Detailed tutorial on flattening flowers to decorate mobile phone cases. Making embossed flowers is very simple. Just put the flowers inside a big book. There is no big tree like an encyclopedia. You can also put a heavy object on top of the book. If making your own embossing, please note that the drying cycle takes at least seven days, or you can purchase finished embossing directly from Etsy. In this case, carnation petals, babys breath, tulip petals, dianthus, wax flower, hydrangea and alstroemeria petals were used.
Items needed:
Plain dried flowers;
Flat, sturdy white iPhone case;
Tools needed:
Clear craft glue; a flat, level work surface; tape; scissors; parchment paper (other paper will work too); ruler; fine-tipped marker; timer; two clean plastic cups; two Wooden stick; 50/50 cast epoxy (resin and hardener); acetone (or nail polish remover containing acetone); cotton swabs; glitter (optional).
The first step: embossing and typesetting
Put the embossed flower on the phone case and arrange it as you like.look. But if you want to put a lot of flowers on it, make sure the thickness of the embossing does not exceed 1.5mm, otherwise the resin may not be able to cover the phone case. Keep in mind that the flattened flower will become somewhat translucent once covered in resin. Therefore, placing light-colored flowers under dark-colored flowers will have a better effect. If you find a layout you like, take a photo of it for future reference.
Remove the embossing from the phone case and place it on both sides for later use. Apply a small amount of glue to the largest flower and lightly adhere to the phone case. Continue gluing other embossings until you have the desired layout.
Step 2: Prepare resin
Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area. Use scissors to cut a piece of parchment paper about 60cm long and tape it to a flat work surface. Pick up your resin and read the instructions carefully (note: if the instruction manual of the resin you purchased does not match the following steps, be sure to follow the steps in the instructions, otherwise you will get a sticky mess. This is very useful for making a flower decoration. The phone call was of no help.)
Place the ruler in a plastic cup and make two marks on the cup with a fine-tipped marker. The first mark is made at 3/8 inch (about 9.5mm), the second mark is made at 3/4 inch (about 19mm).
Set a timer for 2 minutes and have a wooden stick ready for stirring. Slowly pour the resin into the plastic cup up to the first mark (3/8 inch). It’s important to remember the exact amount you use, so don’t be too generous when pouring. Next, slowly pour the hardener up to the second mark (3/4 inch), making sure not to overfill.
Start the timer and stir with a wooden stick for 2 minutes, making sure that the wooden stick rubs against the side of the cup from time to time. Don’t worry if you see a lot of bubbles forming in the cup, they will disappear later. When the time is up, place the second plastic cup on the countertop and have a second unused wooden stick ready for stirring.
Optional: If you want to add some glitter to your phone case, sprinkle some into the mixture now.
Next, set the counter for 1 minute and pour the mixture from the first cup into the second cup. Continue stirring until the timer goes off and let sit for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Pour the resin onto the phone case
Slowly pour a small amount of the newly mixed resin into the middle of the phone case. It is better to be cautious and add less resin than to add too much.
Use a wooden stick to spread the resin to the edge of the phone case, making sure the resin does not go past the edge of the case. Pour more resin over the case until the back of the case and all the embossing are covered. Gently blow bubbles floating on the surface to make them disappear.
Place the phone case on the parchment paper and place it onYou need to keep an eye on it during the drying process (about one to two hours). If resin spills outside the edge of the phone case, wipe it clean with acetone on a cotton swab.
Once the first coat of resin has dried, inspect your case to make sure all the embossing is properly coated. If desired, a second coat of resin can be added.
Voila! You now have a floral iPhone case that will be a highlight in any occasion.
