I now have a very firm understanding of why you shouldn't use fresh flowers in resin. I have two delightful carnation bud designs that I neglected to even seal with Mod Podge, let alone allow to dry. They were beautiful, soft pink and took the resin wonderfully. But then they started to change. They are becoming a muddy, sickly color. The leaves and stems are starting to develop black spots. Overall, they turned from delightful to horrendous.
The greens went from vibrant and spring-like to pale and sickly. The pink was soft and sweet, now it's muddy and rotten.
But, the design and layout is still one of my favorites. I love the cluster of flowers from large to small, finishing with tiny, unopened buds. The resin coated the flowers wonderfully. A nice, even coat that isn't too thin so the flowers don't break. The second necklace is smaller, with just four buds, but there is still a nice variation in size and bloom. There must have been just enough air and moisture to allow the flowers to begin to rot. It is an interesting study in decay, however.
Once I get my hands on another bunch of buds I will definitely try this design again. I will continue my quest to find a way to dry and seal the flowers so I can preserve their form at their peak.
So, let this be a lesson to anyone who wants to cover flowers in resin. Drying them and sealing them is not optional. Unless you like muddy gross flowers that were formally gorgeous.
