(Photography: Lauren Trompp, Styling: Nonci Nyoni)
Floral suncatchers made with dried or pressed flowers and resin are easy to put together and look very pretty, especially when they’re hung in a group.
You won’t need any fancy supplies. You can find resin kits at many of the big chain stores, Kmart, BIG W and Bunnings included. To make the resin shape, use silicone moulds or even plastic lids saved from tubs of yoghurt or packets of cheese wedges. As for flowers, use whatever pretty blooms you can find on a wander.
Hang your finished suncatcher with clear suction hooks on a window, or dangle it on fishing line from a curtain rail. You’ll be reminded of your springtime walk every time you see it.
Gather your suppplies
• Foraged flowers
• Paper towel
• Craft resin
• Coaster resin mould
• 6-cup silicone mini loaf pan
• Plastic lids from yoghurt or other packaging
• Silicone or plastic straws
• Fishing line
• Faceted glass beads
You’ll also need
Microwave, scissors or craft knife, hot glue gun (optional), tweezers, toothpicks, craft knife.
Method
Step 1
You need to thoroughly dry out your flowers and leaves, as epoxy resin can trap moisture. To dry your foraged flowers in the microwave, lay your flowers and leaves between sheets of paper towel, then place a heavy, microwave-safe casserole dish on top. Microwave on HIGH in 30-second bursts. Check after a minute and keep checking until the flowers and foliage are dry. As an alternative, you can press flowers between several sheets of paper towel and lay a heavy book on top, leaving it until they are dry.
Step 2
Place your flowers on a clean surface to make an arrangement you like. It’s good to cut off any extra portions of the flower that make them thicker. You can pull individual petals off the flowers and just use them, too.
Step 3
Make sure your moulds are clean and dry. To make a hole for hanging, cut pieces of silicone or reusable plastic straws and place them in position in the mould. You can use a little hot glue to hold the straw in place, so it doesn’t move when you pour in the resin.
Step 4
Wearing gloves and a mask, carefully mix the epoxy resin and hardener according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (The usual ratio is 1:1 resin and hardener.) Stir slowly to avoid bubbles.
Step 5
Pour a little resin in the mould to just cover the base. Use tweezers to place the flowers and leaves. Cover flowers gently with resin. Using tweezers, gently press the flowers into the resin to make sure they are completely coated. If you notice bubbles on the surface, pop them with a toothpick.
Step 6
Leave the resin to harden completely. It takes 24 hours to harden and up to 48 hours for a full cure. The drying time can vary due to room temperature. You may want to pop a piece of cardboard or a clean tea towel over your pieces to keep out dust while it cures.
Step 7
To finish your suncatchers, pop the resin out of the mould. Smooth the edges if needed by scraping them with a craft knife or open scissors. Hold the blade or scissors at a 45-degree angle against the resin lip and gently scrape downward. To make a hanging loop, string through some fishing line, adding faceted glass beads to disperse sunlight in a prism effect.
Safety tips
When you’re using resin, make sure you work in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves and a mask.
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