Time for Tea

Paint and embellish wooden blanks to create helen cant’s fun tea partythemed set

Helen Cant, MJ Designer

Small disposable medicine cups graded in millilitres are ideal for measuring the two part ratio of the resin accurately

Wooden craft blanks provide an ideal base to embellish with charms, beads and floral cabochons to create eyecatching jewellery. Once the shapes are coated with resin the embellishments are securely attached. Finished with pearls, ribbon and candy striped beads these fun tea party-inspired designs are right on trend!

Necklace

1. Mix together white and green acrylic paint to create a pastel shade, then apply three coats to one side and the edges of a circular wooden shape, and leave to fully dry. Apply a coat of sealer in preparation for the coating of resin then allow to set. Using a nail file, gently sand the bottom of two acrylic flower beads a little to create a slightly flatter surface.
2. Prepare 5ml of resin according to the manufacturer’s instructions and mix thoroughly. The resin should become white and bubbly in appearance and you will feel the mixing cup becoming slightly warm to the touch. Pour a small amount of resin in the centre of the wooden shape then use a lolly stick to spread it to the edges. Gently warm with a heat gun on a low setting from a height of 10cm to remove air bubbles, giving the resin several 10 second blasts rather than heating all at once.
3. Position a rose cabochon to the top left of the wooden shape then the two flattened acrylic flower beads below. Pick up a little of the spare resin on the end of a cocktail stick and carefully push it up to the edges of the acrylic beads to provide extra strength. Gently blast with a heat gun again to remove any further bubbles. Position a teapot charm to the right and five 4mm flat back pearls around the edge.
4. Examine your piece several times until it starts to set (around 35 minutes) to check for any movement of the pearls and gently reposition if necessary using a cocktail stick. Leave to fully set, away from sources of dust and fluff for 72 hours.
5. Mix a small amount of epoxy glue according to the manufacturer’s instructions and apply a large bail to the back of the piece, then leave to fully set. Use a small amount of epoxy resin glue to adhere a 4mm pearl to the centre of the larger acrylic flower and a 3mm pearl to the middle of the smaller bloom, then leave to fully set. Cut a 46cm length of chain and pass through the bail.
6. Thread a 4mm pearl onto a head pin followed by a waxed cord bead and another 4mm pearl, form a loop then repeat once more. Thread a 10mm pearl onto a head pin, form a loop then repeat. Attach the beaded head pins and pearls to the chain using 5mm jump rings. Cut 22cm of ribbon, thread through a link and tie in a bow. Trim the ends and coat with clear nail varnish to prevent fraying. To finish, attach a lobster clasp and extension chain to the ends of the chain using 5mm jump rings.

Rings

1. Create matching rings using the same techniques as before, attaching the completed blanks to ring bases using epoxy glue.

Bracelet

1. Mix acrylic paint as before and apply three coats to both sides and the edges of two wooden heart shapes then leave to fully dry. Apply a coat of sealer then leave to set. Mix 5ml of resin following the manufacturer’s instructions. This will be enough to form all the heart-shaped pieces in the set.
2. Pour a small amount of resin in the centre of the heart shapes, spread to the edges using a lolly stick, then gently warm with a heat gun as before to remove air bubbles. Position a teacup charm on one of the heart shapes ensuring the loop of the charm protrudes above the top. Position a rose cabochon in the centre of the other shape. Examine the pieces several times until they start to set (around 35 minutes) to check for any movement, reposition if necessary, then leave to fully set for 72 hours.
3. Mix a small amount of epoxy resin glue and apply a small bail to the back of the heart with the rose cabochon then leave to fully set. Thread a 4mm pearl followed by a waxed cord bead and another 4mm pearl, as for the necklace, onto a head pin and repeat once more. Thread a 10mm pearl onto a head pin and repeat twice.
4. Using 5mm jump rings attach the beads and pearls along the length of a bracelet interspersing with a teapot, gingerbread man and large key charms, plus the finished resin hearts. To finish tie 19cm of ribbon in a bow on the end link of the bracelet. Trim the ends and coat with clear nail varnish.

Earrings

1. Create two teacup heart-shaped resin cabochons in the same way as for the bracelet. Thread a 4mm pearl followed by a waxed cord bead and another 4mm pearl onto an eye pin, form a loop then repeat once more. Open two 5mm jump rings and thread through the loops of the teapot charms, attach the beaded head pins then secure to earwires.