Now that you’ve *hopefully* read about the different types of epoxies, I’m going to help you figure out what you can do with it. For my purposes, I use epoxy with a lot of my art work, so I’m just going to be referencing this type of epoxy resin. If you are a beginner, these are some of the easiest projects you can complete. If you create all of these projects, you should have a pretty good handle on how resin acts and how temperamental it can be. But you’ll then be able to start branching out and start doing more intricate pieces of artwork. I hope this will help you jumpstart your creativity and open your mind to all the different possibilities resin has to offer!
1. Coasters
One of the easiest resin projects you can do is make coasters. There are endless possibilities of designs you can create. I have made coasters from wood, used silicone molds, and have even used silicone caulking to create my own shapes! If you are a beginner, the easiest way to make coasters is with silicone molds. These can be found just about everywhere nowadays, and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Resin coasters make beautiful gifts and are super easy to do! The picture below is a set of ocean-themed coasters I created.
2. Sealing artwork
Ok, so I really should have put this one as number one because I think it’s the easiest way to get acquainted with resin. If you have a painting or drawing that you want to give some depth to or a beautiful glossy finish, then resin is your answer! All you have to do is make sure the picture/painting is level and give it a nice coating. Epoxy is self-leveling, so getting it level is key here. The picture below is just a small letter I painted with acrylics, then coated it with resin. Fun fact: I turned this into a magnet! Are your wheels spinning yet?
3. Straw toppers
I have NO doubt that you have seen those amazing epoxy tumblers that everyone and their mama has nowadays. Side note – tumblers are NOT easy!! Do not attempt them until you’re comfortable with resin or else you’ll get extremely frustrated and I don’t want you giving up! There are sooo many different straw topper molds to choose from. I have a mermaid tail, apple, unicorn, gnome, diamond, and pineapple, just to name a few! These are really easy to do since you just mix in what additive you want, then pour it. Really, that’s it! This is one of the pineapples I made for a friend, and cause I’m extra, I made it glow in the dark!
4. Keychains
Who doesn’t love keychains? They make excellent gifts are easily personalized. And guess what? They’re also done with molds! Let me tell you, silicone mold addiction is real, people! As with the other molds, just mix in your glitter, paint, additives, what have you, and pour it in. Then you can embellish the finished keychain with a tassel, beads, feathers, or whatever floats your boat. I made this one to go with an ocean-themed tumbler I made. If you can’t tell, I love making ocean-themed things!
5. Dog tags
Dog tags? Really? YES, REALLY!! I love making dog tags! They’re super easy to do and the options are endless. These can be a great money-maker, if you’re in it for that sort of thing. Guess what you make them with? Molds!! Imagine that! The molds come in different sizes and shapes, and they’ve even got cat shapes. I’m a dog person myself, but don’t come at me. I love the kittehs as well, but I don’t get requests for them. If you’ve got a cutting machine, these are very easy to personalize. I made the one below with alcohol inks. I love the cool dots that were created!
Easy, right?
Those were my top five easiest resin projects that you can do, especially if you’re a beginner. This is literally just the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of things you can do with resin, whether it’s just to enhance a painting or creating something from scratch. Not only are these projects easy to complete, they make wonderful gifts. Save yourself some money this year and make handmade gifts. People will appreciate it much more knowing that you took the time to create something just for them. I hope this gives your brain a kick and gives you tons of ideas! Now go forth and make all the things!