How to Preserve a Rose in Resin? - Complete Guide with Tutorial

When it comes to roses, the best way to maintain their beauty forever is to preserve them in resin. This method not only lasts your flowers forever but also turns it into a stunning decoration or meaningful gift. But you may wonder how to preserve a rose in resin? No worries, we’ll show you 10 steps to preserve your rose in epoxy! 

Step 1: Choose the Rose

This is the first step when you're trying to answer ‘how to preserve a rose in resin’. A favorable rose within the resin will make you can’t stop immersing in its beauty. Here are some tips on how to choose a rose for resin preservation:

• Choose a rose that is in full bloom: The petals should be fully open and the color should be vibrant.
• Avoid roses with blemishes or imperfections:  The resin will magnify any flaws, so it is important to choose a perfect rose.
• Consider the size of the rose: If you are preserving the rose in a small mold, you will need to choose a smaller rose.
• Choose a rose that has a strong stem: The stem will help to support the rose in the resin and prevent it from floating around.

There’re many different types of roses for you to choose from. But here are some of the most stunning ones for resin that we’ve ever tried: 

Type of Rose	Prices
Hybrid tea roses	$35
Damask roses	$22
Floribunda roses	$35
Carnation roses	$36.75
Peony roses	$28.90 - $48

The price list above is for reference only. You can buy roses from a store or cut them from a rose bush. However, we suggest buying as the shop will carefully select the flower for you to have a stunning rose in epoxy.

Step 2: Prepare the supplies

To have your rose preserved in resin successfully, here’re some supplies that we recommend you have:

Materials	Notes
Resin	You'll use resin to encapsulate the epoxy roses, creating a clear protective layer and preserving them in a solid form. There are different types of resin for you. However, Epoxy resin is the best option as it is versatile, durable and gives a clear finish. You can buy them from popular brands, including ArtResin, EasyCast, and Envirotex.
Hardener	A hardener is a chemical that is added to the resin to make it cure and harden. Make sure that the hardener is compatible with the resin base that you are using.
Mold	A mold will contain your resin and allow it to replicate the mold’s shape.  Choose a mold with a favorable shape and size to fit comfortably without excessive empty space. Silicone molds would be perfect to preserve roses in resin as it’s flexible and stable. Also, it is easy for you to remove once the resin turns solid.
Heat gun	A heat gun can be used to gently heat the resin and pop the air bubbles. It also speeds up the curing process and helps the resin cure evenly.  If there are any dust particles or other imperfections in the resin, you can use a heat gun to melt them away. We suggest the Wagner Furno 300 as it is powerful, versatile, and easy to use.
Sealant spray	The sealant spray can help you lock in the color and moisture of the rose.  It is also a protective barrier between your rose and the resin, helping to maintain its appearance. Mod Podge Resin Sealer is our priority, as it is a water-based, clear sealant that is specifically designed for resin.
Tweezers	Tweezers will help you position the rose in epoxy without damaging it.  You can also remove air bubbles and dust particles with it.
Masks & gloves	Remember to have your gloves on to avoid your skin contacting the resin.  Also, you must wear a mask, as the resin fumes can harm your health.   You can buy these qualified supplies on Amazon.
Mixing cups & stirring sticks	To stir your resin safely, you must have a mixing kit.  Use a glass cup with the measurement on it to measure the resin amount.  It's best to use a disposable stick that can be thrown away when finished.

As a professional, there are some equipment that we properly do not need to have in the process. However, to make sure that you will have the best result in your first time without any injuries, please prepare all of them.

Step 3: Remove leaves or thorns (Optional)

When preserving a rose in resin, removing the leaves and thorns from the stem is a good idea to reduce air bubbles in your mixture. Plus, the removal can make the process smoother and prevent potential issues with durability, as leaves and thorns can discolor or decay over time. However, remember to leave some leaves so that you can add a touch of personality to the epoxy rose with your customized designs.

If you cut the leaves and thorns, don’t throw them away. Consider preserving them separately and arranging them alongside your preserved rose for a lovely and lasting display.

Step 4: Dry the Rose

Drying your preserved roses in resin is crucial to maintain their shape and colors while in the resin. Here’re the best ways that we’ve tried to dry my roses: 

Method	Steps	Pros	Cons
Air drying	Hanging the rose upside down in a cool, dark, and ventilated place.  Tie the stems together with a string or rubber band and hang them on.  Be patient until your epoxy roses are completely dried.	Inexpensive  Maintains natural shape and color  Minimal equipment needed	Takes about 2-3 weeks to dry May be affected by humidity
Pressed drying	Place the rose between two sheets of parchment paper Close the book  Put heavy stuff on top.	Maintain shape and color Requires minimal equipment Simple method	Takes several weeks Limited to flat, 2D results
Silica gel	Place a layer of silica gel in the bottom of a container Place the rose on top of the silica gel Cover the rose with another layer of silica gel Seal the container and place it in a cool, dry place	Quick drying Preserves shape and color  Can be reused	Cost money May be toxic  Requires an airtight container
Microwave drying	Place the rose between two paper towels Microwave the epoxy roses in short intervals (about 30 seconds).  Renew the papers and repeat this process until it is dry.	Fast drying Preserves color  Requires minimal equipment	Risk of overheating and scorching petals May not maintain the shape well
Oven drying	Preheat the oven to its lowest setting, (170°F-200°F) Place the roses on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper Bake the roses for 1-2 hours	Time-saving Preserve colors	May make it brittle Can damage the rose

Depending on your purpose and budget, you can try a method that brings the best result. One fact is that you can use these methods to dry other kinds of flowers for resin preservation.

Step 5: Mix the Resin and hardener

You can watch the following video to understand clearly how to mix the resin and hardener correctly:

First, we need to measure the amount of liquid that fits the mold size. Usually, there will be a number at the bottom of the mold for you to figure out. However, if it is not available, you can know it by filling the mold with water and pouring that water into the measuring cup.

Pour the resin into the measuring cup. Using disposable measuring cups is a great idea because resin can be quite stubborn to clean off. With disposable cups, you can keep your regular measuring cups safe from any accidental resin mishaps.

Have some catalyst (hardener) drops into the resin. You should follow the manufacturer's instructions to mix the epoxy resin and hardener in the correct ratio. Usually, the common resin-hardener ratio is 2:1 or 1:1 . Using a hardener will help your resin cure easily with the heat created.

Gently stir the mixture with a clean disposable stick thoroughly for 3 minutes to ensure that it has turned into a proper blend so that the hardener can get activated. When the liquids are fully mixed, just allow your cup to stand for about a minute just to let any bubbles rise to the top and disappear. Don’t forget to throw the stick away and wash your measuring cup after mixing the resin to avoid damage from the resin.  

The ideal environment for creating the mixture should have a temperature of 24-30℃. Remember to wear gloves to prevent skin contact and safety goggles to shield your eyes. Also, you should work in a well-ventilated area and wear your mask to avoid inhaling fumes.

Step 6: Pour Resin into the bottom of the Mold

Place the epoxy rose into the mold but face up so that the bubbles created by the petals can rise to the surface and pop naturally. Then, continue pouring a small amount of resin into the mold, covering the bottom slightly. All you have to do now is to wait until it becomes solid and fill the rest of the mold.

Some of you may wonder ‘Why should I make several pours instead of only one?’ The answer is that pouring one time may damage your roses. As the mixture can create heat, it can make the flowers negatively change during the curing process. Therefore, several pours will help you reduce this risk.

However, if you want to make a floating effect, don’t put the roses in right away. we'll show you how to do it in the following step.

Step 7: Embed the Rose

We're sure that many of you will have the desire to have the floating effect in the resin. Some of you’ll merely put the flowers on the first layer and pour the rest of the mixture into the mold. However, this may make your roses move while you pour the mixture in, meaning that the result will not be as you expected.

Instead, we'll show you how to make this effect ideally with four steps, using two ice-cream sticks and a toothpick:

1. Merge two ice cream sticks together with a piece of tape

      2. Pierce the toothpick through the center of your rose

      3. Pierce the other side of the toothpick through the slit of the ice cream sticks

      4. Put the ice cream stick on the mold

You can see the following video to comprehend all the steps that we have just mentioned:

You can also use tweezers to position your roses firmly. Yet, this method may get you injured while pouring the rest of the resin-hadener mixture into the mold. If you want to make preserved roses in epoxy more vibrant, add some LEDs in your resin and it will lighten your result.

Step 8: Pour More Resin

Once your roses are placed nicely on the first layer, fill your mold with more resin. Pour the resin slowly into the mold, aiming the stream into the base of it and not onto the flowers. Pouring this way can help your roses in epoxy prevent heat damage.

Be cautious not to overfill the mold to avoid spillage, as it may make your stuff spoiled and even hurt you. I suggest you put some papers underneath the mold to make sure nothing bad will happen.

Step 9: Remove Air Bubble

When you mix the resin or pour it into the mold, air bubbles can appear. This is because air can get into the resin when it's stirred or is poured too quickly. The bubbles can also form if your mold is not cleaned and dried completely.

Removing air bubbles from the resin can help ensure a smooth and clear finish. Depending on your project size, different methods are suitable for your resin. Here are some ways you can remove air bubbles from the resin:

1 - Heat Gun

• Step 1: Prepare your heat gun and a pair of safety glasses.

• Step 2: Hold the heat gun or torch about 6 inches away from the resin. Move the heat gun or torch sweepingly over the resin surface.

• Step 3: Watch the air bubbles expand and pop.

2 - Vacuum Chamber 

• Step 1: Place the resin in a container that is large enough to allow for the vacuum to be created.

• Step 2: Place the container in the vacuum chamber and seal it.

• Step 3: Turn on the vacuum pump and wait for 1-2 minutes to remove air from the chamber, which will make the bubbles in the resin to rise to the surface.

3- Sharp stick

• Step 1: Prepare a sharp stick with a smooth tip, such as a toothpick or a skewer.

• Step 2: Clean and dry the sharp stick to prevent resin contamination.

• Step 3: Gently press the sharp stick into the bubbles until they all pop.

4- Vibrating table 

• Step 1: Place the resin mold on a vibrating table.

• Step 2: Turn on the vibrator and let it run for several minutes. While it’s vibrating, hold your cup to make sure it will not fall down. 

• Step 3: Watch the bubbles rise on the surface and be removed.

You can watch the video here to understand more about the process:

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Now, it is time to take a look at some pros and cons of each method: 

Method	Pros	Cons
Heat Gun	Takes quite a lot of time Minimal cost	Require some effort Requires caution to avoid overheating or scorching.
Vacuum Chamber	Time-saving Don’t need much effort	Requires specialized equipment
Sharp stick	Low cost	Risk of damaging the roses Time-consuming Need to be patient
Vibrating	Easy to do Don’t need much time	May not work for larger or deep molds. Require specialized equipment

If you are a beginner, we suggest you to use the sharp stick method. It is the least time-consuming, and least expensive method. It is also the safest method, with the lowest risk of damaging the resin.

Step 10: Cure the Resin

After removing the bubbles, you should place it in a place without dust and out of direct sunlight. You can even cover it with a container to protect it from dust particles.

Then, let the resin work its magic over the next 24 - 48 hours to become solid. During this time,  remember not to touch or move your project continually. 

Step 11: Remove the mold

When the resin has become solid, you need to carefully remove the rose preserved in resin from the silicone mold. Remember to prepare some padding to protect the result after you take it out.

If you can't peel the mold out, don't try to remove it hard because your project may break. Instead, pour soapy water into the mold to slick the resin hence you can remove it easily.

Step 12: Keep your Rose Forever

It’s time to enjoy your stunning result! You can definitely use a preserved rose in resin as a beautiful gift. It's a lovely, lasting token of affection that you can give with warmth and heartfelt sentiments. Whether for anniversaries, birthdays, or just to show your love, it's a charming and meaningful present that'll surely bring smiles.

The steps for preserving other flowers in resin and preserving roses in resin are quite similar. The main difference between preserving other flowers in resin and preserving roses in resin is that roses have thorns, which need to be removed before preserving the flower. Additionally, roses may need to be cut to a shorter length to fit in the resin mold.

If you still haven’t understood all the steps, you can check out the following video to clearly know how to preserve a rose in resin. 

Final thoughts

With a little practice, now you know how to create stunning resin-preserved roses that will impress your friends and family. Don’t hesitate anymore but make your beautiful roses last forever in the resin now!

FAQs

Can You Preserve A Rose In Epoxy Resin?

Of course, you can preserve a rose in epoxy resin. Epoxy resin is definitely an excellent choice to preserve your beautiful roses, as it can create a clear, solid project. Preserving a rose in epoxy resin is a creative and rewarding craft. You can display it, incorporate it into art, or even wear it as resin jewelry. 

How Do You Dry Roses Fast?

There are many ways for you to dry to rose quickly. However, to save your money, I suggest drying epoxy roses with a microwave. Place the roses on a microwave-safe plate and microwave on low for 30-40 seconds or until the petals are dry. Remember not to overcook the roses, or they will crumble.

How to prevent rose from turning brown in resin?

If you want to know how to preserve a rose in resin, here it is. Start by fully drying the roses. Spray the roses with sealants or varnish on both sides to lock in color. Then, you need to mix the resin-hardener in the correct ratio and pour it into the mold with arranged flowers in several times to reduce the heat damage. Finally, remove the air bubbles and cure your result in the airy space until it becomes solid.