How to Set a Fresh Flower in Resin

Preserving fresh flowers in resin means preparing the flowers first by drying them and covering them with a spray resin so they can hold up to the process. Choose a mold for the resin that meets your needs, such as a thin, round mold for a coaster or a small one if you want to turn the flowers into jewelry. Silicone or other flexible molds work the best with resin projects.

Resin doesn't work well with moisture, so drying your flower first is key to successful preservation. Plan ahead and get your flowers started a week before you want to complete the project. Pour a desiccant such as silica gel crystals into a plastic or glass container, covering the bottom. After trimming the stem to the desired length, place the flower in the container with the petals facing up and cover the flower with more desiccant. It usually takes about a week for the flower to dry, although this varies slightly between desiccant manufacturers.

When the flower is dry, put on gloves, safety goggles and a mask. Remove the flower from the desiccant and spray it lightly with a spray resin. This step is optional, but it gives the petals some substance so they don't tear or break as easily when you put the flower in the liquid resin.

Before you prepare the resin, place the bottles in a bowl of hot water. Cover your work surface with newspapers, wax paper or a disposable tablecloth. Put on a mask, safety goggles, gloves, long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes. Work in a well-ventilated area.

Liquid resin typically has two parts: the resin and the catalyst that hardens it. Follow your manufacturer's instructions carefully, but in general, mix equal parts of the two liquids. Stir the liquid with a toothpick or craft stick using minimal motions. The goal is to mix the liquids thoroughly without introducing air to the mixture, so don't use up-and-down motions. Instead, swirl the stick through the liquids gently without removing it from the resin.

After placing the mold on a newspaper or paper towel on a flat, level surface, slowly pour the resin into the mold until it's about two-thirds full. Place the flower in the resin, pushing it down gently with a toothpick until the flower is centered and positioned the way you like. Add any additional items, such as glitter, seed pods, sprinkles or twigs. After filling the mold the rest of the way with resin, pop any bubbles that appear with the toothpick. Cover the mold with plastic wrap or a large, upside-down bowl to prevent dust from settling on your creation.

Resin needs to harden at least overnight, so read the manufacturer's instructions to ensure you let your flowers in resin set as long as required. When it's hard, pop it loose from the mold by twisting hard molds gently like you would a frozen ice-cube tray or by pulling rubber molds back from the resin and pushing up from the bottom. After you remove the flower encased in resin, it's ready to display as you desire.