Book Review | Explore, Create, Resinate: Mixed Media Techniques using Ice Resin by Jen Cushman

Reported by Maria Soto

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I have heard so much about Ice Resin and Mold Putty that I wanted to try it for a while. I was so excited to get the book, Explore, Create, Resinate: Mixed Media Techniques Using ICE Resin by Jen Cushman, to see what it looked like. (ICE Resin is a two-part epoxy resin, if you aren't familiar with it.)

I have to admit that the first time I opened this book I felt very intimidated by all the beautiful works of art that everyone made for this book. At first I wasn’t sure I’d actually create anything with resin because just by looking at all the photos of all the different projects you can make, I thought it would be very difficult and frustrating. I actually put the book away for a bit because I had very mixed feelings about giving this a try. Especially because in the past I had tried making jewelry pieces with a different brand of two-part resin, and well - let’s just say the end results were disappointing.

A day passed and I grabbed the book after work one evening and began reading, I have to say the way the author took the time to describe the ICE resin, got me intrigued. I kept reading and realized that I was wrong to feel intimidated. This product deserved my full attention! The author’s tips and explanation on how to use this product made me want to try it right away. Each page in this book makes you stop and really look at each project and at how the ICE resin makes them so unique and beautiful.

I find it fascinating how this product can be used in so many different ways to create such a variety of projects. I love finding products that can allow you to be creative, to step out of your comfort zone. This book made me want to try this product! It will take some time and lots of practice before I can attempt some of the more complex beautiful projects found in this book, so I decided to try a more simple casting with resin as my first project.

I had this very pretty rose button laying around, and decided to make a mold using the two-part mold putty. This is my first time using the molding product as well.  And let’s just say that I found out the hard way that you have very little time to make your mold before the putty hardens, something I’m not very happy with! But practice makes perfect so I kept making molds.

Here is a photo of my very first project where I made my own mold and poured my first ice resin (as shown in the book).

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You can see the materials I used in the photo below, and in the second photo you can see the ice resin rose ring I made (on the left). It shows my very first mold (in the center) and then for comparison on the right is the rose button I started with for this project.

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Ice Resin Rose Ring

 I will continue to play with this product and the few molds I made to make embellishments to use on other projects.

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I can’t say I have one favorite project from this book, because I loved all of them, but I do know that the next project I try making is going to be the ICE resin paper technique. I can see using this in jewelry and card making, and I know I will find other uses for it as well.

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This is one book that will not be going to the bookcase to gather dust! It will have a permanent place on my work table. I highly recommend this book to anyone who like me had yet to try this product. It is a great book for a beginner. Make sure to read all the tips on how to prepare your work table, how to avoid and clean up any spills, and how to use this amazing product.

Pros:

  • Good for beginners
  • Great variety of projects
  • Useful tips for working with resin

Cons:

  • Intimidating at first glance
  • Have to work fast with the molding putty!

Explore, Create, Resinate: Mixed Media Techniques Using ICE Resin by Jen Cushman is available from a variety of crafts and book retailers for a cover price of $23.95.

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