Using Dried Flowers With Puduo Resin

Using dried flowers is simple and can be a lot of fun! Dried flowers can be purchased through sites like Amazon, at hobby stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby, or you can pick and dry your own. As we live in the desert, and the spring flowers are in bloom, we decided to go pick some flowers, dry them, then create something beautiful on a Live Stream. This is the same technique you would use for fresh roses, fruit, or anything else that has moisture.

Moisture is the enemy of epoxy resin. It can cause fogging, uneven cure, and general chaos in the product. If you epoxy something that contains moisture, it can rot inside the piece. That’s why it’s vital to remove all moisture.

You can remove moisture a number of ways. The sun, a dehydrator, Silica Gel, a book, or anything that will suck the moisture out quickly.

1. Sun – You can dry some items in the sun. Depending on how fragile the item is will determine if this method is right for your project.
2. Dehydrators come in a variety of sizes and prices. Here are 2 that you can purchase from Amazon. I have not tested these products, so be sure to read about their proper use. 
   
   1. This is a lower cost option:
      
   2. This one is the more expensive version:
      
3. Book – You can use a thick book to press and dry your flowers. Use copy paper between the pages so the flowers wont stick to the pages.
   

For this project you will need:

1. Fresh flowers – These can be hand picked, or purchased from a store.
   
2. Silica Gel – This can be purchased from Amazon.
   
3. Container with a lid. Here’s an example from Amazon.
4. Puduo Resin – Available here
   
5. Silicone mold of your choice – Here are some Amazon Selections

Follow these steps:

1. Pour silica gel into your container. 1/4 to 1/2 of the way is good.
   
2. Place your fresh flowers on the silica gel. Close the lid on the container.
3. Wait until the flowers are dry. Drying time will vary depending on the amount of moisture in the flower. Expect between 2-10 days.
4. Once fully dried, insert your flowers into the mold, mix your Puduo Resin, and fill your mold. Wait 8-12 hours before demolding. Set on a flat surface for at least 12 hours after demolding to finish your curing process.