/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

I'm currently trying to make phone cases, but the problem I keep running into soft cases rather than "hard" cases. I ordered something that claimed it was a hard case but it was still flexible and gel. cabochons don't really stick to flexible cases at all.

anyone know where to get hard (not gel) phone cases?

How do I get back my motivation to do resin again? I have literally hundreds of dollars worth of supplies sitting around and no motivation to do it

>>9827275
Where did you order your last ones from? There's a gorillion of them on taobao and aliexpress.

>>9827286
I was on a few months creative hiatus myself because a lot of travel and life events. How I ended up getting back into it was boredly perusing hobby boards and forums, and the bad handmade thread. Just remembering that I'm not as garbo as these people who still manage to sell their shit was kind of inspiring. So my advice is to let out your horrible inner gull and go judging the vast sea of shit crafters until inspiration comes along. If you don't get any new ideas or motivation, try to pick something a babbu crafter made that was cute in concept but horrible execution, and then one-up them by making it better.

Can I get a quick rundown on apoxie sculpt? Like what paint or gloss to use? I want to make a septum type jewelry prop

>>9827275
You can take sandpaper to the case to give it a rougher surface for stuff to stick into it

>>9827296
>gorillion
a good laff

>>9827296
> try to pick something a babbu crafter made that was cute in concept but horrible execution, and then one-up them by making it better.
Whew, good to know I'm not the only person who does this. I do it with crafts and drawing. Don't judge me.

>>9827286
Would you be willing to sell any of your stuff?

In a previous thread, someone recommended 8Seasons, but they don't have a specific thing I'm looking for. I could probably find it on aliexpress, but I've not bought from there before so I'm nervous. Does anyone have any tips or recommendations for like little metal 3D crowns and resin bezels? If there's like an info sheet already made that I just haven't seen, sorry for asking obvious questions.
Thanks in advance!

>>9830228
>3d crowns

Like these right? If you're willing to dig you can find different types of crowns and bezels on aliexpress.

>>9830228
>scared to buy from aliexpress

Y tho

>>9830228
There's nothing wrong with buying from aliexpress. I've bought a bunch of molds, cellphone straps, charms, etc... and haven't had an issue. The shipping time has been the most annoying thing for me.

>>9830228
Hurr durr China scary is all I'm getting from your post. My tip is to put whatever unfounded fears you have aside and order from Ali, or you can get just pay for overpriced materials from Aliexpress resellers. It's up to you. That's my tip and recommendation.

>>9830228
There are doreenbeads and pandahall as well. I bought from both sites without issue. Pandahall is a wholesale site though.

Have any of you tried ordering bezels or resin dye from Wish? I know Wish is sketchy for clothes, but I haven't heard anything about their crafting supplies.

>>9831461
Did someone link this thread in the crafting Amino or something? What's with the stupid questions? Don't order anything from Wish. It's the same shit you'd get from Aliexpress, except with a bunch of additional steps and the worst customer service I've ever seen.

>>9831380
How do you order from wholesalers? I always thought you had to be a legit company to get them to sell to you. I smalltime make crafts and sell maybe a handful of them, but half the stuff I am wanting to buy is usually only available from some obscure wholesaler.

>>9827296
I ordered a couple for cheap off of taobao, alixexpress, and wish. just some test samples to try to find one I liked, but sadly all were Gel
>>9827402
sandpaper works for gel? main issue with gel is since its flexible the second you bend it any cabochons you place on there will pop off, not sure if sandpaper helps it

>>9831503
I don't think you need to have a company to order with them. I was baffled at first because they mainly sell, for example, 500g of each thing as a minimum. But if you search a little more, you can actually order way less. I ordered a bunch of pastel beads I couldn't find back in the day on eBay.

>>9831551
if you're stuck with gel ones, if you're very careful you could try to attach the cabochons with resin in the style of a dermal anchor piercing, like pop a small hole in the case where you want it to go, and use like uv resin to go through the hole, on the cabochon and a thin bit on the inside to anchor it.
Alternatively, use silicone whip and make it go over the edges of the cabochon slightly so it wont pop out?

Today I'm trying to get my dust collecting tablet working so I can draw some stained glass style lineart of animal crossing villagers. Gonna make them into little glittery pins.

>>9827275
Had a thought. Flip it upside down so it's like a tray. Pour a thin 1-2mm layer of hard resin in there. When it cures, try to bend it. If the resin rectangle falls out, try E6000'ing that shit to force it to stay. Could probably effectively reinforce it and the stretchy gel nature of the case can compensate to fit over the phone for the used space.

Wondering if anyone could help me out with UV resin. I know it's supposed to take only a couple minutes to cure, but I find mine taking almost an hour. It's the generic kind from japan.

>>9832002
are you adding pigments to it that could interfere with the curing ? Have you tested different UV torches to cure it ?

>>9831503
Most online wholesalers don't require any special paperwork, you just buy in bulk. O buy quite a bit from pandahall, it's super worth it

>>9831949
>silicone whip
that wont stick to gel cases either. fuck me

#bringbackhardcases2018

>>9831997
if doing Pietro please post the finished work. He's my bro and I stopped playing when he moved out of my town. Thankfully pocket camp I can keep him trapped forever in my shit camp

>>9832882
Will do. Planning to do my favourites (Pietro, Muffy because I'm a goth lolita, Julian, Colton, Lily, Stitches, Blathers, Penelope, Lottie with her ACPC lolita bow) and the usual fan favourites like Marshal, Isabelle and Rosie, etc.

I've also just started playing ACNL again after a couple years. Didn't know about the amiibo update. Apparently, if you've got their amiibo card, they can move back into town the next day and you get to choose who to give the boot if you're already at 10.
That being said, when it comes to dreamies, I like having them from other towns so they have more dialogue, letters, and sing different tunes. I lost my previous Lily when I stopped playing, so I'm actually going through the process of amiibo force move outs on the same villager to simultaneously fill my mainstreet with qts and push her out of the 16 villager cycle so I can adopt her again.
If you ever need any villagers, let me know. I bought one of those powertags that can spoof any and every amiibo and can put them in boxes for you at the drop of a hat.

Does anybody have a link to some thick qiao qiao uv resin from ebay or ali ( not miniaturesweethk or sophie and tophie ) the thin one get scratchs in an heartbeat . Also if someone have a link for the soft qiaoqiao and a gummy epoxy outside of re-sellers websie that would be great !

And anybody know something that work to remove uv resin from an shitty home made mold where it cured with dries uv resin pieces in ? Acetone and rubbing alcohol doesn't work .

>>9832882
Not yet finished, but prelim design done and ready to start making. They're gonna be about 6 x 3.5cm
Colour variations because I've having issues lately.

>>9834624
holy frig that's lovely!

>>9832004
I'm using it straight out of the bottle to coat polymer clay items. I've only tried one torch, it's a uv flashlight.

>>9832004
Some UV Resins cure better with actual bulbs rather than LED UV flashlights. I'd say buy a UV nail lamp, they're not expensive and work much better imo. I had a similar problem when I was curing using the sun (I get a good beam in my room at a certain time of day), but once i got a lamp I have no more issues with stickiness and such.

>>9836131
Thank you for the advice! Will definitely go pick up a UV lamp

Do any of you have experience with UV resin? What brands do you suggest?

Final result. Enjoymyshittycamera.

>>9839952
Padico is pretty great, but a bit pricey.

>>9840686
fuck those are awesome

>>9831753
>>9832036
Huh, I guess I just assumed wrong all this time. I'll save up and make a list of what I want then do a big order if I have enough. Thanks!

>>9840788
Thanks! I'm so proud of them. I put 'em up in my shop if you know anyone that likes Pietro.

>>9840686
did you use the padico UV for those? I love them! I have tried doing something like this for a while with epoxy

Working on a really quick beret modification for a late waster meet later this week. I plan to pin simple bunny ears similar to pic, and because my dress has a iced cookie theme I was gonna make a hairpin that’s a Easter egg shaped cookie

>>9841369
Nope. I actually prefer to use epoxy for most things. I reserve UV for things that need finesse and securing in layers. They would come in handy for my glitter pieces like Pietro and other stained glass stuff, but unfortunately the material I print on actually curls up, shrinks and warps under intense UV light, so I can't.

>>9841383
That sounds adorable. Should be super easy with decoden stuff. Which dress is it, anon?

>>9840686
whats the layers you have? what did you print your design on?

>>9839952
Padico is worth every penny. No other UV resin I've tried, including random taobao resin, has had that level of clarity and shine

>>9841718
I typed several paragraphs wanting to talk about this, but my boyfriend said I shouldn't give away my secrets because my niche is already so small I couldn't afford any competitors. But I came up with it on my own, so if you look hard enough at it, it might unveil itself to you.

>>9842224
Hey, much respect and tell your boyfriend he is a good man for looking out for you like that. What he said was absolutely true.

>>9840686
Fuck. I love this. Do you have a store or instagram?

>>9842897
Thank you, and I'm sorry!

>>9842900
Yes! I'm DreamCathedral on both Etsy and insta.

>>9842224
while very true, your style is very unique to where I don't see it being a easy to copy thing. Like technique wise probably. Your style is amazing and will help protect you though.

>>9842905
There's nothing wrong with not sharing your techniques. I work with resin to and I get asked questions about it at con. I usually give info cause the questions are usually stuff that you pick up just watching crafting videos on youtube.

What are peoples favourite shops for findings/fittings on taobao?

Hi there ! I have a problem that really bother me with those pigments, I tried to make orange with it but the oranges and yellow turn the shit brown, however I never tried the pigment with uv resin, but the blue and pink had no problems .
And if can't fix it or anybody have an idea of what it could be, what brand of pigment work with epoxy ?

What's your favorite epoxy resin for doming? I'm just using the amazing casting resin from craft stores right now and it's working pretty well, it will work better when I level out my crafting area, but I dislike that it takes close to 48 hours to cure.

What's the appeal of epoxy over UV resin? I use UV resin but I see most people using epoxy.

>>9845505
It's cheaper is the main reason I use it, mostly because I like making bigger pieces too.

>>9845510
Thank you for the answer! I've been buying my UV resin from AliExpress so I don't know if it can get much cheaper than that, but compared to brands like Padico, I see the price difference.

>>9845517
I need to get some uv resin to try out, it seems very convenient.

>>9845527
>>9845527
I really like it. There is no odor, you don't have to worry about ratios (just mix your pigments and pour), and it cures very quickly with a UV lamp. I got my UV lamp for under $10 on AliExpress and it's got the added perk of letting me do gel manicures at home too.

>>9845505
I like both for different reasons and applications, but thats just my tastes.

It is a HELL of a lot cheaper though. I made this image for the crafting threads a long time ago and here you can see the breakdown of each

Its not perfect but gives you an estimate. Of course you can always plug your own numbers in. Iirc its in CAD and based of Canadian prices, and using my preferred UV resin+shipping and not the cheapest option

>>9845684
Oh I just realized I still used Envirotex lite at this point for some reason. I've switched onto Amazing clear cast now. This image is really old sorry

>>9845505
you can cure totally opaque color and use opaque mold with epoxy . and it doesn't get scratched as easily

If any deco anons are still here let me know if you need any tips.

>>9845684
>>9849941
>>9845688
do you guys not know where to buy UV resin or something? the uv resin I buy is only $12 for 55g...

>>9849973
Link? Also 20 dollars for 453g is generally why I go with epoxy.

>>9849986
>https://www.aliexpress.com/item/UV-Resin-Ultraviolet-Curings-Resin-Solar-Cure-Resin-Sunlight-Activated-Sunlight-Activated-Crafts-Transparent-Clear-Ornament/32811542284.html

I know it's aliexpress but it works really well. I like UV cause epoxy, while cheaper doesn't have as long of a playtime. Also with UV you can use nail gels with it as pigment as well as other nail supplies, so you can get really good looks. This brand is popular among Japanese resin artists. It has good leveling and a nice consistency.

>>9849995
Pretty sure this same brand is floating around amazon to.

>>9845505
Uv resin and epoxy resin are really two different beasts. They're both great in their own way.

UV Resin
+ quick curing time.
+ great for small projects and doming items
- can't be use in an opaque mold or must be done in many small layers
- needs a lamp or sunlight to harden
- needs to be a little bit translucent so it can cure.

Epoxy resin
+ can be used in opaque molds
+can be colored opaque
+good for larger items
-may not cure properly if item is too small
-curing time can run 24 - 72 hours
-colder temps can cause resin not to cure properly.

I work with uv resin, and epoxy resin (amazing clear cast and amazing casting resin) I have been able to work uv resin into opaque molds but it's a tedious process that just works better with epoxy resin. When I want to cast quick, opaque pieces, I use amazing casting resin. However, it turns white as it hardens. So good for anything I want pastel, or if I can brush the mold with pigment and you can't see the white underneath.

>>9849995
Thanks, my dude.

I'm working on my online shop. Just had a very successful con, but I am shit at maintaining online presence. I took a bunch of photos of stuff to sell.

I do sweets deco and resin works. I've been doing sweets deco for about 6 years now and focus on cute semi-realistic elegant stuff. I can post a pic if you guys want...

Also feel free to ask about anything resin or deco related.

>>9850147
I'd like to see your stuff, anon.

Any gulls have an etsy store? I have a $100 etsy gift card and want to spend it. Preferably sweet stuff but I'll take a look at anything!

Where's a good place to buy some basic decoden supplies?
Pre-colored stuff would be especially good.

>>9850150
Every shop in this group is a gull!
https://www.etsy.com/teams/29727/gala-gothic-and-lolita-anonymous

>>9850149
Sure! Here's something I'm doing for spring, sakura macaron. It's a bit simple but that's kinda my style.

>>9850151
What type of supplies exactly, anon?

>>9850166
Just like piping stuff?
like the silicone

>>9850168
Oh okay, let me look up some places. I don't use silicone though, because it gets dusty easily and separates/ breaks down over time. I've use different creams, and the good ones are usually water soluble and should be glazed with resin or plastic glazes.

>>9850171
Whatever you think is best/easiests to work with!
This is just for fun, not for selling or anything.

>>9850174
Okay, sounds good! I'm doing my nails atm so I'll get some links in a few. I ended up just making my own from the paper clay that I use, but I've used a lot through the years. Most of it you can buy on etsy/storeenvy now.

>>9850166
This is really adorable! Reminds of Q-pot.

>>9850147
>>9850166
I just started putting more effort into an online presence too. I'm thinking about doing collaborative projects with other crafters for exposure. Your work is really cute btw!

>>9850174

Here's some whip that you can easily buy off etsy, these are just shops with good reviews and the items are in no particular order.

1. "Simulation Cream" https://www.etsy.com/listing/204992921/decoden-whipped-cream-glue-white-vanilla
the shop has many different colors, but it is available on aliexpress for a bit cheaper.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-Style-Colorful-50ml-Simulation-Ice-Cream-Gel-Phone-Case-Cakes-Cake-Cream-Glue-Nail-Soft/32814436958.html
pros:
>easy to work with, good for people not used to piping icing
>comes in a tube with screw on piping tip, easy storage
>water soluble so easy to clean up mistakes
>adheres well to plastics etc without much prep
cons:
>light smell from glue
>impossible to return to tube so once you pipe it, it's done
>NOT waterproof, very water resistant because of the glue though
>very sticky when not dried needs soap and water to clean

2. Padico Creamy Whip https://www.etsy.com/listing/180038885/padico-whipped-cream-clay-sweets-deco
only 3 colors available, less on the padico international webshop
pros:
>looks very real
>also water soluble and easy to clean and you can get it wet again once it dries
>resealable package with spoon
>consistency of real whipped cream while wet
>adheres very well to plastic and even cloth
cons:
>again, water soluble means not water proof, it's not too resistant either
>a bit sticky before fully dried
>slightly expensive
>harder to use if no piping experience

3. Tamiya Topping Master. https://www.etsy.com/listing/97312964/one-tube-of-tamiya-dessert-topping? only 4 colors available
Also available on Rakuten https://global.rakuten.com/en/store/janiobell/item/4950344766215/
pros:
>amazing consistency and realistic look
>good(and cute) packaging, with twist off cap for easy storage
>water soluble, similar to padico
cons:
>again, not water resistant
>does not come with tip or piping accessories
>expensive

>>9850231
4. Fuwa Fuwa Mousse Clay https://www.amazon.com/Mousse-Whipped-Cream-Japan-Decoden/dp/B0026IAQ4E
this brand is for kids, but works pretty well for beginners
pros:
>easy to use
>good packaging with screw on cap and tips
>nice looking once dried
>water soluble
cons:
>literally for kids, kind of cheaply made
>too lightweight and breaks easily when dried
>melts when wet (beware of people who use this for stuff they sell)
>dries out pretty easily even when well stored
Also, if you want to use silicone, just buy caulk because the craft stuff isn't much better and is more expensive. Another thing, don't buy anything packaged like this because it can and will dry out, it's likely going to be the wrong consistency straight from the seller. It's also annoying to use packaging-wise because you basically have to put the bag into a piping bag.

Hope that helps, and sorry I don't have more brands. FYI I make my own cream with Hearty paper clay that I use, so I haven't used much of this too recently!

>>9850166
Sorry to be that guy but I just want to critique this a little. It is really cute though and I'm only saying these things so that you can improve your craft!

First off i'm reeeeeing at the raschel lace in the background. Why do you even own that in your house.

On to the actual craft. It is much better than a lot that I've seen. Please don't think that it isnt good.
To me it still has a slight amateur feeling. I think the texturing can use a little bit of work. And perhaps some better color definition. Especially for the leaf and strawberry. I think selective glazing would really make your work pop. Glaze that strawberry and make him look juicy!

>Photo from https://twitter.com/nanamama39/

>>9850166
>>9850299

More about the texturing. The foot of the macaron I can tell just has some random tooth pick jabs. They are a little sparse too. Try and reference a real macaron and be a little more heavy handed with texturing.

>>9850303
nta but i think anon is going for a more cutesy style, which is why she said semirealistic. it kinda reminds me of foods in anime. the strawberry that you posted looks pretty dirty honestly especially with the dark seeds but whatever i guess. anon's stuff looks miles better than most of the shit people pass as sweet deco on etsy so i don't think ametur is right.

>>9850356

Yeah I agree about the black seeds but I was more posting how it is gradient from red to a lighter color at the bottom. I do think hers does look much cuter than many peoples clay things. Cuter than western stuff but below average to asian stuff imho.

She can take or leave the crit, it doesnt bother me either way. Just trying to help.

>>9850231
>>9850235
Thanks a ton anon!!

>>9850303
>>9850299

Thanks the advice! Though, not too sure about the issue with the lace, I assume it's a lolita thing. (My lightbox was too grey and I wanted to add something.)

In any case both the leaf and strawberry have a gloss glaze on them, but it's not showing up in photos, so I will probably use resin coat instead, because I definitely want them shiny. I also agree that the foot of this piece is a bit less than realistic and seeing it in a photo, it looks a bit too sparse. I am kind of going for more like pic related, rather than photo-real, but of course I love any advice!

>>9851384
i think your stuff is super cute anon. the other anon just seems a bit picky about it. but it's great seeing a western crafter that doesn't just throw stuff together and expect $50 a pop for crap anyone can make. hell most macarons i see don't even have the feet.

do you make phone cases too? would love to see those!

>>9851384
Thanks for the reply! I found another picture on twitter to better represent a macaron. When I wrote my first post for some reason I was really struggling to find image examples. Anyways here you can see this persons style is still cutesy and not quite photo realistic. But it has that extra "polish" to it. Which is what I was trying to say I think you could improve on. Your work is still, very very good. And leagues better than what you would normally see in AAs or on etsy. But if there is room for improvement than why not try to polish up your craft, ya know?

>>9851448
I am being extra picky so you know... they can improve..? Its still cute, I said many times even in my original post that it is. How much more can I sandwich the compliment/crit/compliment anon?

>>9851501
i wasn't saying you're being bitchy or anything anon sorry! i meant more about the lace lol...

I've been trying my hand at millinery lately! I keep warping the buckram on the brim of the hat when I steam to glue the fabric down, any ideas on how to flatten it out again? I figure I can add more steam and press it under a flat object but I'm scared of risking the brim becoming even more warped

>>9851784
My solution to most things is leave it under heavy books for a day or two.

>>9830238
p sure they mean these, usually put on resin letter hearts

>>9842905
Oh lord I know this is going to sound cringy but I have an "artistic" crush on both you and Ultra Jelly, you both are so talented and wonderful it makes me want to take up this craft (I'd lose interest in a day so i don't bother) but I absolutely adore both of you and your crafts!

it would be my dream come true for you and ultra jelly to do a collab together! Hope you two go far and succeed! also your bf is pretty awesome for looking out for you

>>9851891
Oh, you heard about that! I am super excited to hang out with her. I totally have an art crush on her too.
I would totally be down for a collab with anyone, for that matter! There is this amazing artist I love that I got in a secret santa a couple years back, and I still have the art she made for me framed and on my wall. I want to ask her about a collab, but I'm just so shy and don't wanna insult her. My BF has been the biggest supporter and one of the reasons I have been trying to get more into my crafts lately, so I really appreciate him. He's helping me pursue something I love and encouraging me without asspats if I ask him for critique/advice on anything. He actually surprised me a little while ago when we worked together on some hasty last-minute masks for a costume party. We met eachother through some collaborative writing, so I know he was imaginative, but had no idea he was visually creative too. He doesn't have any artistic hobbies, so there's little chance for him to shine, but he definitely has an eye for aesthetic and design.

Also, creative tip of the day: If you have an oval shaped mold and a small bottle/circular object of some sort, you can take out the semi-cured oval piece and place it around the round thing, and once fully cured, you'll have yourself a nice circle.

>receive from ali my open bezel tape
>there is a little handwritten not with my name on it who hope I will have fun using the item will doing craft
>there is a red riding hood charm with it as a present
>It hit me right in the feel

https://www.miniaturesweethk.com/products/translucent-liquid-mold-maker-clear-mold-making-make-your-own-silicone-mold-for-uv-resin-soft-flexible-rubber-mold-diy-200ml

I'm kind of hyped about this mold making product, it's cheaper than buying silicon by 1 kg, if anybody had tried this brand/product before? It seem nice but I'm scared about bubbles and having to oil the mold for epoxy

>>9851966
That's so cute. Do you have any recommended bezel tape you could link? I'm currently using >>9851962 wax paper and modpodge to ensure a seal, because my other washi tapes and such weren't thick enough to cover the entire hole, and I had some leakage issues more than once. The method I use now is far more reliable, but it'd be nice to save some product.

>>9851974
Anon, translucency is great for UV, but if it's something you plan to mostly use for epoxy, I might suggest this stuff.

>Pros:
- Cheap af
- Great for awkward shapes you just can't dunk or stand up in silicone
- works on lots of surfaces and materials
- picks up detail amazingly well

>Cons:
- Ammonia so it smells like pee before drying
- Annoying waits between coats
- Not ideal for UV resin

>>9851784
can i ask why you're gluing the fabric at any stage? these look very nice, but i've trained in millinery, you really shouldn't require glue in making a women's hat (i can only think of men's inner hat bands being glued down)

Sorry if this is the wrong thread but how hard do you think it would be to replace the handles on pic related? I love it but the handles are hella ugly.

>>9842905
Fuck, this stuff is stunning. I'll definitely be buying from you at some point.

>>9852054
I'm honestly just going off how I did it at my sewing job haha (we used a plastic buckram replacement for some reason) next time I'll try without glueing or adding any heat to the buckram!

>>9852682
Is there more pictures of the bag? I've seen hardware that are screw-types (unscrew and done), but most hardware use metal brad-like that you fold flat metal arms to secure to the bag. I think all in all, you might have to open up the bag's inner lining to see.

Though before you do all that, from looking at the metal part that connects to the bag, you might be able to take off the bamboo handles by getting rid of the posts that is pinned there. Think of it as replacing watch straps, the posts could be spring types so you can take out the handles.

Again I can only offer so much ideas with one picture. Also the handles are kind of charming with the wicker basket.

>>9852726
>>9852682
...I don't know why I didn't think to check for close ups of the handles, sorry.

>>9852690
Let me know if you do! I'm working on some /cgl/ pins right now. They should be done by tomorrow. It's gonna have the stained glass style glittery treatment, and the salt will look great. Just say you're a gull in the order comment and I will toss one in for free. And uh, specify if you want the jewel or pastel colourway.

Anyone know where is a good place to get started making jewelry? I'm getting extremely interested in it but I'm at a loss at where to start and intimidated, any links/tips is vastly appreciated! I'm looking at different videos and forums but any help would be great

>>9852750
What kind of jewelry would you like to make?

>>9852770
I was looking at HeartPuff, like this sort of stuff where all the individual pieces seem simple but put together it creates something adorable, and perhaps resin/epoxy created like ultra jelly (Dont get me wrong not a copying sort of thing but like making perhaps my own big pieces out of resin etc)

>>9852776
No harm in getting inspired! And just so you know, she sells some of her open bezels in her Etsy. So that's always a good place to start. There are lots of shapes available all over the internet, so if you like moons and stars, you'll have an easy time finding them. Aliexpress is an easy place to start. If you find some good bezels from a reputable seller, feel free to scout out other potential materials in their shop. More ideas and other things tend to come to me that way. I get most of my materials from there, with the exception of earring bases. I prefer to buy those locally and ensure that they're nickel-free and safe for wear. It's a bigger risk for infection than a ring or brooch might be.

>>9852734
I'm going to assume the inside is lined with fabric - unless you lucked out and the metal prongs or screws are exposed on the underside of the handles, to which you can unbend/unscrew to take off the handles. These parts might look like the *blue square* in pic related. If it is lined inside, you might have to remove the lining to get to the handle parts.

Do you already have handles to replace them? If they are some other wooden handles that can replace the bamboo ones with the right holes for the peg, you could try fiddling with the spring-peg *orange square* that is holding the bamboo handle there.

Good luck anon, these are the best assumptions with your bag handle thing.

>>9852983
I don't have the handles, I was hoping to attach a chain of some sort. I think I'll buy the bag and do my best with it, it's so cute and all I have is an ugly Target purse to wear with my jfash. Hopefully I'm able to make this mod.

>>9852744
Those are hilarious, I love them. I think if I wear them to a meet I'll get a lecture on ~*toxicity in the Lolita community*~ but it will be worth it.
Grabbed pic related, it's so, so pretty! I mentioned cgl in the comment but forgot to say which colorway I liked, could I get the pastel one?

>>9852744
Dude I'll definitely buy those, the pastel one is so good

>>9852804
Tysm!! I appreciate it, just gotta take that plunge and start making stuff!

Thoughts? Too plain? Should I add something to it? I was just playing with color and this experiment happened

>>9853298
Add wings!

>>9853056
Absolutely. I'll hopefully ship it out tomorrow because my post office is weird about Sundays.

>>9853057
Thank you!

>>9853077
You will have loads of fun.

>>9853298
Super cute! If you've got little star shaped gold glitters, maybe make a little constellation?

>>9852715
yeah buckram can be finicky, i generally try to avoid adding more heat once i have the shape i want! if you do have to add glue, try finding one that doesn't require heat setting?

>>9853301
Thanks I might do just that! And I do need to get some gold star glitter

I'm working on irish lace for my wedding dress currently, and I also just started a crochet blanket. It's been a long time since I crocheted so I'm super hype.

>>9851976
I didn't tried the tape yet, I generally use clear postal tape, the tape I bought for open bezel is 1,5 inch ad postal tape is 2 inch ( 4 centimeter and 5 centimeter) so I don't know if it's enough for you. I will quickly try it to give you a review .

That so kind for the review of the mold builder ! Actually I will use the mold to do pills shaped things so I doesn't need something for complex shapes. I use uv and epoxy because when I want to put glitter+ an element that supposed to sink down, uv is so much easier but for opaque pieces I just use epoxy, so having a mold that can do the 2 is so great. I asked miniature sweet and they said it was non-stick.
I ripped my shitty caulking silicon mold with epoxy and it still drive me crazy.

>>9854594
Thanks in advance! And if you're in north america, I really like this glitter for my stars. They're chunky enough to be 'kawaii' and on the other side of this container there are clear, iridescent stars of the same shape. You can get it at Michaels. I get most of my stuff from China, but I had to grab this.

>>9855113
Oh sorry. The thanks was meant for >>9855099

I hope this question isn't too stupid, but I've recently started to get into making deco phone cases. But I'm struggling to find better ways to colour my whip. So far I've just been using pigment powders but sometimes the colours just aren't strong enough as well as being a bit limited. I've heard mixed reviews on using paints since sometimes it cures the silicone too fast, so I was wondering what other methods I could use for colour?

>>9857405
If you use silicon for your whip, you can take oil paint for the colors, it's very strong . It don't cure as quickly as acrylic.

>>9851976
I finally tested the tapes ! I tried with uv and epoxy and the tape for open bezel work so much better, it doesn't roll on itself and have bubble/ irregular texture on it, it's just matte and the piece doesn't look that matte on it's back side.
And it's a charm to remove, no breakage at all !
The only negatif thing is that it's only 4 centimeter but I imagine that it's the same thing for other open bezel tape, and it's translucide green so you can't use it to protect a printed picture to dunk in resin ( and it's 3 dollar for a roll of tape) . here is the link before I forgot :

https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1-Rouleau-Date-UV-R-sine-Artisanat-Lunette-Ouverte-Aide-Outil-Seamless-Bande-de-Papier-de/32844055954.html?spm=a2g0w.search0104.3.1.AYsLdu&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0%2Csearchweb201602_3_10152_10065_10151_10344_10068_10345_10342_10343_10340_10341_10541_10562_10084_10083_10305_10304_10307_10306_10302_10539_5080015_10312_10059_10313_10314_10184_10534_10533_100031_10604_10603_10103_10594_10557_10596_10595_10142_10107%2Csearchweb201603_14%2CppcSwitch_7&algo_expid=0bbe96b9-9f8a-4412-97a1-263e79949d8a-0&algo_pvid=0bbe96b9-9f8a-4412-97a1-263e79949d8a&rmStoreLevelAB=1

>>9857632
Thank you so much! I'm glad there's no breakage because that's one of my biggest pet peeves when peeling it off
This is gonna be so useful.

>>9857632
thanks anon!

>>9858284
I hope it will work for you, have a good crafting time !
>>9857695
I also tested it if it shrink when a flame touch it directly, it shrink but not as quick and bad as normal tape.

A few things I made. I was mostly experimenting with design ideas with the cat star things haha. I suppose I will turn them into pendants with a simple chain but I always get this far and then never know how to proceed

>>9858782
They are super adorable, anon! I especially love the mushrooms and cyclops cat. They do have some cool eye and mushroom shaped beads if you wanted to spruce up the simple chains. I'll try to find links to the ones I bought.

>>9858782
The pink cat with the closed eye is my favorite!

>>9858813
I would appreciate seeing those beads! Thank you~!

>>9858829
Thank you~

>>9859254
Sorry, I got distracted! Looks like they don't carry them anymore. I got them from this store (and most of my craft supplies, especially brooch backings and rings.)
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1479280

But here's another listing with them: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/NiceBeads-10x12mm-Red-White-Yellow-Green-Purple-20pcs-Mixed-Random-Colors-Lampwork-Glass-Mushroom-Beads-Fit/32537891576.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.2.3e4f531cMnWD0q&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10065_10151_10344_10068_10130_5722815_10342_10547_10343_10340_10341_10548_5722915_10698_10697_5722615_10696_10084_10083_10618_10139_10307_5722715_5711215_10059_308_100031_10103_441_10624_10623_10622_5711315_5722515_10621_10620,searchweb201603_19,ppcSwitch_3&algo_expid=d9ae26c2-e1e8-4cc0-bc63-95db27d3cb1d-0&algo_pvid=d9ae26c2-e1e8-4cc0-bc63-95db27d3cb1d&priceBeautifyAB=0

I no longer have a link for the eyes, apologies.

>>9842224
Thanks for wanting to share. I understand why he's trying to protect you. Maybe you could direct us to other general tutorials that helped you?

>>9859260
These are so cute!
Thank you for sharing!
I will have to order some mushrooms~ Maybe I can find some eye motif beads else where. I'll also check out that store you shared. Always looking for good Ali stores.

>>9859263
Weirdly enough, my inspo came from watching a mini doc on the first uses of a multiplane camera in early animation, and some videos by Little Windows after discovering their color film. (Though I didn't quite end up buying any.)

For anyone that lives in America and has an etsy/storenvy shop, what's the best way to ship internationally? I want something with tracking, but when I ask at the post office they say only priority has tracking and it's so overpriced I don't think anyone will want to pay it. I'm just wanting to ship hair clips, pins, and necklaces. Has anyone ever been scammed with a chargeback or someone filling a claim even when you mailed something or am I just too worried for nothing?

>>9860452
Use PayPal shipping, first class package international is decently cheap (compared to the post office at least...) and comes with tracking

>>9860452

Im close to 1000 sales on my store front and Ive never had someone attempt a charge back or dispute. I've sometimes had customers message me saying their item never arrived. If thats the case I just suck it up and re-ship it to them at no charge. All the times I've had to reship items to customers, I'd say less than 10 times. I always ship no tracking because its the most affordable option for me and my customers.

As for you thinking the shipping price is unreasonable, you have this outlook because you live in America and are used to cheap shipping. For anyone else, we are already used to paying out the nose for shipping. So to those customers, they generally understand and are used to this. Offering pricey shipping to international customers is way better than refusing to ship internationally at all.

>>9860456
>>9860490
This is all very helpful thank you! I've been ordering lots of cute packing supplies for everything, I'm excited to really get started

>>9860740
Yay! Just starting out? If you don't have an etsy set up yet, you could always use this link to do so. https://etsy.me/2qPi3NG Both you and I will get 40 free listings. Otherwise it costs 20 cents USD for each listing, and that's not fun when you're just beginning.

>>9860771
Ntayrt, but hello. Can I save this link to use in the future when I'm ready to list stuff.

>>9860777
Yeah, go right ahead! I think it can be used multiple times. I believe it only works when you use it to set up your shop, though.

>>9860790
I don't have a shop yet. I'm going to be selling accessories and jfashion inspired roomwear.

Anyone ever have a weird reaction between Resin and glue? I was affixing rings to some simple resin pieces and let them dry.
When I checked on them later, the resin, which was was glossy and clear, had gone sort of frosted? I'm so confused as to what happened. Honestly I feel like I sound like a crazy person lol I'm using a jewelry and metal glue, mostly because E6000 never seems to affix strongly enough (I've had piece fall off pretty easily).

>>9861648
have you tried wiping it off? it could be some residue that spread to the resin

Is it cheaper to buy resin glitters and other suppies on taobao or aliexpress?

>>9861648
I have tried wiping it off, but, it's like the fumes or something caused the resin to lose it's gloss. IDK what happened but I did another and made sure to let it sit and air out before storing and it seemed to not have quite as bad of an effect so who knows

>>9863298
That depends, do you plan on making a Taobao order? Buying only a few light things is gonna really cost you on the shipping (which for me on average has been $20-50). I'd only buy from TB if you were ordering a bunch of other things too. Otherwise go with Aliexpress, IF the item you are looking for is available on Ali, not everything on TB is on Ali.

>>9855113
Thanks! I’ll look into it!

Not sure if this is the correct thread, but I'm considering buying a Brother LS14 sewing machine next week. I've always wanted to get into sewing, and mainly I'd like to make dresses and cosplays. Can anyone vouch for its versatility or how easy it is for newcomers to get to grips with? I'd also like to make cardigans and sweaters from scratch down the road!

>>9865746
I have a brother serger and I like it a lot. Buy some extra needles if you've never used a machine before. Practice with paper or very cheap fabric till you get the hang of it. Go slow.

I'm working on this keychain and I found some of these pink crystal things but i need some opinions. should I attach it at the bottom of the piece or should I have it attach at the top with the lobster claw to have it hang next to the piece? Thanks!

>>9867160
imho I feel like it would look much better at the top! do you have a comparison pic?

>>9867178
I threw this together really quick. the chain would obvs be silver, but I could make it shorter or longer depending on what ends up looking best

Where are all of you getting the holographic stickers from? I've scoured taobao and ali but none of the key words I'm using seem to work.

>>9867271
Try "transparent material with use of epoxy" on Ali. The ones I use are actually not stickers by transparent film that you cut out.

>>9865746
Brothers are good machines. My mom loves hers. Pay attention to little details, like what direction the thread is winding. Practice on old sheets if you have some.

anybody has the google drive doc that is usually attached to the craft threads?

Anybody tried that LED resin that Padico released?

infinity gauntlet

>>9881192
infinity gauntlet

Anons, what are your favorite AliExpress stores for beads, charms, and jewelry findings? It seems like most of them have the same stuff. I'm looking for more unique items that would be suitable for making lolita jewelry.

Finally bit the bullet and ordered some taxidermy forms to build some faux taxidermy off of. Anyone have any experience with faux or real taxidermy? Any ideas?

My current plan is to make some weird little fantasy animals.

For those of you who have Etsy shops, is it worth it? I’m into crafting and I want to open a shop but I don’t want to go through all the stress of opening one if it’s not going to be profitable.

>>9889286
Sign up with a referral code and then you get 40 free listings. Otherwise you pay 20 cents each. It's good for a profitable start.
https://etsy.me/2IGpW2Q

I'm trying to move from UV resin to less expensive options. What brands have you used that you're happy with? Apparently even my cheap Chinese UV resin is more expensive than things like two part resin when you do price per piece. Side note- What do you guys do with all of your extra pieces? Do you sell them? I know mine are definitely better than some of the things I've seen on Etsy, so I definitely wouldn't be the worst seller, but there are so many REALLY good people out there too.

>>9859260
they also sell these at jo-ann fabrics btw!

>>9890114
Epoxy resin I like is Alumilite Amazing Clear Cast. Pretty much the norm for everyone in these threads. Of course UV resin is more expensive

Even for the Japanese its a cheaper alternative, check out this article post
>https://www.gamitaka.com/comparison-of-mixing-resin.html
>Cost performance is good (double the UV resin solution!?)


As for the extra pieces, what do you mean. Extra pieces you've made that you arent happy with? What is defective with them? Sometimes it is possible to hide or fix issues with resin if you are up to it. If you have a large bubble you dont like, consider covering up with a rhinestone or other decoration if it looks OK.

>>9890279
Thank you for the product recommendation! This looks much cheaper for sure.

And no, there's nothing defective with the pieces. I throw out anything defective. I just like making resin pieces. It started out with things for myself, but I think I'm up to around 200 pieces (keychains, jewelry, etc.) that I've never even got around to wearing.

What are some non-/cgl/ or Instagram places to talk about resin crafting or look for inspo? Things like forums or twitter tags or whatever.

Anyone used the Daiso UV resin before? I'm trying to get the purple one to dry with my LED lamp, and it stays sticky no matter how many times I try.

I should also add I got it in California, so I don't know how old it is.

>>9899831
Yes, and I've never had an issue before. How long are you curing it for? Did you add any dyes?

Is there a place to buy pastel pleather strapping in big lengths? I have a bunch of craft projects that need long lengths of it

>That feel when you buy the molds and all and then six months later now you can buy ready-made beads in bulk that look like what you painstaking made by hand, 6 at a time, a few months ago.

Honestly I procrastinate everything so I don't know why I didn't just wait six months instead of making lots of beads by myself.

what are some good stores that ship to the USA that have beautiful resin jewelry for lolita coords?
I feel like there are so many indie japan brands like these, but they dont ship international. help anons.

>>9902797
How did yours look Anon? I'm curious how did you get the effect, those are pretty

>>9902806
Isn't it tragic? A few girls in my comm have been getting jewelry like this from a mutual friend between them all, but she's not a lolita and just likes to make jewelry for fun. I wasn't able to convince them to put me in touch with her, even when I offered to pay the girls in my comm (not just the girl making this stuff) to help.

Has anyone ever tried using Sculpey's mold maker for resin crafts? From what I've read online it seems like it's possible, but I was hoping to get some more input before I try anything.

>>9902846

You can get molds like these, they come in different sizes, usually 6 beads to one mold. Pipe the resin in them, they set, pop them out and voila, a bead.

Mine aren't exactly the same -- I used large glitter pieces in blue and pink. The ones in the image used blue resin dye on one side, pink on the other side and clear in the middle. For filling they seem to have been filled with silver flakes, or maybe tinfoil. Normally I buy glitter, flakes and other tiny things from nail art shops to insert into my resin stuff.

I guess it's not really a waste, I have a floral dress I just got in and want to make some flower-filled beads, so I'll be reusing the mold for that.

>>9902806
If you really have your heart set on this style. Try using SS to either purchase from Minne (japanese Etsy basically)
Or you can look second-hand on Mercari or Fril for some stuff. I've seen some stuff from Cocotte and other favorite artists of mine on there

>>9902797


These beads aren't new. I've had a bunch of these sitting around for a few years now. They are glass though so sometimes you'd end up with some broken ones in transit.

On the plus side if you make them yourself you have full control over the colour combos

What is everyone making? I'm trying to take pictures of my backlog before I go back to finishing new stuff, but man I suck at photos and just want to make new things

>>9904283
Took me awhile to get decent-ish at taking product photos. I'm still not always happy with them but its definitely an improvement from where I started.
>pic related

I found myself learning mostly through trial and error. There are about two times a day in my house where the natural lighting is best. Ive tried a light box but I didnt really like it. I want to invest in an actual decent camera this summer, right now I just use my phone camera (S7). If you take pictures of the jewelry on your skin I'd recommend looking up a tutorial for PS or something on how to smooth and edit skin a little bit. I do this so you can focus more on the product and less on my high-def skin texture

I haven't had the chance to work on any new designs lately but I've just been re-creating previous ones that have been popular. My senior cat had to see the vet twice this week and I'm really worried and distracted with getting her condition to stabilize.

>>9904376
Is that a custom fabric that you use as your backdrops ?

>>9904429
Nah its a mini art book by one of my favorite artists, I bought it years ago.

>https://otakumode.com/shop/540ebfb80f096d465e220e29/Puppy%E2%99%A1Love

The artist
>https://twitter.com/commelui

It uses a vellum paper over the cover which I really love the effect of. It softens the colors which for product photos I think is nice. It gives an interesting background while not being too overbearing. I'm planning on buying some vellum paper so I can get a similar effect over other patterned papers and such

I recently picked up doll modding (to avoid working/finishing costumes I could easily finish)
This is my 2nd one that I just got mostly done today. Still need to make some glasses and properly style the hair

>>9904758
Cool stuff anon! Do you lurk /toy/ ever? It'd be a good place for you too. I used to go all the time but havent for a bit so forgive me if you already do post there and have shown your work. Was this a Monster High originally? You've probably heard it before but I'd recommend thinning your paints for the face. It looks a bit rough right now. I've seen BJD artists sometimes use colored pencils(?) for doing face ups. I'm not sure of the specifics though

Im interested in toy stuff especially building dollhouses/dioramas and toy photography. But I'm just too busy to get into most of the time.

>>9905089
I haven't but may start.
Yeah I've seen color pencils and pastels used as starters then finished with paint, but those need mr super clear in order to stick and not willing to spend $20 on a can of spray yet. It was a Frankie doll. Also I kinda did the face while a high was kicking in

>>9905347
You need spray sealant (not necessarily MSC) no matter what. You put it on before painting to prevent staining, in between layers so your pastels and other loose materials stick, and after so the face doesn't wipe off if you look at it funny.

>>9904376
thank you, your stuff is so nice

>>9906064
can I get a link for these anon?

>>9906169
etsy.com/shop/imaginarytailoring

>>9906605
annnd sorry for the double post, shameless self promotion, but now updated with new individual photos

>>9904376
I hope your cat feels better soon.
If you start selling the bat charm hmu. I'd like one with the moon in a solid color

>>9907945
Ive been wanting to get a dress form for the sole purpose of product photos. Ive gotten complaints a few times of no "worn" photos but I'm not comfortable using myself as a model and I dont have many girl friends that live near me to model.

>also am a lolita so its useful for that, but I put off the purchase since it wasnt a necessity

>>9906064
Thank you anon! Your stuff is very cute too, favorited your shop

>>9910872
Thank you kindly anon. She's feeling a bit better but still not 100%. Do you mean a solid color as in opaque and/or no glitter?
I've sold the moon bat design a few times. I'm https://www.instagram.com/jelly_ultra . I have a glow-in-the-dark version in the works where the moon will glow. I just have to finish assembling it.
I love cutesy Halloween stuff, cant wait to get full ham with it this fall

>>9910873
If you’re not really on the hunt for them sometimes they pop up in thrift stores for cheap. The non adjustable ones at least.

>>9910884
Oh snap I'd never even thought about that! Yeah I dont need the adjustable type since I am not a seamstress at all. I just want to display clothes/coords and use it to take necklace photos. Thank you for the tip!

>>9910873
I love mine as a display and it is good for product photos too, I got it from pier one of all places on sale for like $50.

Is it normal for people to replicate brand jewelry? As in like make a mold out of brand rings/charms and either sell them or use them for personal use?

>>9867160
I love the sticker you used in your design! Do you have the link to where I could purchase them?

>>9913131
I’ve only seen one person years ago who was making replicas of one AP ring..

Is there a reliable place to buy various types of glitter from?

>>9913131

Some taobao shop replicated AP's laser cut acrylic stuff before, didn't sell very well. Their popularity is kind of spotty and specific to begin with, either you can find it cheaply everywhere anyhow (and therefore, why would anyone buy your knockoff replica when it's cheap everywhere), or it's highly coveted and there's a bidwar every time the acrylic giraffe turns up (and therefore, you can't even get your hands on it to replicate it).

Besides which, replicas carry their own stigma. If you're an artist and you make replicas, it pretty much opens the floodgates. Every other original artwork you've ever made is now okay for other people to copy, no one will have any sympathy for anything else you create because you decided to copy one time. Why bring that sort of trouble on yourself when you can easily do an "inspired by" design, change a few details and still remain an original artist worth buying from?

Here's another absolutely stupid question but for the open bezels do you NEED UV resin or can you use the normal 24 hour curing resin?

>>9914107

You can use the 24 hour curing resin. The key is to make sure that the bezel is stuck on without any chance of leaking through. Otherwise it will be a mess. (Pic related, she uses 24 hour curing resin)

>>9914112
What method do you use to create a seal between the resin and the bezel? I just use tape as a backing, but I'm wondering if there's a better method I don't know about.

>>9914183

I use UV resin because i'm so bad at creating a seal, but what I try to do is make sure it's completely adhered to the tape. Some people put sticky tack around the bezel as well to maintain a good seal. The maker of these bezels (@kawaiimono.creations) does not, but I assume she makes extra sure they're sealed tight by running a fingernail or nailfile over it to seal the tape tighter to the bezel if you get the idea.

>>9890279
Wow anon, thats incredibly pretty

>>9914112
Anyone else notice that kawaiimono copies a little too closely to other crafters items?

I know a lot of us are using the same pre-made materials so its hard to switch it up sometimes. But these feel very intentionally plagiarized to me

>>9914286

>>9914286
>>9914287
I'm sure she copies the idea but her execution is not that good

Stupid question time from a noob; I have some rings I'd like to make, but I am not sure what is the best glue to use to keep the pieces fixed to the metal ring base?

>>9913829

I'm getting back into resin again after a year long break and have bought a few things that I'm waiting on.

I've seen a lot of resin pieces that include these fluffy clouds and they often suggest you use a kneadable eraser, but can you just use polymer clay?

>>9914432
E6000

>>9914450
Thank you!

So last week I got my first warning on Etsy for copyright infringement. I make and sell needle felted dolls for 2 years now and this is the first time. All of my dolls are anime/movie/book characters, but in original settings, in my own style.
I'm now afraid to sell them.

Is there a good guide for what you can and cannot sell when it involves fan made crafts?

>>9917327
You'll have to investigate how strongly does the copyright holder of each series enforces their copyright. We all know about Nintendo being very strict,but other companies are more relaxed

>>9917327
check the OP of the artist's alley thread, there is a link to a spreadsheet of common takedowns

>>9917327
>All of my dolls are anime/movie/book characters, but in original settings, in my own style.
That's all fair and good, but when the law is involved, it's still copyright infringement at the end of the day. Doesn't matter if it's nearly on model or super derivative. Technically speaking, what you can and cannot sell is all up to the copyright owner. There's no real guide other than a guide for exactly which companies/artists will actually take your work down.

>>9917327
On etsy you aren't allowed to sell anything that isn't your IP or in the public domain. There are no other rules. You can be inspired but you can't be too closely inspired or use the ip that inspired you in your title, tags or description.

>>9914432
You can also try super glue + sodium bicarbonate. It creates a chemical effect similar to cement. But be careful because it acts in seconds

>>9910794
>▶
wait are you selling these? if you are what is your etsy? im looking for a bunch of magical girlish accessories.

>>9914286
This one is far from copying anything. She is just using the same metal flowers. The look of the finished product is way different.

>>9914287
This is way closer but at the end of the day we all have the same mold? Using the same mold is not copying.

>>9899831
i've had the same problem with the clear one, i'm pretty sure it just depends what you put in it. My ones that wouldn't dry were experiments with a bunch of opaque sequins, i think that might have blocked the uv a little.

>>9918729

It's from a Japanese creator.

Lemme necro this thread because I thought of an interesting discussion topic.

What is everyone favorite western resin artists? Bonus points if they aren't your typical stickers+letter beads shit

I discovered https://www.instagram.com/ravncotino/ a few months ago and their work looks so amazing.

I just made cold porcelain for the first time and it's extremely sticky, I have no idea what's wrong. I tried adding a ton of extra cornstarch but it isn't helping. Does anyone have tips?

>>9934153
I don't really understand the pentagram, would be cooler with an eye in the center instead.

>>9934157

To be honest with you, most of this person's other stuff really feels like they're simply sticking random objects together. I find the end result quite pretty, though.

They have both a minne and etsy shop:
https://minne.com/@bxm
https://www.etsy.com/shop/xBalsamicxMoonx

>>9934682

>>9930377
It's probably not well cooked (assuming you heated it a little) or you used the wrong type of glue

I have a problem. Some months ago I made small charms with air dry clay, painted them and finally covered them in resin for extra protection. Today I was looking through my rejects box and I found out the charms have awful bubbles between the paint layer and the resin part. I wonder if it was some leftover humidity I didn't notice (I used acrylics. How can I stop this from happening again?

>>9930377
maybe you added too much water, just keep adding a bit more cornstarch, or leave it out in a bowl with plastic wrap on top and leave it out to dry for a bit, it’s oka if it gets hard because if you microwabe it it will get soft

Experimented with UV resin today. I thought I was going to die from the fumes while it cured under my UV flashlight, even though I was in a large, well-ventilated room.

Should I be using a respirator? If so, which one do you guys recommend?

That's really weird. The draw of UV resin is exactly that there's minimal fumes, mine doesn't even seem to smell. Do you have 2 part resin instead? Maybe post the brand so other anons can comment on it?

>>9942955

for >>9942859, sorry

>>9942859
Even with my probably super sketchy AliExpress UV resin, I have never had that problem. What the hell were you using?

>>9942956
>>9943218
The weird thing is that it was sketchy AliExpress and eBay resin. I had two bottles from two different vendors and they both acted the same while curing. Is it not normal for visible "steam"/vapors to come off of it while it's curing? That's when the smell was strongest.

Pic is what both bottles' packaging look like. It seems to be the classic cheap UV resin that shows up the most on these threads.

>>9943368
fuck i just bought some of this shit for myself

>>9943368
That's so weird. I think most people who use UV resin use this kind, so >>9943404 you really have nothing to worry about. Original anon, I have no idea what could be causing this because I've been ordering this UV resin from random sellers (I'm cheap and just go for the cheapest option each time) without any problems. Are you maybe just super sensitive to odors? There's a light odor, sure, but nothing more than when you're opening up a fresh bottle of nail polish.

>>9943448
That might be the case. I'm just making sure I'm not going to kill myself making cute stuff. If a bit of a smell is normal, it's probably a "me" issue. Thank you for responding!

>>9943472
fwiw; i also use this resin and it does have a bad stink and visible vapor when curing. This is normal during an exothermic chemical reaction of this type and it cant be helped--in my experience it is only noticeable if you are too close.
I just keep fans producing a crossbreeze in the area where im curing it, as well as distance myself when activating it with the uv as excess uv exposure will age your skin(in theory, i doubt how impactful it is as compared to sunning/tanning)

where are people finding these molds other than overpriced on etsy? i only found a link to alibaba but its for bulk orders. i don't want to pay $10 for a $2 mold.

>>9943732

I usually shop for molds off taobao whenever I'm doing a haul. Haven't seen this one in particular but there's certainly a lot of heart-shaped molds, you can try taobao's image search as well.

Just remember they're iffy about shipping liquids and powders, so molds, findings and other stuff is okay, resin and glitter powders are usually iffy.

>>9943743
yea i actually tried taobaos image search for these and i didn’t find them. where the hell are they from...

>>9943732
So my heart molds are actually from Daiso and they are ice cube molds. I'm sure Target or even Walmart has something similar in the ice cube molds section. It's all the same shit.

>>9943995
i have the daiso ones but they’re too small

>>9943732
Ah, that one heart mold. I think everyone buys them from alibaba and then resells the extra.

>>9926940 https://www.instagram.com/irodori_souk/
i love this person's stuff, their pieces with gradients are lovely

>>9947457
am stupid, didn't read the post properly, they're not western lol

How is UV Resin supposed to feel once it's cured? I've had it under my light for almost 3 hours but the surface is... tacky? It feels like something sticky is on it. However, my fingers leave no prints and if I press it with my nail it leaves no mark. It's bizarre, I have no idea if this is normal.

>>9947464
Did you mix any dyes, pigments, powders, glitter, or like literally anything into it? Also, what sort of uv lamp are you using? And of course, what resin are you using? The more info the better. It should have fully cured within 10-20 minutes.

>>9947468
I used it as a thin clear coating on top of a polymer clay charm which was painted with acrylic paints. I'm using the Padico UV Resin (Hard type). The light i'm using is an LED UV flashlight, the site I got it from (miniaturesweet) says it will take only 1-3 minutes for the light to fully cure a piece.

>>9947481

I have the same resin and no, it doesn't feel tacky when dry.

Don't really know what's up with yours though, maybe the acrylic paint isn't fully dry? I know moisture is a big issue when working with resin, but I can't think of anything in dried acrylic paint or cured polymer clay that would interfere with resin.

Any idea how I could save this pendant? I really like the angel but otherwise it's a bit tacky.

>>9949509
if the middle bit is what you want you could just cut it out and sand off the stumps

>>9949509
take it off the xmas ornament string, remove the bow at the bottom, add a proper jump hook.
Maybe do a resin with it to give it some color?

wheres the best place to buy phone cases in bulk?

For those who use UV resin, what dye do you use? I got some random white uv resin pigment dye from AliExpress, and when it cures, the backs of the pieces are all bumpy. This wasn't an issue on things like pendants since I'd just sand it off, but I'm currently making doll eyes and there's really not much to be sanding here in the first place.

>>9947464
Do you know how old the resin is? Apparently uv has a relatively short shelf life. I’m actually dealing with the same issue right now and I’ve narrowed down that either my resin is getting old or the humidity is messing with it. As a kind of fix, I’ve found that leaving the pieces by a window, covered with a clear plastic cup, for a few days seems to eventually get the stuff to cure.

>>9950795
alibaba or aliexpress

Working on my Berserk Armour cosplay
3d Printing the vast majority of it.

Working on my Doom Marine armour too
gotta redo the Leg and foot armour
doing those outta EVA foam, which is a pain in the ass for me

>>9954853
Wrong thread

>>9954863
shit I misread my dudes
ignore my ass

can I dome a flat surface with UV resin or will it just run right off?

>>9953843

I got a freebie white dye off a taobao shop once (no idea how, since I'm using the forwarding service and liquids are't allowed to be shipped). The white dyes are tricky, because if you think about it -- it's opaque. So if you mix up a large dollop of UV resin and pour it in, there's probably some places that aren't getting all of the UV and not curing properly.

I ended up doing mine in thin layers, letting it cure completely and then adding another thin layer. It got to be rather annoying though, so I'd avoid it if possible. Maybe it's time to think about getting into 2-part resin for the doll eyes?

>>9960018

UV resin is prefect for doming, the liquid is pretty thick and likes to stay put.

>>9960018
it’s a liquid so it’ll stay within the edges until you pour too much on
answer is yes

Has anyone noticed some daecoden and resin crafters on Instagram being banned or having posts removed? A few people I follow have been posting about it without actually saying what's going on, and I am very confused.
This is only kinda on-topic, so feel free to ignore.

>>9960229
Yeah, the other day a girl I follow on instagram said something like "looks like *that item* is getting decoden creators removed again" but thats all she said, made me really curious wtf it is you aren't allowed to make.

>>9960234
Part of me thinks its an IP issue?? But I wouldn't know honestly. I am curious tho

>>9960234
pop sockets, the name and appearance of those are copyrighted so people who decorated those and sold those are getting their accounts / posts removed.
basically they have to be very careful with licensed products / brands that already exist.

>>9954456
About 8-9 months, but I've had this problem since I first got it. Thanks for the tip, I'll be sure to try it out. It's been cloudy and rainy here for the past couple weeks so I haven't been able to see what happens in the sun.

tfw you need one specific material but every listing you can find is just a little too expensive
I COULD suck it up but deep in my kokoro I believe if I just keep looking...

>>9860452
I just use calculated shipping and USPS. I've had issues with UK customs holding up stuff so I mark UK customs down. That said USPS just delivers to local post offices, which in certain countries can be awful.

>>9960303
Oh snap.
Wouldn't selling them under the name "Phone Holder" or something similar remove that issue tho?

>>9943368
Piggybacking off of this, is this resin any good?

I accidentally bought paint medium instead of paint varnish. We're talking 128oz. Returning it isn't possible, honestly it was kind of a steal anyway, but I can only use so much medium. Are there any other uses or should I start bottling this shit up and giving it to my friends?

Since peoples sometime do embroidery or use rhinestones, it could be the place to ask what brand/type of rhinestone could be use in pic related. I was thinking something like swarovsky/preciosa but could it be less expensive crystal or even glass/plastic rhinestone? The shine is crazy!

>>9961107
this resin is really good, I like it a lot

>>9965134
If you are looking for an affordable alternative try aliexpress or wherever with the term "ab rhinestone" ab stands for aurora borealis

Add other terms that you need like size or sew-on

>>9965425
Thank you, I didn't knew this term

Does anyone make resin shakers? What do you use to dye the mineral oil? I tried oil based food coloring, but the sun bleached it when I set my shaker outside for around 20min because the uv resin was a little tacky.

Sometimes in Japanese craft videos I see them put this little stick of translucent plastic in water and then shape it. Does anyone know what this stuff is called? Like I know it's a "friendly" plastic but whenever I look for friendly plastic all that comes is are little white pellets, this stuff is usually pre-colored and translucent

>>9973871
Oyumaru, perhaps? You didn't specify what the plastic gets used for, but a stick of translucent plastic sounds like it.

>>9842905
Dream Cathedral, girl, you're killing me.
Please respond to my messages on Etsy.

>>9973923
Yes anon, that looks like it, thank you! I've seen translucent clays before but these didn't look like the same thing and I couldn't figure out what they were

>>9973927
Not that anon but last month we were talking on insta and she had a lot of personal stuff going on and my last messages to her are unread too. COME BACK AND LET ME GIVE YOU MONEY

>>9973945
Ok, that sucks, thanks for letting me know.
Like, I'm sure she has good reasons, it's just been a really long time now with no contact and there's money on the table.
Pls, ilu, don't leave me.

>>9973945
>>9973947
I ordered from her before and she was very sweet and quick to reply? Idk if this helps you anons but there is an email from her business card. [email protected]

>>9974120
I was one of the first people to order from her, so yeah, I know she's good for it.
I can shoot off a message later.

What kind of drills are used to make holes through plastic and resin?

>>9975362
I use a hand drill/pin vice. Epoxy is a fairly "soft" resin so it's not that hard to drill holes though it, and it's even easier if you heat the bit up first. I got one cheap off AliExpress and another one off eBay.
If you have a rotary tool and the appropriate attachments you can use that too.

I'm not much of a resin person but considering it might add to a craft I'm doing so two stupid questions maybe friends?
1. How does your favorite epoxy resin hold up to sunlight/yellowing over time? I was looking at the Alumilite Clear. I used castin craft once but that shit went yellow in a few months.
2. How are you printing art to be cast over- avoiding ink bleed and fading over time? In school I remember painting prints with elmer's glue to stop it from bleeding per the professor's instructions, but I don't remember it working well.

Any advice for making faux leather armour and weapons ? I am new to this and though I have been searching around I feel like it will still come out looking like trash. From what I hear people suggest that for the armour I should make a pattern out of muslin cloth as practice. Then use foam as a base for the amour and cover it in faux leather (as a base method). For the weapons on the other hand I have no idea. Still any advice would be appreciated.

>>9975687
1. I use UV resin, sometimes Padico and sometimes sketchy generic Chinese resin that's all over ebay/ali/taobao. My oldest pieces are around three years old. So far, I have not noticed any yellowing.
2. I don't actually do anything and I haven't had any issues, so I can't really help here. Sorry!

>>9975687
1. I love amazing clear cast. Definitely get it. Easy cast is shit
2. Seal with mod podge. Or print on special paper. I rarely do pieces with printed or sticker inserts anyways. Pic related is probably the only one I've ever done that I've kept (regular printer paper with mod podge)

>>9975687
1. I love amazing clear cast. Definitely get it. Easy cast is shit
2. Seal with mod podge. Or print on special paper. I rarely do pieces with printed or sticker inserts anyways. Pic related is probably the only one I've ever done that I've kept (regular printer paper with mod podge)

Trying to get into resin recently and made these as a test. Any advice on what I could do better? I want to eventually sell stuff.

>>9976679
those look p cute but idk about the square size you can’t really use those for anything

>>9975687
Not my favourite for now obvious reasons: easy cast yellows LIKE CRAZY. Obviously don't let your resin supply sit for like four years. But I pulled out an unopened pack and the of the two-part resin/hardener mix, the resin bottle was completely orange, that's how badly it had yellows over time even with zero sun exposure.

>>9976852
Have you used envirotex? What's it like? I saw some at a local store when I was shopping for supplies to cast pieces for a class project but it was advertised as a pour on epoxy and not a casting epoxy and I had some fairly deep molds so I settled for Easy Cast instead (I've had shitty experiences with Easy Cast in the past but the pieces didn't come out yellow and I just needed them to look good for one day as part of a project)

>>9977033
You could still do deep moulds but pour in layers and let each layer cure before doing the next. At least that's the recommendation I've seen. I'm sure it would be fine for doming or small things like pendants or open bezels. I've never tried it but I'd like to as it's cheaper than Easy Cast iirc.

Bumping the thread by posting some tutorials I shamelessly stole from /cgl/ over 5 years ago. Please post tutorials as well if you have some.

>>9977542
Man, this tutorial made me feel old. It's cheaper and easier to order charms online than it is to go about this method. I feel like things have changed so quickly.

>>9977553
Same here, but I still feel like handmaking charms gives them a "special vibe" sort of? You can customize them or make charms with characters that are unpopular (and thus you wouldn't find in a store). I made matching charms for my fiancé and me and I feel that the effort I put on them makes them more special. Maybe I am a romantic!

>>9949509
Can you add different colors at the back and make it look like stained glass?
otherwise everything >>9950105
said.

>>9934685
Do you think those butterflies are stickers or what? I love the effect.