Today, our lovely IOD Artisan Lynne Brundage welcomes us into her kitchen as she creates a darling Valentine’s Day gift using IOD Moulds and Transfers. You’ll watch her whip up scrumptious shortbread cookies, then dress up a simple wooden box with those lush florals from the Saint Germain Transfer.

And because Lynne always has a few tricks up her sleeve, she also shows how to make intricate resin gift tags using the Bibelots 2 Mould, with a little Saint Germain tucked in for a bespoke look. She shares helpful resin tips (like how to minimize bubbles and get your designs placed just right), then pulls it all together with the cookies, the tags, and a beautiful bow—ready for gifting and guaranteed to make someone feel extra loved. ❤️

• Bibelots 2 Mould

• Saint Germain Transfer

• The Waltz Stamp

• IOD Stone Grey Ink

• IOD Ink Pad

• Wooden Box
• Clear Epoxy Resin
• Black Chalk Type Paint*
• Clear Polyacrylic Finish
• Tissue Paper
• Clear Glossy Water-Based Varnish
• Metallic Paint
• Large Bow
• Gold Ribbon

*we used a chalk-type paint in this tutorial, but there are many brands and types of paint, talk to your stockist to learn which one is right for you!

STEP ONE: THE SHORTBREAD 

Start with a simple shortbread—three parts flour, two parts butter, one part sugar. Cream the sugar with room-temp butter until it’s well mixed and crumbly, then add your flour and bring it together just until it forms a soft dough.

Press the dough into your IOD mould, making sure it’s packed into all those lovely details. Use the mould’s micro rim as your guide for a clean edge—pressing with a measuring cup is a great way to apply even pressure without overworking the dough. Bake right in the silicone mould at 325°F for about 20 minutes.

Let the cookies cool briefly, then gently invert them onto a tray. Finish with a light dusting of confectioners’ sugar, and store in an airtight container to keep them tender and scrumptious.

STEP TWO: CRAFT RESIN GIFT TAGS

Next, let’s make the prettiest little gift tags using clear resin and the Bibelots 2 Mould. To help keep bubbles to a minimum, warm your resin components in warm water before mixing (and be sure to follow your manufacturer’s instructions exactly). Then pour into the mould and use a small tool to gently coax the resin into every nook and cranny.

This is a lovely way to use up those tiny transfer snippets you can’t bear to toss. Tuck a few scraps into the resin for a bespoke built-in design.

STEP THREE: DRESS UP YOUR GIFT BOX

florals—especially those luscious pinks and reds that are so perfect for Valentine’s Day. Once your florals are in place, finish with a glossy topcoat.

And don’t toss those little transfer leftovers! Trim out your favorite scraps and tuck them into corners, edges, and surprise spots around the box. It’s such a sweet way to stretch your materials and add extra layers of detail.

STEP FOUR: FINISHING TOUCHES

For a glossy finish on your resin castings, brush on a coat of clear Polycrylic. And if you want to take it a step further, try a little layering trick: stamp the IOD Waltz Stamp onto tissue paper, adhere it to the back of your casting with varnish, then tuck in a few Transfer bits on top for a rich finish. 

A touch of metallic wax on the mould frames is the cherry on top. Then finish by nestling your cookies into the gift box, adding tissue paper, and tying it together with a bow. 

Lynne packed this tutorial with so many fabulous tips and tricks, from getting those crisp shortbread details to layering Saint Germain on the wooden box, to keeping resin work smooth and clean.

One of our favorite little moments is her resin tag technique, where she takes a tiny Saint Germain snippet, applies it to paper, then cuts it nice and close to the details. After pouring a small amount of resin into the bottom of the heart mould, she places the transfer bit face down into the resin, then fills the rest of the cavity. Covering the mould while it cures helps keep out dust and little impurities. Then, after about 24 hours, you can pop those castings out and reveal the most beautiful gift tags.

Thank you for creating along with us. We hope this tutorial gives you a little nudge to make something heartfelt for Valentine’s Day—something sweet, personal, and full of lovely details.

So go “shop” your stash—pull out those moulds, dig up those transfer snippets you couldn’t bear to toss. You’d be amazed at how a few pretty scraps can turn a simple gift into a keepsake. Wishing you a Valentine’s Day filled with joy, cozy moments, and plenty of time at the craft table. 

If you're just kicking off your creative journey, have no fear — our Product 101 pages are packed with straightforward techniques to set you up for success. We're thrilled to accompany you as you explore and create. For more how-tos and creative inspo, make sure to browse through the rest of our blog.

Once you've crafted your final piece, share it with our Facebook Creative Tribe! This community is not just a showcase but also a supportive hub for when you hit those creative roadblocks. And remember, your local stockist is always ready to assist with IOD supplies and expert advice. We're excited to see what you'll bring to life!