Dream Big Butterfly Window – Resin Craft
Phew, what a week. I’ve been working on about 5 different projects simultaneously. The biggest accomplishment this week was my screened porch makeover. I have been itching to make it an outdoor living and relaxing room for about 4 years now. Well, it is about 95% done. And to celebrate, Pretty Handsome Guy and I slept outside on the porch last night.
One of the projects I completed for the porch was an old curbside window that I turned into a unique piece of art using a product that ETI sent me. The product is called EnviroTex Lite and it is a high gloss resin polymer compound used for sealing and protecting arts, crafts, jewelry, countertops and more!
I am thrilled with my art project and it looks fabulous hanging up in our porch.
I have to admit, I was a little scared of the EnviroTex Lite. Especially when I read the part in the instructions about using a propane torch! I had visions of having to rent a welder’s helmet and lighting a big propane torch. YIKES!
Well, my fears were unfounded, and I ended up using a bic lighter like this one:Â The utility lighter was more within my comfort level. And the prep and pouring steps were easier than I had envisioned. Won’t you come along to see how I made it?
My beautiful butterfly window started out looking like this:
Someone was throwing away these old windows. So, as usual, I slammed on the brakes (as my kids expressed their disgust at me) and saved them from the landfill. It took a lot of scraping, cleaning and painting to get them in a presentable state, but I’ll show you those steps in another tutorial. Let’s just fast forward to a clean shabby chic painted window for times sake.
Creating the Art:
Big Butterfly Window Materials:
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- Cardstock weight scrapbook paper
- Cardstock letter paper
- Butterfly hole punch
- Real Butterfly Wings (found in my yard from a cat’s discarded hunt remains)
- Glitter
- Mod podge
- Small cup (to pour mod podge into)
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
- Eye bolts for hanging
- Rope for hanging
Start by cutting out paper letters and punching out butterflies until your thumbs are sore. Then lay out the design on the window panes.
When you are happy with the design, anchor everything onto the window using mod podge. Paint a thin layer of mod podge on the back of each letter and paper butterfly. Then pressed them down onto the window panes. This step is important as it keeps everything in place while pouring the resin.
Use extreme caution with the butterfly wings so as not to break them or brush too much of the color off.
Gently press the wings onto the window. You may need to replace the butterfly’s body with a paper one so it doesn’t stick up above the resin. (My poor butterfly was bodiless. I think the cat ate it. I just hope my winged friend didn’t suffer.)
Before the mod podge can dry completely, carefully wipe any excess off the window. If you leave some mod podge exposed on the window, it will be immortalized in the resin forever!
Rub on transfers work perfectly for the butterfly’s missing antennae.
Big Butterfly Window Materials:
Included in the EnviroTex Lite kit:
- Bottle of Resin
- Bottle of Hardener
- 2 Mixing Cups
- Stir Sticks
- Rubber gloves
- Disposable brush
Not included in the kit:
- Utility lighter
- Glitter
- Protective plastic to cover work surface
- Exhaust fan (set up in a window to pull fumes away and out of the room)
- Dust mask
- Eye goggles
- Level
Set the window on the protective plastic. Set the level on top of the window. Â Check both directions and prop up your piece using shims under the window or under the table legs until the window is completely level. Skipping this step will result in the resin puddling in the corners of each pane and leaving an inconsistent depth.
Put on your protective gloves, dust mask and eye goggles. And don’t forget to turn on the exhaust fan. No need to fry your brain during this project.
Pour equal amounts of each bottle into the first cup.
Stir the resin and hardener mixture thoroughly with the wooden stick. Be sure to scrape the sides of the cup. Then pour the mixture into the second cup. And thoroughly mix the mixture again. Failure to follow these directions could result in a BAD CRAFT-FAIL! So, just follow those directions. Okay?
After your mixture is thoroughly mixed, begin by pouring small amounts into the center of each pane. (I only poured the resin into the four panes that had objects pasted on them.)
Use the brush to gently spread the resin mixture to the edges of each pane. The resin will level itself as it dries.
After the resin is spread evenly, sprinkle some glitter around the letters and butterflies.
After a few minutes little bubbles will rise to the top of the resin. Use the lighter several inches above the project to pop the air bubbles. (I think I had more fun popping bubbles than any other step!)
Check back after about 5-10 minutes and pop any newly formed bubbles. Let the resin dry overnight (at least 4-5 hours. Times may vary depending on temperature and humidity.)
When the resin is completely hardened, use a drill bit to drill holes in the top of the window.
Then insert eye bolts on each side.
Thread some rope through the eye bolts and hang your new piece of art!
I just love how the beauty of the butterfly is preserved in the resin forever!Â
This project was a lot of fun, and the results truly exceeded my expectations. I did not pour any resin in the top two window panes. The panes that do have the resin are completely transparent and look exactly as clear as the naked panes.
What do you think? Would you try a resin art project yourself?
Disclaimer:Â ETI sent me EnviroTex Lite to try out. I was not paid or compensated for this post. My opinions and critique of the product are honest, truthful and my own.
You won’t believe all that you can do with this product. Envirotex Lite was created by Environmental Technologies Inc. (ETI), which is the home for many resin and mold making products.
The use of resin in jewelry making, mixed media and paper arts continues to grow in popularity. Today, artists are using ETI’s products in many crafty ways and they will be showcasing these works of art on their new blog “Resin Crafts”.
Check out ETI on:
Resin Crafts Blog | ETI on Facebook | ETI on Twitter
I’m really excited to try this! Thanks for the awesome post! It looks so fantastic 🙂
Coolest resin project yet! Love it. It’s beautiful. )but of course it is…you made it!) 🙂
Ha, ha. You are too funny. Have you used resin before? It is really cool stuff. You’d like it, oh crafty paper scraps queen.
Your art looks amazing! I love that you preserved the real butterfly wings, and I also love that you guys slept on the porch 🙂 Sounds so fun!
Thank you for sharing your great idea!
Katie, thanks for your comment. It was fun sleeping on the porch, but I’m done with that for a while. Air mattresses are not as comfy as a memory foam ;-(.
It’s fabulous! Great idea – the utility lighter. I wish I’d thought of it. I was too freaked out to pour the resin indoors but it turned out okay, even in cooler temps.
Love the butterflies. Just make me smile 😀
I was freaked about pouring indoors as well, but ultimately had to because of the heat and humidity.
Oh and I was seriously freaked about the propane torch we supposedly needed! ;-D
Brittany
This is beautiful! How fun that you have real butterfly wings. Great idea for the resin!
Fun for me, not for the butterfly. Sometimes I like the neighbor’s cat when he gets moles and voles. But the butterflies and birds always makes me mad at him!
Thanks for your comment.
I love old window projects and yours turned out beautifully! You are very creative! Lesa
I love your butterfly window. Thanks for the tutorial as I’m a bit rusty on that application. I once did a 5 foot (after trimming off bad spots) rattlesnake on a table I made and did a wood burning of the sink hole where my husband found the snake on our property. I have painted a beach scene on a window for my daughter but had never thought of this idea. You are so clever and do such a wonderful job sharing your knowledge and capabilities with those of us that are not as confident in ourselves to take on the task. You inspire many to do it yourself and I just want to know I appreciate your efforts in doing so.
Alice, wow a 5 ft. rattlesnake! Do you have any pictures? I’ve seen several painted scenes on windows. I bet the resin would really protect the painting and add that layer of depth and shine to it.
Thanks for your sweet comment.
So pretty! I LOVE glitter and I’m really into butterflies lately so I just <3 this project!
Yanet, I love glitter that can’t flake off and land on my face when I have to meet a client. This glitter is now permanently sealed in resin. Hooray!
Oh my gosh this is so pretty. I will have to make note of this and see if I can make something similar next year after we have moved back to Norway.
Marianne, thanks for your sweet comment. Best of luck on your move back to Norway. Where are you living now?
AMAZING! Your window turned out beautiful! I really, really, love it! : )
That is so pretty, well done. Great job.
Wow. Just…wow. I had not idea such a product was available! Thanks for all the tips…love the glitter!
Korrie, thanks and isn’t it great when you can find a way to use glitter ;-). So shiny & sparkly!!!
Great project! Now to just find a window. Thanks for sharing.
You and me both. I’m obsessed with windows lately. I can’t wait to share my artist’s memo board! Yeeps, I’m excited!
So what other ideas do you have.. I have gotten 2 little 4 panes, 3 med with 6 panes and a large Oglong single pane with no dividers… I am very interested in do something really neat with them all ,However I’m not sure butterflies will do for me.. It is Beautiful tho… MY brother is into Gnomes and my mom Bassett Hounds, so I had thought about maybe on the long one doing a gnome with a BHound beside him. however I am not sure.. Please send me any ideas >> Thanks…. Actually this could go out to anyone who reads this…. I wanted to do something for her for easter Yeah but here we are 2 days before and nothing but The Pane is here.. LOL Happy Easter…. have a great day .
Tracy, I think you could do anything you want. Let your imagination soar. You can use cut paper, stickers, pressed flowers, leaves or anything that is flat enough to be coated by the resin.
Fabulous project!!! (=
WOW!!! It turned out so great!! I love it! And perfect for the summer time! Great job. Thanks for sharing!!