Step-by-Step Process for Creating Eyes for Felt Pets

When it comes to needle felted pets, realistic eyes are crucial. While I initially used factory-made eyes, I found that creating custom eyes allows for greater accuracy and creativity. Here's how I make these lifelike eyes:

Materials and Tools Needed

UV lamp
Silicone molds (various diameters for different sizes)
Craft knife
Scissors
Pliers
Syringe
Clear nail polish
Resin liquid
Colored pencils
Sketching paper

Step-by-Step Process

Prepare the resin:

Begin by pouring the resin liquid into the silicone mold, carefully filling each cavity. If you notice any bubbles forming, use a syringe needle to gently remove them to ensure a smooth finish.

Add clear nail polish:

After pouring the resin, add a drop of clear nail polish to the surface. This step helps to blend the colors and enhances the transparency and shine of the glass eye.

UV light curing:

Place the mold under a UV lamp for curing. The curing time may vary depending on the power of your UV lamp and the type of resin used, but it typically takes about 10 minutes.

Remove the cured resin:

Once the resin is fully cured, gently remove the resin hemisphere from the mold. This piece will form the transparent part of the pet's eye.

Draw the pupil:

Using colored pencils, carefully draw the pupil and colored iris on sketching paper, matching the size of the glass eye. Create several versions to select the best match based on the pet's photo.

Assemble the eye:

Apply a small, even layer of glue to the back of the resin eye. Carefully press it onto the drawn eye on the sketch paper, making sure to check the positioning from multiple angles for accuracy.

Trim and shape:

Use a craft knife to make any final adjustments to the eye's shape and size. Then, use scissors to cut around the circular outline of the glass eye and sketch paper together, ensuring a clean and precise finish.

By following these steps, I create custom, handmade resin eyes that bring our needle felted pets to life. This process allows for greater detail and personalization, ensuring each felted pet truly captures the essence of its real-life counterpart.