I can’t stop learning new crafts, guys. 

Seriously, if this blog turns into a weekly log of my latest craft attempts, know that you’ve been warned. 

Over the last year, I’ve tried my hand at a variety of artistic-related endeavors, ranging from jewelry making to wax seal stamping to embroidery. 

It seems every couple of weeks I’m compelled to test out a new hobby. And spending the bulk of my time at home has given me the opportunity to take a whirl at whatever random activity pops into my brain. 

My most recent interest? Resin. 

Resin jewelry has become a popular trend as of late, and after watching several videos about how it’s made, I wanted to try it out myself. 

I bought some basic supplies (resin, pressed flowers, foil) and made bookmarks.

Here are some things I learned from my first experience using resin! 

#1: Find a suitable workspace 

Before you even gather your supplies, it’s a good idea to figure out where you’re going to work. 

Between the materials you’re using to decorate the resin and the resin itself, the process can get messy. 

It’s also helpful to designate a specific area where you’ll put your items to dry before you get started. 

I made the unfortunate error of not putting my drying projects far enough away from my workspace, and may (or may not) have almost ruined a few by bumping into them as I worked. 

Learn from my mistakes and don’t keep your finished works anywhere near your work area. 

#2: Stir, stir, and stir some more 

If you don’t know anything about working with resin, it comes with two components: resin and a harder. 

Mixing an equal amount of the two items together causes a chemical reaction that transforms the liquids into a solid. 

If you don’t mix your resin and hardener properly, your resin will turn out sticky, tacky or cloudy. 

Because I made resin bookmarks, I was working with a small amount at a time, so I only stirred for between three to 10 minutes. 

I found that the longer I stirred, the better the bookmark came out. The resin turned out clearer, and there were fewer bubbles in it. 

Though it might seem tedious, stirring can drastically affect the end result of your project. 

Even if you don’t feel like doing it, keep going with it. You’ll thank yourself later. 

#3: Give it time to dry

Not going to lie—I was so tempted to take my bookmarks out of their molds as soon as they started to dry. But most of the tutorials I watched prior to working with resin recommended leaving it for 24 hours, so I resisted the urge.

Let me tell you, I’m glad I did. Moving resin too early can ruin your project. With something like a bookmark, it’s especially important because you don’t want it to look wonky and crooked. 

You’ll probably be excited to see your work, but let it have time to fully dry before you do anything with it. 

I recommend leaving your project somewhere you won’t see it. That way, you won’t be thinking about it as you wait for it to be ready. 

#4: DON’T overfill your molds 

From my experience, the quickest way to ruin a project is by overfilling your mold. 

Not only does overfilling change the project’s shape, but it also causes it not to dry thoroughly. 

You can’t be too careful when you’re pouring resin. 

#5: Wash your supplies. Immediately. 

OK, OK, immediately might be a stretch, but it’s a good plan to clean your cups and measuring tools fairly quickly after you’ve finished your project. 

You might be inclined to say to yourself, “I’ll deal with cleanup later,” but doing so will only end with you struggling to peel the sticky material off your tablecloth. 

Dried resin is not easy to get off of anything. 

I left a couple of measuring spoons covered in resin after my first attempt, and I still haven’t gotten all of it off them. 

Save yourself the trouble and wash your supplies before the resin hardens on them completely. 

#6: Practice makes it better

Like any skill, working with resin requires trial and error. 

Don’t feel discouraged if your first few projects are cloudy and filled with air bubbles. 

If you keep working with it, you’ll start to understand the process better. And eventually, your projects will stop looking so blob-like.

Thanks so much for reading! 🙂

Have you ever worked with resin before?

Sincerely,

Paige