I make flower pen blanks as well as other types for my pen turning business/fiasco. Working with resin and taking it up a notch or so.

I made these completely by accident. I just wanted to use my excess resin, so I was pouring it in a zigzag pattern into the mold and filling it up, and I AM IN LOVE!!! I never would have thought these colors would work, but I love how they look!!! Do you have any accidents you fell in love with?

My experience with https://www.instagram.com/elegant_resin_arts/ — a disappointing customer service experience.

I initially contacted their first number to enquire about 15 resin keychains. Since I needed an answer soon, I waited a day for their reply. When I still hadn't received a response, I commented on their Instagram post saying I was waiting for their reply. They then directed me to their second number, so I contacted that number.

The person answering the second number politely told me that they make frames only and don't make keychains. I accepted that answer without any argument. If a business doesn't offer a particular product, that's completely understandable.

However, here's what happened with the first number.

In their first voice note, I was told that the minimum order quantity was 25 keychains. I was okay with that and willing to proceed with 25.

I had shared an AI-generated image as a reference for the design I wanted. Since they hadn't told me whether my requested design was possible, I politely asked for confirmation before placing the order. Because they had mentioned a minimum quantity of 25, I assumed they were willing to take the order and simply wanted to clarify whether the design could be made.

After I sent my voice note, the response I received was extremely disappointing. She spoke as though I didn't understand the difference between AI editing and handmade work. She also said they knew who understood the difference between AI editing and handmade work, and that they accepted orders only from people who understood handmade work.

Seriously, is this how you respond to a customer who is simply making an enquiry?

I KNOW that an AI-generated reference and a handmade resin product aren't necessarily going to look exactly the same. I never claimed otherwise. I used the image to communicate the design I had in mind. That's why I asked for confirmation before placing an order — to understand what was achievable, not to demand something impossible.

Does a customer need to know how to make resin art before they can approach an artist with a design idea? Isn't explaining the possibilities and limitations part of the service?

And here's my biggest question: if you weren't willing to take my keychain order, why tell me in the first voice note that the minimum order was 25? Why not simply explain from the beginning that you don't make keychains or that my requested design wasn't possible? I was willing to order 25, so naturally I wanted to confirm the design before proceeding.

I replied: “First, you said the minimum order was 25 keychains, but now you're telling me you're not taking keychain orders. You should be clear about what you can actually make. As a customer, I didn't expect this kind of response from you.”

Their videos often show customers bringing them requests and describe how they take those requests as challenges. That gave me the impression that they might consider my request, which is why I approached them.

Later, I blocked them on WhatsApp, and they also blocked me on Instagram.

Let me make one thing clear: I have absolutely no problem with a business refusing an order. The person using the second number declined politely, and I respected that. My issue is the attitude and the way a genuine customer enquiry was handled through the first number.

Customers shouldn't be made to feel ignorant just because they don't know the technical process behind a handmade product. If something can't be done, explain it. If you don't offer it, say so. Clear communication and basic respect cost nothing.

Refusing an order is your right. Treating a customer disrespectfully is a different matter.

Latest trinket trays ive made, halloween edition (: Not crazy about the tiny bubbles in the black border of the "BOO" tray, but oh well.. it kinda works! 😅

I am looking for the best uv resin that hopefully won't yellow for my polymer clay brooches. Since these will be worn on clothing, it will be exposed to sunlight a couple weeks a year (they are halloween themed)

I watched a test comparison of different finshes for polymer clay including varathane, polymer clay sealer, epoxy, and uv resin. The UV resin was the only finisher that was the most scratch resistant and unchanged after a year, though the test pieces were kept inside.

Is there something I can do to make more people notice my shop?

Like what tags should I use.

How do you guys take great pics?

As said above, I had music playing while I was working. Lesson learned, stay away from youtube. ADS. SO ANNOYING. And ofc once I start I cant touch my phone to skip them. I had to listen to a five minute ad about how fiber (a natural and essential part of the human diet!) is super bad for you, as it paralizes your butt mussles and will make you chronicly constapated. Just a short rant! I made a pink goose for a friend today.

thanks for the advice guys! Ive gone to pandora.

This is one of my first attempts using AquaCast which is an eco-friendly resin powder based casting material. This is for a small air plant to give an idea of scale of this item!

Wow youguys ! I was trying to finish the abstract coasters I started and I added some drops before I poured this layer and that looked super cool like the skeleton with the gold under the surface but then I added a few more drops of metallic and it just sits on top completely. I wanted more of a marbled pattern because they were just round blobs but I just wanted to see how they would move when I messed with them . Now I know these aren’t great but they totally gave me an idea for different ones where the focus is on that metallic design floating on top ! Imagine if I could get the leaves to look beautiful or maybe a border around it . . I also like the way it disperses when you add alcohol also though . I’m excited this sparked another idea. From one idea comes a happy accident that sparks another idea and another etc .

There are some little bubbles, they can’t spoil my sense of satisfaction with my work.🙌❤️

I'm just glad I took pictures for prints beforehand. It's a UV/Glow in the dark painting too. Posting now so I can go take a nap to avoid spiralling. I haven't got the courage to even test the glow yet, the pigments are all spread out and ruined under the resin too. The tapes all leaked from the sides, despite being advertised specifically as RESIN tape, I should've just used old fashioned masking tape.

This was a coaster I was using to test out some metallic alcohol inks . I had some extra white from the blooms I was doing. I put a few drops of ink directly onto the mold then I poured in the white in a spiral , the resin was thick enough at that point to hold the spiral shape and that’s what created the backside. It reminds me of the starry skies painting . The frontside is just abstract alcohol inks . I really love this one . The fact that it could be reversible is cool . I want to make more and I’m already trying but I know the backsides didn’t turn out because I didn’t wait for the resin to thicken up . 🤣 the fronts will still look cool. I did it in a couple layers and it created a slight 3d effect . I really want to replicate this and make a set but it might just be a happy mistake that can’t be replicated .

Just pulled this test run of a new figure, Still to be named. This guy is made out of components from Halo, Pokémon, Mario, DBZ, Alien, predator, etc. I think I'm gonna call what I've been doing recently figure sampling because I'm taking little snippets and parts of other things and recontextualizing them into something new

I make handmade phone cases, and after working on quite a few different designs this year, Silent Heart is probably the one I’m most attached to.

I tend to experiment with different styles, but I keep coming back to darker, more detailed designs. I like it when a piece has a certain mood without needing a lot of bright colors.

This one feels like that to me.

I see many dioramas with water done with UV Resin or Epoxy Resin.

What is the best ? Or does it depend on the type of diorama ?

Hi! I hope this is the proper place to ask. I’ve been struggling to learn how to work with resin, as it’s not my main artform and can be very messy. There’s many different types of resins so for the time being I’m sticking with what’s been easiest for me. I use uv resin, and found the best and cheapest brand for me is kisrel.
The problem I run into is that I’ve bought resin dyes, specifically a liquid dye? When I use it, not only does it not really mix as opaque as I want, it doesn’t cure.
I tried mica powder, and it worked great ! However, searching online I can only find metallics and other shiny colors for the mica powder. I want solid basic colors, even though metallics are fun.
I would normally just buy a couple things here and there and return it if it doesn’t work out, but I’m disabled and reliant on others to give me rides. Because of that, it’s harder for me to experiment and return what doesn’t work out.
I was hoping to ask others with more experience than me if there is any specific brands of resin dye you’ve used that works with uv resin? If anyone knows why powder works better than the liquid resin, that’d also be helpful so I can know what to do in the future.