I never put my shrinky in an oven.  I use a hand held embossing 'blow dryer'.  They're sold in the scrapbooking section of stores.  I use a graphite 'paddle', that glass people use,  to hold the shrinky down and flatten it as I go.  The first time I used the dryer, it was a bit crazy.  Blowing the shrinky off the table, burning holes in it (if I held the dryer in one spot too long), but once I got the knack of it - I would never trade it for an oven again.  I would recommend having a tweezer handy also, in case the shrinky sticks to itself.  Especially when you are learning how to shrink it.

I still sometimes have to use the dremel to 'square' off corners.  Sometimes it's more of a trapazoid than a rectangle 

ammamama is the resin expert...but I disagree with the resin lady on YouTube about the bubbles completely disappating, and definitely wouldn't plan on that alone to get rid of them.

If you're going resin, Easy Cast is the best way to go.  Very simple - half and half.  If you count all the errors you would make using the more complex resin casting (so many drops of catalyst for so many ounces of resin), Easy Cast is not that much more expensive.

If you are embedding something, I do coat the item in resin then place in the mold with the resin.  When embedding some items in UTEE, I have actually melted them.  Never had any problem embedding anything in resin.  If you embed something porous in resin (like when I embedded shark teeth) you need to seal the item first, otherwise air bubbles will appear from the item.

There is a gentleman on Craftster named John Golden (if I remember right), who did a great YouTube tutorial on resin, making rings.  He blows on the resin through a straw to remove bubbles.

I use a heat gun on the resin to remove bubbles, I also use it to trim and remelt pieces of UTEE.

I'm glad if I helped any.  I hope to 'get' this UTEE thing.  Tattfae has such a knack for crafts.  I know that UTEE has also been used on collages, scrapbooking and other things.

You look like you are well on your way to becoming a UTEE master.  Wish you luck!

Looking good You could glue some gems in the extra holes or run some funky fibers through them  Did you use a resin mold I was afraid it would melt the mold

Ohhh tattfae you are one of my faves.  Actually I have also begun tatting thanks to you.

But to UTEE....I have produced resin items for almost a year now.  Not that I'm an expert on it (no where near ammamama), but I am comfortable with it.

Someone asked a question about a hole through resin - NO you can not heat a crochet hook and stick through resin.  You must use a dremel, or a drill of some other kind.  I have drilled completely through resin - and it stinks when you do that too.

Thanks to tattfae, I made an attempt at UTEE.  I was not necessarily looking for less expensive - just easier and quicker (layering in resin is not for the impatient).

First...I overcook it to yellowing.  Second - YES I MELTED RESIN MOLDS - give me something hot and I'll burn a house down  .

Yes...it hardens QUICK...but it also MELTS QUICK... and I have 'ruined' pieces by trying to 'trim' edges with a heat gun...because it will melt so quickly.

I am still trying UTEE, because I'm sure it will have it's potential for certain projects.  But I use resin for imbedding and usual kind of pendants.



This pendant is done with resin.  I drilled through and used 20 gauge wire to make the bail.  (the illustration is my original, computer illustration)

To me...pricing of UTEE and resin is about equivilant.  I always wait for percent off coupons.  UTEE is MUCH quicker in everything compared to resin.  So if you want to see if you messed up or not...you'll know in minutes  .  Resin is much more durable than UTEE.  Takes way longer to do anything to.  You also can not remelt resin and try to fix, where UTEE drips, drops, and otherwise can be remelted (although there is a potential for yellowing).

I have followed resin through the infamous ammasmma days and I too used the resin where you put a certain number of drops per ounce etc, etc.

From experience....you will get excellent result 1 out of 10 times.  The drop doesn't only depend on the ounces of resin...it depends on how humid it is, temperature and two billion other factors.

Use the 1-1 Easy Cast (it comes two bottles in a box).  It comes out slightly more expensive...but if you add how many resin pieces I've trashed - it is well worth the cost.

Everyone on the videos use the 1:1 Easy Cast.  You will be amazed at the difference.  I can kick myself for suffering with the drop catalyst method for so long.

Go get the 1:1 and you will have no problems.

All your items are so delicate and dainty - you must have the fingers of a fairy.  My clutzy fat 10 thumbs just get twisted in knots.

I love your work...always have.  I'll have to try this UTEE stuff sometime.

  I haven't checked out Craftster in a while (busy, busy)...but I'm sure glad I did today.

Beautiful...It looks just like fused glass!  I must try to play with.  Great job!

   They are beautiful!!!!!  Did you use that embossing stuff and then shrink?  Tell us your secrets!!!

I love them!!!!

O-my-goodness, so do I, but these are resin! I should prolly go say so in the post, but ooooh that makes me happy, 'cause they're not meant to be "plasticky"!

I just found my biological mom, well, she found me where I posted on a reunion site. No, my sisters wife found me! Anyway I ended up choosing the fairy stamp for my packaging recently, 'cause my mom has a fairy website, Fairyslikeme.com. Fairys make me very happy now!

How absolutely wonderful about your mom!!!!  And I knew these were resin - since I "know" you.  And actually I think the fact that these are resin is more amazing.

Tut request - how long do you let them set before doing the different colors?  Do you pour them in the mold clear - then add drops?  Thanks for any info Mistress Resin, Queen of Plastics.

Wow, talk about intricate work.  I couldn't make a large nun doll, no less one this size!  You must have the patience of a saint to make something so small.  She is adorable 
Her face does leave alot to interpretation - but that's a great aspect.
Lovely work.  I'm jealous.

Very cute.  Not to be an old 'fogie', but as a grandma who has a 15 year old grand daughter who does chain maille jewelry, and who wears my shrinky jewelry constantly. - we really need to switch those baby gears.

May I suggest - let her draw some earrings and show her the process?  I know they'll be outrageous - but so much the better.  They are our future - it's up to us to make up for what media implants in their fertile minds.

Here's the shrinky my grand daughter was loving for her birthday.


Sorry to be a 'preacher' but it's us against the media (gosh I'm so 1984).  That little sweety is yours to mold.

Again..cute earrings.