Pouring, remodeling, and creating various DIY projects with resin can be extremely satisfying. You can make jewelry, showpieces, or other small pieces of arts and crafts with it.
Using resin properly can be challenging, especially for beginner DIY enthusiasts. To help you out, we are going to talk about resin in this article, how to use it, and also talk about some common mistakes most people make when they first start using resin.
What Is Resin?
Resin is a type of synthetic viscous liquid made from a mix of organic compounds. Just to be clear, the resin we are talking about here is epoxy resin. Epoxy resin has a clear and glossy finish and is mainly used for arts and crafts.
The main difference between resin and epoxy resin other than usage is the drying time. Resin takes about 7 to 10 hours to dry while epoxy resin dries in about 10-30 minutes.
You can even make resins at home. If so, make sure to check out this resin dye guide to learn more on how to create colorful resin.
How to Use Resin for DIY Projects?
Before getting your hands dirty, you will need the following tools for any DIY projects-
- Epoxy Resin
- Plastic spoons or spreaders
- Gloves
- Stirring stick
- Mixing cups
You can mix different ingredients with resin to make your work even better. Some of the most common ingredients are-
- Dyes and pigments
- Glitter
- Fresh colorful flowers
- Artificial plastic flowers
- Food colors
- Gold leaves etc.
You can use resin for all types of surfaces including metal, wood, concrete, silicon molds, stone, and tiles.
5 Easy Resin Crafts for Beginners
Now that we have made clear the basics, here are 5 resin DIY projects you can start working on.
1. Resin Jewelry
Resin and jewelry just mix so well. You can easily make bangles, pendants, hair clips, and rings using resin. Here we are going to show you how to make resin jewelry with molds.
First, you have to create your bezel or casing. You can buy the casing separately or make them yourselves. Next, mix the resin properly. Make sure the liquid does not have any air bubbles. Now, add a layer of resin. You will need multiple layers. The first layer will work as a glue base for your decorative items such as small leaves and flowers. Use a pin to slowly add and adjust your decorative item and then use a second layer of resin.
Once it dries, remove the piece of jewelry from the mold.
2. Resin Coaster
You will need about 3 ounces of resin. To create your epoxy resin, mix equal amounts of resin with a hardener in a mixing cup. Use a stirring stick to mix the two ingredients for at least two minutes and let it rest for another minute.
Now, add about 0.5 ounces of sand to the resin and stir again to create a thick paste. Pour it in a circular coaster mold and if you want to be more creative, add some colorful dyes. Bright pigments are perfect for creating blue coasters. Use a straw to gently blend in the colors.
Let your resin coaster stay in the mold overnight, take it out in the morning, and give it a nice sanding for a smooth finish.
3. Resin Paperweight
Another creative and easy project for beginners. But this one requires a little more time and the use of a power tool; a bandsaw. You will need about 30 to 36 color pencils. Cut all the pencils from the tip to about 1.5 inches. Line up 6 color pencils in a row and stick them together using adhesive. Create 6 rows exactly like this and glue them together, one row at a time to make a 6×6 cube.
Create a clear batch of resin mix and pour it into a cube-shaped mold. Pour the resin gently and check if there are any air bubbles. Let the resin sit for a few minutes and add the 6×6 cube slowly into the resin mold. Sometimes objects tend to pop out of resin. So make sure to check it now and then, push it back to the resin if it pops out.
Leave the entire thing for about 6-8 hours and your colorful paperweight should be ready.
4. Keychains and Bookmarks
These are similar to resin jewelry where you can use different shaped molds for various shaped keychains and bookmarks. But do not forget to add decorative pieces. If you love mother nature, insert some plastic flowers or fresh flowers in your keychain. If you love traveling, seal your resin keychain with a vintage map.
You can say goodbye to paper bookmarks once you have created your artsy resin bookmarks.
5. Serving Tray
We are going to show you the easiest way to upgrade your ordinary serving tray to a beautiful resin-infused tray. You do not even need any power tools for this one.
First, use some painter’s tape to cover one side of the tray. We will use resin on the opposite side. Flip the board and horizontally apply another piece of painter’s tape to mark the spot where you want to add the resin. Now, add some dyes to create a colorful resin mix and pour it on your board.
Let the resin rest for about 40 minutes and peel the tape off. If it gets hard, it will get stuck to the tape and crack when you peel the tape. So peel off the tape before it gets hard. Let it dry for about 4-5 hours, and you will have a beautiful serving tray for your next house parties.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make Using Resin
We mentioned earlier how using resin is difficult. Well, many people try to jump into the fun stuff right away after getting their hands on resin and end up making a mess. Here are some common mistakes most people make-
- Not following through with all the instructions.
- Messing up the measurements
- Not mixing all the ingredients properly
- Not choosing the right type of resin
- Picking complex projects
Final Thoughts
Any kind of DIY project is fun. Just be careful when using an item like resin. No, it does not have any threat, but things can get messy if you do not use the right amount. If it sticks to your hand, you can simply rinse it off with acetone, vinegar, or any waterless hand cleaner. With a little patience, and practice you can make any of the items we mentioned in our list with ease.
