How to Lighten and Stripe a Dark Purple Eco-Resin Dragon Belly

This little dragon started with a solid dark-purple belly. The finished look is lighter overall, with clean white-to-lavender stripes across the tummy and a bit of shine so it doesn’t look flat. You can do the same change on a painted eco-resin piece without stripping the whole figure.

What you need

• The painted eco-resin dragon (fully cured)
• Fine sandpaper (400–600 grit) or a sanding sponge
• Soft brush or damp cloth to wipe dust
• Acrylic paints: a pale mauve/lavender, a light magenta or soft white, and a tiny bit of metallic silver if you want the claws/horns to pop
• Small detail brush and a slightly wider flat brush
• Water cup and paper towel
• Optional: acrylic varnish (matte or satin) and a pearl or interference medium if you want the pearly glow from the second photo

Prep Wipe the dragon so it is clean and dry. Lightly scuff only the belly scales you plan to repaint. You are not trying to remove all the old colour—just give the new paint something to hold. Wipe the dust off.

Paint the base of the belly Mix a pale lavender (mauve pale plus a touch of white works well). Paint the whole belly in thin coats. Let each coat dry. Two or three thin coats beat one thick one on resin. Keep the edges neat where the belly meets the sides so you do not have to fix the rest of the dragon.

Add the stripes Once the pale base is dry, use a slightly darker purple or a clean white (depending on how strong you want the contrast). Follow the existing scale lines. A thin flat brush or a liner brush makes this easier. Paint every other scale band, or every second row, so you get even stripes. If a line wobbles, wait until it is dry and tidy it with the pale colour.

Details Touch up the claws and horn tips with a little silver if they look dull. Check the eyes and snout so they still read against the new belly. Let everything dry fully—acrylic on resin can feel dry on top while the layer underneath is still soft.

Seal A thin coat of acrylic varnish protects the new paint and evens the sheen. If you want that pearly, slightly translucent look, mix a drop of pearl medium into the last pale coat or into the varnish. Do not flood the details.

 

Tips that save a redo

• Thin paint. Thick paint hides scale texture.
• Work in good light so the stripe edges stay crisp.
• If you hate a stripe, sand that band lightly and paint it again. Eco-resin can take a gentle scuff.
• The frog-on-the-toilet in the workbench photo is optional. The dragon is not.

That is the whole change: scuff, pale base, stripes along the scales, seal. The before is the dark solid belly. The after is the striped one sitting on the table with the paint tubes still open.

Do Art! (And Finish What’s on the Go)

 Hey All You Artsy People,

Welcome back to the website, how to do what? Who knows right, just how to breathe somedays! Today’s post is a little peek into my current art corner and a gentle reminder I needed to hear myself.

Here’s the workspace right now: brushes standing tall like a forest, bottles of Liquitex gloss varnish, DecoArt metallics, acrylics in every colour, and a few pieces I’ve been working on. Front and centre is the skull—nearly finished, with its soft pastel washes and that rosy jaw. Beside it sits a shiny coppery-pink owl, a little blue mushroom house, a clear resin sphere filled with dried flowers and citrus slices, and a couple of other experiments still finding their way.

I made all of these. The skull is so close I can almost call it done. The others? Honestly, I’m not sure what their final story will be yet. And that’s okay.

Somewhere along the way I saw a sign (wish I could remember the exact wording) that said something like: “I’m not a hoarder of art supplies… I’m a collector of what I may need in the future.” That hit home. The shelves are full, the brushes are waiting, and the paints are ready—but right now my focus is on finishing the projects already started. Once those are complete, the door opens for brand-new ideas.

Over the years I’ve learned so much through simply showing up and making. Some days it feels like you haven’t progressed at all… and then you look back and realize how far the quiet practice has carried you.

So if you’re doubting yourself, keep going. Find the peace you’re seeking and let it develop from there. The supplies will wait. The ideas will wait. Just do the art that’s in front of you today.

Moral of the story?
Do Art!

What are you working on right now? Any nearly-finished pieces sitting on your desk, or a favourite “collector, not hoarder” quote of your own? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Happy creating,
Helen of How To Just BE
#DoArt #ArtStudio #FinishWhatYouStart #HelenHowTo

Eco Resin vs Epoxy Resin: Same Fairy Cottage Mold, Two Completely Different Magic Results!✨🏠

Eco Resin vs Epoxy Resin: Same Fairy Cottage Mold, Two Completely Different Magic Results! ✨🏠

Hey everyone! Welcome back to Helen’s How To. 

Today I’m sharing a super fun experiment I did with the exact same silicone fairy cottage mold. I cast one version in eco resin and the other in traditional epoxy resin — and wow, the difference the colours make is honestly mind-blowing! 

One gives you that dreamy, glowing transparent look. The other delivers vibrant, blended colour magic. They both turned out gorgeous, but in totally different ways.

The Two Finished Pieces

1. The Translucent Pink Beauty (Epoxy Resin)
This one is crystal-clear pink/magenta. The light shines right through it, making the little fairy house, door, roof tiles, trees, and flowers glow beautifully. It has that ethereal, magical feel — perfect for a candle holder or night-light style piece.

2. The Vibrant Gradient Yellow-to-Green (Eco Resin)
This one is full of life! It gradients from sunny yellow at the base through fresh greens into soft turquoise at the top. The colours interact with the raised design in such a unique way — the house, chimney, door, mushrooms, and foliage really pop. It feels whimsical and nature-inspired.

Same mold. Same design. Completely different personalities. 

Quick Comparison: Eco Resin vs Epoxy Resin

Here’s what I noticed using the exact same mold:

Feature	Eco Resin (Yellow-Green Gradient)	Epoxy Resin (Pink Transparent)
Demold Time	~30 minutes (amazingly fast!)	24 hours (patience required)
Transparency	Opaque / beautifully coloured	Crystal clear & glowing
Colour Behaviour	Colours blend and layer in a soft, vibrant way	Pigments stay true; great for solid transparent colours
Finish	Lovely matte-to-satin mineral look	High-gloss, glass-like
Safety & Fumes	Very low odour, indoor-friendly	Stronger fumes – needs good ventilation
Best For	Quick colourful pieces, gradients, home décor	Transparent/glowing effects, clarity lovers
My Verdict	Love the speed + how colours come together	Love the transparency & glow

Both have their good points and not-so-good points — exactly as I always say! 

Eco resin wins for speed and that gorgeous colour-blending effect. Epoxy wins when you want that see-through magical glow.

How I Made Them – Simple Step-by-Step (Works for Both Resins)

What you’ll need:

• Fairy cottage / fairy house silicone mold
• Your chosen resin (eco resin or epoxy resin + hardener)
• Pigments or resin dyes (pink for the transparent version; yellow, green, turquoise for the gradient)
• Mixing cups & stir sticks
• Gloves + good ventilation (especially for epoxy)
• Optional: mold release spray, heat gun/torch for bubbles, sandpaper + polish for finishing

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep your workspace
   Cover your table. For epoxy, open windows or work in a well-ventilated area. For eco resin you can usually work indoors with minimal fuss.
2. Mix your resin
   • Eco resin: Follow your specific brand’s ratio (often powder + liquid). Mix thoroughly but gently. 
   • Epoxy resin: Measure precisely (usually 1:1 or 2:1 by volume/weight) and mix slowly for 3–5 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom.
3. Add colour
   • Transparent pink (Epoxy): Add a few drops of pink resin dye or alcohol ink to clear epoxy until you reach the desired shade. 
   • Gradient yellow-green (Eco): Mix separate small batches — one yellow, one green, one turquoise. This is where eco resin really shines — the colours layer and blend beautifully as you pour.
4. Pour into the mold
   Pour slowly into the lowest point of the mold so the resin flows up the details.
   For the gradient effect, pour your colours one after another or swirl gently with a stick for soft transitions.
   Tap the mold on the table or use a heat gun/torch to release air bubbles (more important with epoxy).
5. Cure & Demold
   • Eco resin: Leave it alone for about 30 minutes. It should be firm enough to demold carefully. 
   • Epoxy resin: Leave it for a full 24 hours before demolding (I usually wait overnight).
6. Finish
   Pop out your piece gently.
   Trim any flash with scissors or a craft knife.
   Sand the base flat if needed.
   For extra shine on either piece you can buff with resin polish or apply a clear sealer (especially nice on eco resin if you want more gloss).
7. Optional final touch
   Pop a battery tealight or fairy lights inside for that magical glowing effect — especially stunning on the transparent pink version!

My Honest Thoughts After Making Both

• The epoxy pink feels delicate and enchanted — that transparency is addictive. 
• The eco resin gradient feels joyful and full of colour personality. The way the yellows and greens settled around the house and trees was so different from how pigments behave in epoxy.

I genuinely love both for different reasons and different projects. 

If I want something fast and colourful → eco resin every time.
If I want something glowing and see-through → epoxy is worth the wait.

Final Tips

• Always test a small batch first if you’re new to a resin. 
• Temperature matters — warmer rooms speed things up for both. 
• Don’t rush the demold on epoxy — it’s worth the wait for clean edges. 
• Eco resin is super beginner-friendly and great if you have kids or pets around (much lower fumes).

Would you like me to do a full video-style tutorial on one of these (or both) next? Or shall I show you how to create even more colour effects with these molds?

Drop a comment below and tell me — which one is your favourite? The glowing pink or the happy gradient? 

Thanks so much for reading, lovely crafters! 

Happy casting! 🌿🏠✨ 

Helen x 

How to Make Beautiful Resin Skulls & Crescent Moons

Eco Resin + Epoxy Resin Tutorial

Hey everyone! Welcome back to Helen’s How-To!   Today I’m showing you how I created these two fun pieces: a glowing turquoise skull and a dramatic red crescent moon. Both were made using simple silicone molds I purchased online, and yes — I use the same molds for both eco resin and epoxy resin without any problems, as long as I keep them clean.

Here’s a peek at the pieces in progress:

Resin Skull and Moon Materials You’ll Need:

Silicone molds (skull and crescent moon) 
Eco Resin (for the skull) – great for the environment and easy to work with 
Epoxy Resin (for the moon) – gives a super clear, hard finish 
Acrylic paints or resin dyes/pigments (I used “Red Unicorn” paint for the moon) 
Mixing cups, stir sticks, and gloves 
UV Resin (optional, for small details or top coats) 
Paintbrushes for hand-painting details 
Sandpaper (if you want to smooth edges later) 
 
Step-by-Step Process:

Prepare Your Workspace 
Work in a well-ventilated area on a protected surface. Always wear gloves! 
Mix the Resin  For the skull: I mixed eco resin and added a little blue colouring directly into the mix before pouring.   

For the crescent moon: 

• I used clear epoxy resin and tinted it with vibrant red unicorn paint. 
• Pour into the Molds 
• Slowly pour the mixed resin into your molds. Tap gently to release air bubbles. Let them cure according to the product instructions (eco resin and epoxy have slightly different cure times). 
• Demold 
• Once fully cured, carefully flex the flexible silicone molds and pop out your pieces. They come out beautifully detailed every time! 
• Hand-Painting & Details (This is the fun part!) 
• Most of the beautiful colour on the skull was added after demolding using acrylic paints and metallic accents. 
• The moon got its rich red from the tinted epoxy, but you can always add extra shading and highlights by hand. 

Finishing Touches 
These two pieces aren’t fully finished yet! Next steps will include sealing with a clear coat (matte or gloss), adding extra metallic details, or even a layer of UV resin for extra shine and protection. 
 
Helpful Tips:

• Keep your silicone molds clean between uses — a quick wipe with isopropyl alcohol works great. 
• Eco resin and epoxy both work well in the same molds. 
• Experiment with colours! Mixing a bit of pigment into the resin gives a translucent glow, while hand-painting gives you full artistic control. 
• Have fun with it — these pieces are perfect for altars, desks, bookshelves, or gifts. 

Would you like to try making your own magical resin creations? Let me know in the comments which piece you love more — the skull or the moon!  I’ll be back soon with the finished versions and more resin projects.  Happy crafting!

New Resin Art Piece Venetian Mask

New Resin Art Piece: Venetian Mask on a Swirling Epoxy Background

I just finished creating this colourful Venetian-style mask plaque, and I’m really excited to share it with you!

The centerpiece is a detailed ResinCrete mask in shimmering shades of blue, gold, and silver. I love working with ResinCrete — it’s much less odorous than traditional epoxy, making the whole process more enjoyable. The mask has beautiful ornate details with metallic finishes that catch the light beautifully.

Behind it sits a vibrant epoxy resin plaque with a flowing, marbled design in rich purples, magentas, deep blues, and bright turquoises. The scalloped edges give it an elegant, organic feel, and the glossy finish really makes the colours pop.

Right now the mask and background are separate pieces, but I’m planning to mount the ResinCrete mask onto the epoxy plaque to create one cohesive wall art piece. I think the combination will look stunning once they’re joined! I always enjoy the creative process with these materials. While some epoxies can have a stronger smell, there are lower-odor options available, and ResinCrete continues to be my favourite go-to for pieces like this.

What do you think of this Venetian mask design? Would you display something like this in your home? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! 

The White Wolf ResinCrete Candle Holder

A Mystical Guardian for Your Sacred Space

Meet my latest creation — a striking white wolf ResinCrete candle holder that brings wild, ethereal beauty straight from the forest into your home. This detailed wolf head sculpture isn’t just decorative; it’s fully functional, designed to cradle a standard pillar candle (approximately 1–1.5 inches / 25–38 mm in diameter). Light it up, and the soft glow will illuminate those piercing eyes and flowing mane, creating an enchanting, almost spiritual ambiance.

Crafted with my go-to ResinCrete mix (10:3 ratio — 100 g ResinCrete to 30 g water, never exceeding 200 g to 60 g for a single pour), this piece captures incredible fine detail: every strand of fur, the elegant swirl on the forehead, the alert ears, and that proud, knowing expression. ResinCrete sets fast, so I had everything prepped — mold, tools, and the included styrofoam filler — before mixing even began. The filler is crucial here because this mold pours upside down. It keeps the candle cavity perfectly shaped and clean during the pour and cure.

Once cured and demolded, I gave him a black nose and added a subtle silvery shimmer to the eyes for that mystical “glow” effect. I’m planning to keep the rest mostly white, with just light washes of grey in the deeper fur textures to enhance dimension while preserving that clean, icy white wolf aesthetic. The raw white ResinCrete has such a beautiful, stone-like quality on its own — it feels ancient and timeless.

Why This Wolf Feels Special

Wolves have long symbolized intuition, loyalty, and connection to the wild spirit. This candle holder version turns that symbolism into something practical and beautiful. Place it on your altar, bedside table, mantle, or meditation space. When the candle is lit, the light dances across the sculpted fur and reflects softly in those metallic eyes, making the whole piece come alive.

It pairs wonderfully with the other ResinCrete fantasy pieces I’ve been creating lately — the mystical cat masks, ornate face masks, and playful dragon sculptures. Together they build a cohesive collection of mythical decor that appeals to fantasy lovers, pagan/witchy aesthetics, and anyone who appreciates handmade, one-of-a-kind art.

Tips from My ResinCrete Journey

Fast set time means preparation is everything. Have your mold level, filler inserted properly, and all tools within reach. 
The included styrofoam spacer in the mold kit made this pour much easier than it could have been — highly recommended to use it exactly as instructed. 
ResinCrete takes acrylic paint beautifully. A little goes a long way for subtle highlights like the nose and eyes. I’m keeping this one mostly natural white to let the sculptural details shine. 
 
This white wolf candle holder is still in progress — I may add a few more delicate grey tones or even a touch of metallic dry-brushing later — but I already love how he’s turning out. He feels like a guardian spirit watching over the creative chaos of my workspace.

Would you display a white wolf like this with a lit candle, or do you prefer your candle holders purely sculptural? Are you team “keep it mostly white” or would you go bolder with full fantasy colouring? Let me know in the comments!

More ResinCrete pieces (including painted versions and new molds) are coming soon. If you’re into handmade candle holders, wolf decor, ResinCrete crafts, fantasy home accents, stay tuned to thoughtstoyou.com — I’ll be sharing the full process, painting steps, and shop updates.

Thanks for following along on this creative journey. Your encouragement keeps the molds pouring and the ideas flowing! 

Magdelene 
thoughtstoyou.com 
Handcrafted with heart, one fast-setting batch at a time.