Crafting with resin has been an art form for hundreds of years, dating back to ancient Greece. However, epoxy resin, in particular, is a pretty recent discovery from the 1930s. It’s also known as casting resin, and there are many things you can create with it.
Epoxy resin is a popular material used by DIY art project enthusiasts and even small crafting businesses. It’s sturdy, waterproof, non-toxic, and relatively easy to mold. So, if you want to try making artworks with it, check out these examples to get you started:
- Coasters
Coasters are easy items to make using epoxy resin. You can dye the resin in different colors, and mold them in any shape or size. Some people also cast dried flowers in the resin to make them more appealing.
You’d want to use epoxy resin designed for casting, like the ones over at this website. With the proper material, you can arrange the dried plants on it however you want, and they’ll stay that way until the resin cools and hardens. And, since the material is waterproof, you don’t have to worry about your resin coasters getting damaged from moisture. Just wipe them down, and you can use them again.
Crafts like these also make excellent gifts to mates and relatives or as a means to earn extra cash. You can have premade designs or let customers decide what they want their coasters to look like.
- Figurines
If you’ve tried sculpting clay, you might find creating figurines with epoxy resin an exciting project to do. Resin is the perfect material to form sculptures. Depending on your taste, you can make simple and small ones or highly-detailed ones. All you need is mold, creativity, and lots of patience.
Preexisting silicone molds are readily available in craft stores, or you could even create your own. Pour just enough epoxy resin into the mold to fill every space. Then, put in dried flowers, beads, or glitter to add more color and texture to the sculpture.
Epoxy resin figurines are lovely additions to your home décor. Display your masterpieces in your living room to pique your guests’ interests or use them as fancy paperweights on your office desk.
- Jewelry
You’ve probably attempted making plastic bead bracelets as a child. Why not pick up the hobby again, but use resin this time?
Prepare a mold in the shape of tiny beads and pour your resin into it. If it doesn’t leave a space for your wire or nylon string, you can bore a hole yourself using a mini drill. Having a mini drill is essential if you want to create resin jewelry. You’ll need to make tiny holes to attach the clasps, locks, and rings.
Aside from the beads themselves, you can make pendants with epoxy resin as well. Don’t limit yourself to actual resin molds. Think outside the box and use flexible items, like deflated balloons, empty travel tubes, or plastic packaging. These objects have fascinating shapes that you can capture with resin and turn into pendants. Avoid using thin plastic, however, as the resin can stick to its surface, making it difficult to remove
Once you’re done, show them off and wear them. Stack your handmade pieces up with gemstone jewelry to add personality to your daily casual outfits. Use matching sets of resin jewelry with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings with the same colors and designs for a uniform feel.
- Water Art
Imagine holding a portion of the ocean in your hands, but it never spills over and never evaporates. You can create a body of water in the form of a cube, sphere, or small accessories with resin in different shades of blue and green. Such projects are a little trickier, but the results will be worth it.
You’ll need a heat gun to help you create realistic ocean waves. The heat from the device will blow the resin in a specific direction and form ‘seafoam’ from white-dyed epoxy resin. You could even put a layer of real sand and top it with seashells to make it more lifelike. A regular hair blower will do fine if you don’t have a heat gun.
- Bottle Openers
Almost every household has a bottle opener. If you or anyone you know doesn’t have one for some reason, now’s the perfect time to create one using resin. You might need a resin casting set specifically for creating bottle openers for this project. The set may also provide the metal parts and screws, but if not, you could find them in a hardware store.
Resin bottle openers are far more captivating than the usual ones you can buy. While wooden or steel openers may allow you to engrave a name or monogram on them, resin ones give you more freedom to customize. Incorporate epoxy resin dyed in different colors mixed with glitter to create fascinating patterns, and attach a keychain ring to it so you can take it anywhere.
It’d make an excellent present for loved ones or as a perfect icebreaker item for your next backyard summer party.
Conclusion
Epoxy resin is a great material for creating various DIY art projects. If you’re looking for a new hobby or want to give customized gifts, making resin accessories would be a wonderful idea. When working with epoxy resin, don’t forget to wear protective gear, like gloves and safety glasses. After all, it’s still a chemical that needs careful handling.
