the cavities. Clear any spilt resin from the surface of the skull using a damp cotton bud, then leave to set for 24 hours.
3. Remove the tape from the piece. If any black resin from the mouth has leaked down the side of the skull, gently sand it off with wet and dry paper and apply a coat of car lacquer if necessary. Prepare a small amount of epoxy resin glue and secure a sequin into each eye cavity, plus a purple rose cabochon above one eye, leaving to fully set. Adhere a bail to the back of the piece with epoxy resin glue and allow to dry. Thread three starshaped pony beads onto an assembled snake chain, removing one side of the fastening if necessary. Pass the chain through the bail, then add three more star beads to the chain before replacing the clasp.

Cat Brooch

1. Prepare 15ml of resin, dip the end of a lolly stick into yellow resin pigment and stir thoroughly. Dip another lolly stick into a smaller amount of red resin pigment and mix in well to create an orange shade. Pour into a cat-shaped silicone mould that has been prepared with petroleum jelly as for the skull necklace, and pop any large air bubbles with a cocktail stick, paying particular attention to the tail area, before leaving to fully set for 48 hours. Remove from the mould and sand the rough edges with wet and dry paper.
2. Cut the shank from a white bow-shaped button and sand the back flat with coarse grade wet and dry paper. Prepare a small amount of epoxy resin glue and stick the bow to the neck of the cat. Once fully set, adhere a brooch finding to the reverse.