Beautiful homemade epoxy jewelry made from a type of synthetic resin in which dried flowers, twigs, leaves, ashes, shells or small mushrooms are incorporated... you have probably seen them before or perhaps you have already purchased a starter package from us.

With the right tools and some creativity and skill, this technique of making your own jewelry can be done very well at home. But where do you start? And how does it work exactly? We will explain everything to you. Read on quickly.

Epoxy Jewelry Making Manual

What is Resin Art?

Resin art is, in short, making art using epoxy casting resin. With epoxy you can make art very easily such as earrings, pendants and key rings. The liquid itself is clear and transparent in colour. By colouring epoxy resin with pigments and pouring with different techniques you create the most beautiful effects.

Epoxy hardens into a kind of hard glass-like plastic with a beautiful appearance. Thanks to its ease of use and sleek finish, epoxy is a very popular choice for creating jewelry. Resin art is suitable for both beginners and advanced users. The epoxy starter kit jewelry contains everything you need to make your own jewelry. Choose this package if you are already enthusiastic and want to get started quickly.

What is epoxy?

Epoxies are polymers, which are produced as a liquid and turn into a solid by a chemical reaction. Cured epoxy resin is very strong . Epoxy resin has a compressive and tensile strength that is twice that of concrete. After the epoxy resin dries, a kind of hard plastic is created. Cured epoxy resin is completely safe for both humans and animals to wear.

How do you get color in epoxy resin art?

By coloring epoxy resin with color pigments , many different end results can be created. For example, think of copying a geode natural stone, abstract art or earrings and key rings in all your favorite colors. Epoxy resin can be colored using special pigment colors and metallic powders. For example, by making a mix with glossy and matte pigments, playful effects can be created. Plenty of possibilities!

With special color pigments you can give your Resin Art a unique twist. Are you going for a beautiful opaque color or are you going for a transparent color? See here all color pigments especially for Resin Art. Do you have an idea yourself and are you curious whether we can realize this for you? Do not hesitate and contact us!

Which epoxy do I need?

Nowadays, anyone can work with epoxy themselves. There are many creative projects you can try. Think of making epoxy jewelry, statues, lamps, key rings and signs. Using the best epoxy resin is important for the end result of your artwork. We will discuss two types of epoxy resins that both have advantages and disadvantages.

1. UV Resin (jewelry resin)

Do you want to use an epoxy that is very easy to process and are you going to fill a small silicone mold, with a maximum depth of 0.5 cm, such as an earring or key ring? Then choose the ready-made UV Resin jewelry resin. This is a 1-component epoxy that you do not have to mix. The resin is therefore ready to use. UV Resin hardens within a few minutes by means of UV light. You let UV Resin harden in direct sunlight or under a UV LED lamp .

2. Epoxy casting resin

Epoxy casting resin is a two-component epoxy. Very suitable for large and small surfaces such as resin art, but also for coating table tops, bar tables, paintings and more. Depending on the brand, epoxy casting resin can usually be cast up to 1.5-2 cm. Compared to UV Resin, epoxy casting resin is much cheaper. The disadvantage is that you have to mix this epoxy yourself, according to the mixing ratio of the manufacturer. Mix well for 3-5 minutes. Use a precision scale to weigh both components properly. After approximately 12-24 hours (depending on temperature and layer thickness) the product has its final strength.

Make sure that no water gets into the epoxy resin, otherwise it will no longer be usable. Also, do not use too much glitter or color pigment. This will prevent the epoxy from hardening properly. Use a maximum of 5 grams of pigments per 100 grams of resin.

Our advice

For making resin art jewelry such as earrings, pendants and key rings we recommend the ready-made jewelry UV Resin . This epoxy is also included in the Epoxy starter kit jewelry and the Epoxy starter kit key rings. UV Resin is by far the easiest to use for beginners. UV Resin has also been specially developed to quickly and easily make resin art and is therefore very suitable for small objects such as earrings, rings, key rings and bracelets.

For making coasters, pots, cake stands and applying coatings, we recommend using epoxy casting resin .

How to make epoxy jewelry: video with explanation

Make your own jewelry with epoxy casting resin manual with video. Make your own bracelets, earrings, rings or necklaces with epoxy resin or casting resin. How does that work?

Supplies:
- Epoxy jewelry starter kit (molds, pendants, tools and glitter sequins)
- UV Resin (jewelry resin) is included free in the starter package
- Dried small flowers

With epoxy you can easily create unique and professional jewelry that looks beautiful from all sides. See below a nice video with an explanation on how to make open charms with UV Resin yourself.

Supplies:
- UV Resin (jewelry resin)
- Dried small flowers
- Open begging for epoxy
- Tape for the jewelry
- Natural products (dried flowers)

How to Make Epoxy Jewelry in 4 Steps

If you have purchased the Epoxy Jewelry Starter Kit, everything you need is included. You can create a work of art by following these steps:

1. Preparation

Make sure you have a large work surface in advance. Put down a sturdy hobby mat or silicone mat to protect the surface. Epoxy can be difficult to remove without damaging your table top. Wear gloves to prevent skin irritation and work in a well-ventilated area.

Place the silicone molds so that they are easy to reach and make sure that they are all level. If there are any dust or glitter on the mold, remove it with a piece of tape. Make a ball of tape and stick the dirt off.

Are you going to cast objects or dried small flowers? First, pour a thin layer of epoxy. This is the base and you will later pour the flowers or object on top of this. If you add an object directly to the epoxy, it can sink or float.

Are you going to add a photo or drawing to epoxy? Laminate the photo or drawing beforehand. If you don't do this, there is a chance that the photo or drawing will fade.

2. Choose which epoxy to use

Choose which epoxy resin you want to use. In this example we use the ready-made UV Resin . You apply this epoxy resin directly from the bottle into a silicone mold or onto a surface.

With special color pigments you can give your Resin Art a unique twist. Are you going for a beautiful opaque color or are you going for a transparent color? Are you going to use color pigments? Then you first pour the epoxy resin into a small cup with a maximum of a few drops of pigment. Stir well and add the mixture to the mold.

3. Popping air bubbles

When pouring epoxy resin, air bubbles can occur. This is normal, but not desirable. You can easily pop air bubbles with the Bubble Blaster or a heat tool. You can also do this with a lighter, for example. Always work carefully and make sure the flame does not touch the silicone mold, otherwise it can stick to the resin.

4. Curing

Epoxy consists of 2 components: resin and a liquid hardener. When mixed, it will harden within 12-24 hours to a hard, high-gloss material. It is important that you follow the mixing ratio on the packaging of the epoxy eater exactly.

UV resin is a 1-component resin and does not require mixing. This epoxy is ready-made and therefore does not require mixing. UV Resin dries by means of UV light within a few minutes to a high-gloss material. This means in direct sunlight and therefore not inside in front of a window. When the sun is shining, the resin is hard within 10-15 minutes. In cloudy weather this can take 30-45 minutes. Then turn the mold over and let it dry again. Achieve a hardening of a few minutes by using a UV LED lamp .

Never add too much glitter or pigment to epoxy. The composition of the epoxy can deviate and result in a non (complete) hardening.

5. Finishing

Remove rough edges with pliers or a deburrer . Polish the resin art jewelry afterwards if desired. For the best result, pour a thin layer of epoxy on top of the artwork. This gives a nice glossy finish with a small bulge. Get started quickly and make the most beautiful earrings, charms, pendants, rings and bracelets!

The best epoxy for jewelry making

To make the most beautiful jewelry you need the right resin. Which resin is most suitable depends, as you have read above, on your project. For making earrings and pendants you usually use small amounts of epoxy that are poured into a mold. The transparency of the resin is crucial for a beautiful end result.

Our special UV Resin is ideal for its ease of use, fast curing and bright, glossy finish. This resin requires no mixing and is ready to use. The handy nozzle allows for precision work, making even beautiful small earrings easy to create.

Epoxy Jewelry Making Tips

• Epoxy flows out level so you should always make sure your molds are level. For example, use a board that is level.

• When working with epoxy resin, always choose a silicone mat as a base, so that your table and workspace remain clean. A silicone mat is durable, because you can clean it later and reuse it.

• Make sure you have all of the necessary materials ready before you start mixing the resin. You don't want your epoxy to fall over while you're trying to quickly get glitter or flowers.

Any questions?

itsOkay is the Epoxy casting resin expert of the Netherlands and Belgium. Orders placed before 23:30 will be delivered the next day. For questions and expert advice, please contact our customer service .