Nooby Keycap Edition - First Timer

[Meika]

The more I read stuff about people making their own artisan keycaps (or the fact that there isn't much available in my area), the more I got inspired to make my own as well.

I am so far behind since I barely have the proper equipment (pressure pots. I'm forced to pray to the bubble gods just so I could have a smooth finish (no luck on that either ) Here is the first batch I was able to make and hopefully I could get better 






and then there's this gem 

I mean, look at that hole lol

But yea... hoping to get better in time and finally be able to apply the designs that I really wanna do  (and maybe make not only the girliest but the cutest keycap you'll ever see   ) )

[Bambino]

Good luck!

[alveeno]

Not bad! You'll probably want to reinforce the undersides of those caps and the walls next

[Meika]

Thank you!

And you're right about the sides. I honestly want to make a good blank first before I proceed to sculpting (totally not bcos of my OCD kicking in.Nope.) I still have so much to learn but it's nice to hear support from people 

[Meika]

After a while of contemplating what I should sculpt, I finally decided to make a jellyfish. I tried to capture its same clear glow and just played around with the dyes that I have.

Here is the original sculpted clay:


and here it is, with the resin version on my keyboard. Room lights on:


and then with the lights off:


Still a lot to learn in making models since some parts broke off. Apparently I made the head part too thin that the mold barely formed around it but I think it looks okay. In the dark   )

[Meika]

Hello! So here's a little update. I made a piggy yesterday and I thought I'd share it.



I forgot how fun it was to make figures using polymer clay but it's not so easy to turn them into a keycap. Some of the problems I encounter is that its too big or that it's too protruding that either the resin/mold couldn't fully form around it (not to forget those irritating bubbles rawr). So here I am, back at doing the simple stuff first. Hopefully in the future I can make something as detailed as what the others do.

My next aim is to make a rooster for the incoming Lunar year 

[pinkizhip]

Hey nice work so far! Those jelly fish are looking sweet.

[Zorberema]

Hello! So here's a little update. I made a piggy yesterday and I thought I'd share it.

Show Image

I forgot how fun it was to make figures using polymer clay but it's not so easy to turn them into a keycap. Some of the problems I encounter is that its too big or that it's too protruding that either the resin/mold couldn't fully form around it (not to forget those irritating bubbles rawr). So here I am, back at doing the simple stuff first. Hopefully in the future I can make something as detailed as what the others do.

My next aim is to make a rooster for the incoming Lunar year  ^-^

These look better with the bubbles already! My tip is to stay away from transparent resin until you've gotten pressure equipment - it's close to impossible to remove bubbles in it, and the final turnout often turns out cloudy and unclean.

[Meika]

Hey nice work so far! Those jelly fish are looking sweet.

I swear, small encouragements like this is a big booster. Thank you! <3

[Meika]

Hello! So here's a little update. I made a piggy yesterday and I thought I'd share it.

Show Image

I forgot how fun it was to make figures using polymer clay but it's not so easy to turn them into a keycap. Some of the problems I encounter is that its too big or that it's too protruding that either the resin/mold couldn't fully form around it (not to forget those irritating bubbles rawr). So here I am, back at doing the simple stuff first. Hopefully in the future I can make something as detailed as what the others do.

My next aim is to make a rooster for the incoming Lunar year  ^-^

These look better with the bubbles already! My tip is to stay away from transparent resin until you've gotten pressure equipment - it's close to impossible to remove bubbles in it, and the final turnout often turns out cloudy and unclean.

Thank you! I really appreciate receiving advice from good makers like you :) I feel glad to be part of the community!

[bmmcwhirt]

These instructions are for casting plaster for miniature scenery but a lot of the methods and procedures still apply. Make sure you check out the advanced casting to as there are some great tips on reducing bubbles to 0.

http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/casting.html

http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/advanced.html

[Meika]

These instructions are for casting plaster for miniature scenery but a lot of the methods and procedures still apply. Make sure you check out the advanced casting to as there are some great tips on reducing bubbles to 0.

http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/casting.html

http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/advanced.html

thank you very much for these!

[bmmcwhirt]

...

http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/casting.html

http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/advanced.html

thank you very much for these!

You are quite welcome. I'm a fan of art and look forward to you making great things.    And if you have fun along the way even better. I don't have links handy but there are also a ton of special effects casting and molding videos on youtube. I watch a lot of them, every once in a while you will find a tip that you didn't know. Casting I can do, I probably need a whole lot of work as sculpting though.

[Meika]

...

http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/casting.html

http://www.hirstarts.com/casting/advanced.html

thank you very much for these!

You are quite welcome. I'm a fan of art and look forward to you making great things.    And if you have fun along the way even better. I don't have links handy but there are also a ton of special effects casting and molding videos on youtube. I watch a lot of them, every once in a while you will find a tip that you didn't know. Casting I can do, I probably need a whole lot of work as sculpting though.

Oh man, that's so encouraging coming from you ❤ Thank you. I actually am having fun making these things and when I'm in the zone, I just keep on sculpting different kinds (altho for now, only one ever survives the mold/resin test lol) I will definitely look at those casting effects. I'm not saying I'm a pro on sculpting but it really is with casting that I need more experience. Again, thank you! 

[Meika]

Hello!

Because of the incoming Lunar New Year, I decided to make my own Year of the Rooster keycap



It was my first time to do some coloring using resin, and well, it was too late til I learned that I had to wait, not half cured but fully, before I could pour the next colored resin. Another day of higher learning  )

But at least the butt stem was good Although I think I did some mistake with the color that's why the lower part had that effect. The white part tried to bubble out of the blue color (I swear I used green but it turned blue!)


Cheers to less holey bubbles! 

[pinkizhip]

The lessions never stop. Even though the bottom of this cap didn't turned out the way you planned I think it looks really kewl.  A happy accident you may want to try and recreate.
It's a very cute cap. I like this design better than the jelly rooster.
Keep up the good work! I'm loving the progress.

[ReadmeDotTxt]

Hello!

Because of the incoming Lunar New Year, I decided to make my own Year of the Rooster keycap

Show Image

It was my first time to do some coloring using resin, and well, it was too late til I learned that I had to wait, not half cured but fully, before I could pour the next colored resin. Another day of higher learning  :))

But at least the butt stem was good :D Although I think I did some mistake with the color that's why the lower part had that effect. The white part tried to bubble out of the blue color (I swear I used green but it turned blue!)

Show Image

Cheers to less holey bubbles! 

That's a pretty cute rooster you got there.

[Meika]

The lessions never stop. Even though the bottom of this cap didn't turned out the way you planned I think it looks really kewl.  A happy accident you may want to try and recreate.
It's a very cute cap. I like this design better than the jelly rooster.
Keep up the good work! I'm loving the progress.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENT EVER  Thank you! 

[Meika]

Hello!

Because of the incoming Lunar New Year, I decided to make my own Year of the Rooster keycap

Show Image

It was my first time to do some coloring using resin, and well, it was too late til I learned that I had to wait, not half cured but fully, before I could pour the next colored resin. Another day of higher learning  :))

But at least the butt stem was good :D Although I think I did some mistake with the color that's why the lower part had that effect. The white part tried to bubble out of the blue color (I swear I used green but it turned blue!)

Show Image

Cheers to less holey bubbles! 

That's a pretty cute rooster you got there.

I'm planning to remake it and add a little more details but I'm happy you noticed  Thank you!

[Meika]

Hello!

Here I am again, trying something new. I have been fascinated with raw crystals ever since I discovered them. I tried researching before how I could recreate it but the materials needed weren't available locally. Then I discovered resin and it's like the magic tool I have always needed! And yknow, why not make it a keycap? 

Hope you like it as much as I do!   

[tinymakesthings]

Your stuff is looking pretty nice 

[stoic-lemon]

I really love that crystal design. I'd love to see those in different colours on a board.

[ReadmeDotTxt]

I like the crystal idea. The color is nice and vibrant. Next step make it glow?!?!

[Meika]

Your stuff is looking pretty nice 

thank you very much! ❤

[Meika]

I really love that crystal design. I'd love to see those in different colours on a board.

Yessssssss. That's the plan. Gonna make sapphire, emerald etc thank you!

[Meika]

I like the crystal idea. The color is nice and vibrant. Next step make it glow?!?!

Yes o7 I am currently playing with colors right now and testing them to see how to make them glow real good! Thank you! ❤

[swangful]

After a while of contemplating what I should sculpt, I finally decided to make a jellyfish. I tried to capture its same clear glow and just played around with the dyes that I have.

Here is the original sculpted clay:

Show Image

and here it is, with the resin version on my keyboard. Room lights on:

Show Image

and then with the lights off:

Show Image

This is awesome!!!

I imagine any board with a LED breathing function can really make this cap come alive.

Still a lot to learn in making models since some parts broke off. Apparently I made the head part too thin that the mold barely formed around it but I think it looks okay. In the dark   :))

[Meika]

After a while of contemplating what I should sculpt, I finally decided to make a jellyfish. I tried to capture its same clear glow and just played around with the dyes that I have.

Here is the original sculpted clay:

Show Image

and here it is, with the resin version on my keyboard. Room lights on:

Show Image

and then with the lights off:

Show Image

This is awesome!!!

I imagine any board with a LED breathing function can really make this cap come alive.

Still a lot to learn in making models since some parts broke off. Apparently I made the head part too thin that the mold barely formed around it but I think it looks okay. In the dark   :))

It does, yea  :D I was just staring at the crystal keycap that I made with the breathing function on my mkb just now and it reminds me of those game/anime scenes that involves magic  ^-^ Thank you btw!!

[Meika]

There are some good days and there are some bad days when your mold decides to f u up.

Color was on point but somehow didn't cure right:



I still think it's cute tho heh.

[pinkizhip]

There are some good days and there are some bad days when your mold decides to f u up.

Color was on point but somehow didn't cure right:

Show Image

I still think it's cute tho heh.

I totally feel you there. I just had a batch of sexy space caps come out with some soft bits :(
I still think it looks cute too! I quite enjoy this design, awesome photo as well. Keep up the good work!

[Wylte]

There are some good days and there are some bad days when your mold decides to f u up.

Color was on point but somehow didn't cure right:

Show Image

I still think it's cute tho heh.

Very cool, glad to see an update!  Hope more casts are coming out good than bad, at least.

[Meika]

There are some good days and there are some bad days when your mold decides to f u up.

Color was on point but somehow didn't cure right:

Show Image

I still think it's cute tho heh.

I totally feel you there. I just had a batch of sexy space caps come out with some soft bits :(
I still think it looks cute too! I quite enjoy this design, awesome photo as well. Keep up the good work!

Noooo! Not the space caps! I love those work of yours. I guess this is the hard part of handmade stuff. These past month where I have been continually sculpting and casting made me realize how hard this is (esp that time I did 5 castings at the same time and they were all screwed up bcos of one little mistake I did). The effort and time poured into it is tough but once you see the final product, makes it all worth it. It really is a learning process.