Resin crafting is fun and easy! If you want to get started making resin jewelry, you will need a few basic supplies. Here is a list of all of the items you need to make your first pair of resin earrings.
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Making resin jewelry is fun and easy!
This is a craft that my 11-year-old daughter and I do together.
Below you will find the list of items we use to make both drop and stud style earrings. Materials can be purchased online or from your local craft store.
1. Gloves and Safety Glasses for Working with Resin
Safety first! Uncured epoxy resin can be irritating to the skin. Also, it is very sticky! Wearing nitrile gloves prevents contact dermatitis and minimizes mess during the pouring phase.
In addition, the fumes from the uncured resin can irritate your eyes. Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from fumes or splashes.
As a side note, once hardened and cured, the resin is safe to handle with bare hands and glasses are no longer necessary.
2. Flat, Wipeable Surface for Pouring Resin
You will need a flat, level surface like a table or counter for pouring resin earrings. Uncured resin is a liquid, and if your work space isn’t level, your earring molds will not be filled evenly.
The surface you are working on should be wipeable, or covered, so that you can cleanup any spills. The resin that I use takes about 24 hours to cure, so working in an area where the molds can sit and cure, undisturbed, is helpful!
3. Epoxy Resin for Making Earrings
I use a 2-bottle, self-cured epoxy resin product. You mix equal parts of base (Bottle A) with catalyst (Bottle B) to make earrings that harden and can be unmolded in 24 hours.
There is also a light-cured resin option, it requires a blue light or lots of exposure to the sun in order to harden.
4. Silicone Molds for Making Resin Earrings
The mold is what makes the earring a certain shape. You can find molds in any size and shape that you want. I have purchased a few molds on Amazon for making earrings, but there are a ton of really cute options on Etsy! Some of my favorites are my ear tag and show goat molds.
I recommend silicone molds because they are reusable and flexible, which makes unmolding so easy!
5. Containers for Mixing Resin
I use reusable, plastic containers with milliliter marks on the side for measuring and mixing my resin. I have tried disposable cups and glass containers as well, but I like these the best because they are easy to clean and easy to read while you are measuring.
6. Sticks for Stirring Resin
You can use plastic or wooden sticks for mixing your resin. For moving small items around in the poured resin, I use toothpicks or the tool you see in the picture with the small metal ball on either end. If you clean them well, the stir sticks can be reused several times.
7. Resin Embellishments and Additives
I use mica powder, resin dye, or glitter to make my earrings different colors. I have purchased small clay fruit and mushroom slices to add to the molds as well. You can really get creative and decorate resin earrings however you wish!
Once cured, the earrings can be embellished with stickers or paint– the opportunities for customization are limitless!
8. Findings for Resin Earrings
Findings are the metal pieces that you attach to the resin you poured so that your jewelry is wearable. I use stainless-steel findings because they are less likely to be irritating to those that are sensitive to metals.
For stud type earrings, you will need a post with a flat pad. Make sure you choose a size that will be completely covered by the resin material so that you cannot see it when the earring is being worn (I use 6 mm for my earrings). You will also need backs that fit on the post that you chose. There are butterfly or bullet shaped metal options, as well as plastic and rubber.
9. Adhesive for Attaching Earring Findings
I use the craft adhesive E6000 to attach my earring backs to my resin earrings. It is easy to use, dries clear, and bonds all sorts of mediums together- including resin and metals. It cures in 24 hours and the bond is strong so you don’t have to worry about parts separating.
So, there you have it. Enjoy creating and wearing the jewelry you made!
Mother, farmer, author, and teacher by trade… She loves tending to things and watching them grow!