Preserving flowers in resin is a beautiful way to capture and cherish the memories from your wedding day. By embedding flowers from a bouquet in resin, you create a lasting, crystal-clear keepsake that can be displayed as a decorative piece. This technique can preserve the natural beauty of your flowers for years, making it an ideal choice for saving sentimental blooms like those from a wedding bouquet.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to preserving flowers in resin, including tips on choosing the right materials, preparing your flowers, and achieving a flawless finish.
Step 1: Select and Dry Your Flowers
Properly drying your flowers is essential, as moisture in the flowers can cause discoloration or affect the resin’s curing process.
- Choose Fresh Blooms: Start with flowers that are still vibrant and fresh. Some popular choices include roses, peonies, lilies, and greenery, as they hold up well in resin.
- Drying Methods:
- Pressing: Press flowers between heavy books for a flat, framed effect.
- Silica Gel Drying: Use silica gel to preserve the flower’s natural shape and color more effectively.
- Pro Tip: Allow flowers to dry completely—this can take several days or up to a week, depending on the drying method used.
Step 2: Select Your Resin and Mold
Choosing the right resin and mold is critical for achieving a clear, glass-like finish and showcasing your bouquet beautifully.
- Resin Type: Use a high-quality casting resin, which is formulated for thicker pours and offers better clarity for encapsulating objects.
- Mold Shape and Size: Decide if you want a 3D shape, like a sphere or block, or a flat shape, like a coaster or plaque. Choose a mold large enough to fit the flowers without crowding.
- Pro Tip: A 2" or 3" silicone mold gives you more room to incorporate dimensional flowers and other elements in your piece. The flowers have to be completely covered in resin in order to fully protect your piece.
A well-chosen mold will enhance the appearance of the flowers and create a visually appealing keepsake.
Step 3: Arrange the Flowers in the Mold
Arranging the flowers is a creative step where you can design how the bouquet will look in resin.
- Dry Fit First: Before pouring resin, place the flowers in the mold to visualize the arrangement. Experiment with spacing to avoid overcrowding.
- Positioning: Position focal flowers (like the main blooms of the bouquet) at the center and add smaller elements or greenery around them for balance.
- Pro Tip: If needed, secure delicate flowers with a small dab of glue to keep them in place during the pouring process.
Creating an intentional arrangement helps highlight the beauty of each flower and creates a balanced final piece.
Step 4: Begin the Resin Pour in Layers
Pouring resin in layers is essential to prevent heat buildup, which can damage the flowers and cause bubbles.
- First Layer: Pour a thin layer of resin into the mold to create a base. Let it cure until it’s tacky but not fully set.
- Add Flowers: Place the flowers on the tacky resin layer, gently pressing them down. This is a critically important step because flowers will float so you need them to be anchored.
- Layering: Continue adding thin layers of resin over the flowers, allowing each layer to cure slightly before adding the next. This technique keeps the flowers in place and minimizes bubbles. If you add the next layer before the previous layer has cured fully, you minimize the risk of getting lines in the resin on the edges.
- Pro Tip: Use a heat gun between layers to remove any bubbles that form on the surface, but BE CAREFUL with a heat gun around the flowers because they will burn!
Layering the resin creates a clear, bubble-free finish that preserves the flowers beautifully.
Step 5: Final Curing and Demolding
Once the final layer of resin has been poured, allow it to cure completely according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Curing Time: Let the resin cure in a dry, dust-free environment for 24-48 hours or as recommended. Avoid moving the mold to prevent shifting. Use a "Fuzz Buster" cover to protect your piece from fuzzies as it cures.
- Demolding: Carefully remove the resin piece from the mold. Silicone molds make this process easier and help maintain a smooth surface.
- Finishing Touches: If desired, sand the edges or polish the resin for an ultra-clear finish.
Complete curing ensures a hard, durable finish that will protect your flowers for years to come.
Final Thoughts
Preserving flowers from your wedding bouquet in resin is a beautiful way to keep the memories of your special day alive. By following these steps, you can create a stunning keepsake that highlights the beauty of each flower and protects it for years. Experiment with different molds, arrangements, and flower types to create unique, personalized pieces that serve as cherished reminders of meaningful moments.
With a little patience and creativity, you’ll have a timeless floral resin piece that tells the story of your wedding day every time you see it.