Retro Craft: Vintage Resin Lucite Grapes DIY
Are you familiar with Resin Grapes? In the 50's this is what the women liked making...it's fun to see bunches of grapes in older ladies homes. Commonly called Lucite grapes. I decided it was the perfect craft to revive and make a bunch for myself. My mother in law has a set of purple resin grapes, but I decided to go with shades of blue and green. I'm obsessed with blue. If you can't already tell!
Supplies Needed:
- 18 Glass Ornaments (preferably clear)
- Blue and Green Translucent Dye
- Mixing Cups, Stirring Sticks, Disposable Gloves
- 16 Gauge soft Wire
- 12 inch Tree Branch
- Wire cutters/Pliers
- Egg Carton
- Drill bit to fit the wire and Drill
DIRECTIONS
Begin by pulling the ornament hardware out of the ornaments. Place them with the openings up in the egg carton tray. I used ornaments that have a metallic leafing inside the glass…so when I peeled my glass off, some of the silver leafing stayed behind.
Use clear glass if you don’t like the silver effect. Spray one spritz of mold release inside each ornament and work it around the inside.
Fill one ornament with water and pour it out into a measured cup…that will let you know how much liquid each ball holds. Mine were just over 1 ounce each. I mixed up about 6 ounces of resin at a time so I could mix a variety of colors. Mix the resin according to the package directions. 1 part of resin and 1 part of the hardener, mix gently for 2 minutes. Then pour the mixed resin into a second cup and use a new stick to stir for 1 more minute.
Next, add a few drops of green and one or 2 of blue. I did some mixes darker and some lighter…some more green and some more blue. The variety of the colors in my bunch of grapes is surprisingly pleasing. Mix the color in thoroughly before pouring.
After mixing, carefully pour the resin into each ornament. Then pour slowly and try to get the resin all the way full in the ball but not in the neck part…or it will take the grinder to remove them later.
Continue filling the ornaments with colored resin in the same fashion. Then let them sit undisturbed for 24 hours. I mixed resin several times to fill all 18 ornaments, using nearly all the 32 ounce box.
The next day clank 2 ornaments together deep inside a box. Again: wear gloves, some eye protection and work outside or in a garage. The glass these ornaments will shatter into shards as pictured below.
By hitting the ornaments into themselves, they break and the glass peels off significantly easier. Although, I had a few tough spots that I had to scrape with a small spatula. Then clean them all in warm, soapy water.
See how much silver leafing stayed behind as a result? Regardless, I did not know this would happen until I tried it…but I love the effect too!
Next, I sent my son out to the garage to sand off the nubs and drill a 1 inch hole in each ball for 6 inches of wire. Then push in some wire and then add a couple drops of super glue.
Then push a wire through the hole and wrap the remaining wire tightly around the branch.
Now, drill holes as needed and keep adding resin balls. Ultimately, tuck the wire around the grapes as you work.
Next, fill in gaps too by adding colorful resin balls. Keep the resin grapes as close to the stick as possible at the end and gradually further away as you work your way up…giving it an obviously distinct grape cluster look.
The range of colors is uniquely stunning–I love the bright pops of aqua! Awesome, right?! It's like a time machine taking you back to the 1950's! I love reviving fun vintage crafts.
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