At the most basic level this project is very simple and very open. All you need to make this is resin, dye, and packing tape and a light source. I will show you my process but keep it open enough for you to be able to take your own creative spin.

You will Need:

Two part Epoxy Resin

Blue Vitrail paint/Dye

Packing Tape

24" Drip Pan (Optional)

Small Work Light with 35 Watt LED (Optional)

Quick Dry Epoxy (Optional)

Warning:

This can get really messy so make sure to do it in a safe area that is protected. Resin does not come out of most things.

Step 1: Step ONE: Creating the Base

For the Mold I used packing tape. Resin does not stick to packing tape so it works perfectly. This technique will work for whatever mold you want to make as log as it is seal properly and you can actually take the resin out. So feel free to ignore my form if you wish.

To make my form however, I wanted a shallow cone. So I grabbed a 24" drip pan (found at many hardware stores) as the structure to hold my tape. To make this work stretch the packing tape across the top diameter of the pan and press down in the center. By doing this the center and the walls of the pan should be secure. Repeat this around the entire perimeter until there is no openings and no chance of leaking. I would even double tape (trust me, it is a real pain when this stuff slips through.

The base is created by a two part epoxy resin. (The reason I went with this resin is so that it would have strong structural base so that it could hold its own weight when hanging.)

Follow the instructions on the resin when mixing. Once the resin is mixed well slowly add in your colorant . (I used Vitrail mixed media paint because I have used it before and know it works with resin. Certain liquid dyes should also work). When adding the color, add it very slowly and periodically taking time to mix it all in.

Step 2: Step 2: the Resin

The base is created by a two part epoxy resin. (The reason I went with this resin is so that it would have strong structural base so that it could hold its own weight when hanging.)

Follow the instructions on the resin when mixing. Once the resin is mixed well slowly add in your colorant . (I used Vitrail mixed media paint because I have used it before and know it works with resin. Certain liquid dyes should also work). When adding the color, add it very slowly and periodically taking time to mix it all in. Constantly compare it to what your main light source will be so that you can see its normal color.

If you decide to use a bulb hold it up to that, if you are going to light it by sunlight, make sure you can see how it looks in sunlight (I would recommend using a clear mixing bucket to make it easier).

Once the color appears right pour it into the mold. If you want to have bubbles make sure your aerate your mix and poor it fast. If you don't want bubbles, poor slowly in thin ribbons and use a heat gun or blow dryer to slowly heat some of the bubbles away, (my mix did not need this done so I have no pictures of that process).

One last option I pursed was adding more depth to the color. To do this drip small bits of your colorant into the mold and slowly mix it in with long strokes. This allows long swaths of different deeper color to stand out.

Step 3: Step 3: Pop It Out

The next step is to pop out your piece. If done properly the resin should pull away from the tape without issue. If there were seams or holes left, this process will be profoundly more difficult. You will need to rip and pull away whatever tape you can without harming the resin mold itself. (If the mold is dark enough this might not be an issue, the tape can actually add some interesting reflective properties into it when light up).

The next steps are up to you. As you can see for one piece I stopped at this point. It was too small to be a light so I used it as a centerpiece. The color was a lighter tone in this one so sunlight works well with it.

Step 4: Step 4: Light It Up

If you choose to proceed with using this as a light you will need to choose your light source. Test different bulbs and mounting methods before you attach them because they will have drastically different affects based on your mix.

I used a work light and a 35 Watt small LED flood. The White light of the LED helped, the lower wattage did not blow out the nuances of the light, and the fact that it was LED with a lifetime of 25,000 hours of light allowed me to seal it in without having to worry about replacing the bulb. The work light was also needed because it focused all of the light directly through the resin as opposed to escaping around the sides.

The method I used to hang this light was a little barbaric but because it would only be seen from below, it works.Use a quick dry resin to attach the work light to the back of the resin form. Once dry add an additional coat of of dyed epoxy resin surrounding the work light. Even a layer as thin as 1/8" will hold well. (Tip: To get it thick without dripping let the resin mix set right until it starts to heat up, then pour it. This will make the resin have a thicker consistency and be easier to work with.) Once applied let the resin set.

Step 5: Step 5: Enjoy

Once done hang up and enjoy. There are lot of different ways to use this method and I am most interested in seeing how I and you can play with it. Keep me posted with interesting versions of your own take.