Create A Resin Tray with Matching Coasters

Step-By-Step Instructions

Prepare your workspace: Make sure you have a large LEVEL workspace and table protector mats laid out. Gather your materials and make sure you are working in a well-ventilated area.

Step 1: Mix Resin: Starting with the coasters and mix about 5.5 fl. oz. of hardener and 5.5 fl. oz. of resin, stirring thoroughly (about 4-5 mins.).

Step 2: Separate your resin into 5 different smaller cups & mix in additives. I used 3 different pigment colors, 1 plain clear (no pigments) & 1 opaque white pigment concentrate.

Step 3: Pour pigmented resin: Starting with the outer edges of the molds, begin with one color and proceed with the next two as you get closer to the center of the mold, leaving room to pour your clear resin in the middle. 

Step 4: Drizzle the opaque white pigment concentrate resin cup in a circle along all the colors towards the outer edges of your coasters.  Add your flower’s “center” additive into your clear resin in the mold (crushed mirror, gold leaf, or any inclusion of your choice).

Step 5: Place inclusions: Using a stir stick, make sure your center bling is exactly where you want it to be. Then, using your Heat Gun, gently move it over your resin to pop any bubbles that have come to the surface. Cover & let cure for 24 to 72 hours.

Step 6: Move to the Large Flower Mold! Mix about 10 fl. oz. of hardener and 10 fl. oz. of resin, stirring thoroughly (about 5-6 mins).

Step 7: Repeat Steps 2-5! Cover & let cure for 24-72 hours.

**Optional: If you’d like to color the flower petal detail from the mold that is embedded into your coasters, now is the time to add that. I use a precision tip mini squeeze bottle with acrylic paint & a little water to thin it out so it squeezes through the tip and carefully onto the coaster!

Step 8: Time to dome coat - mix about 5 fl. oz. of hardener and 5 fl. oz. of resin to coat all 5 coasters. Mix thoroughly (about 4-5 mins.) & carefully pour resin onto the middle of each coaster and slowly work the resin to the outer edges of the coaster using a stir stick, being careful not to spill over the sides.

**Artist Tip: If you do spill over, don’t worry! You can wipe it up & use a little isopropyl alcohol to carefully clean up the bottom and sides, so you don’t end up having to sand & polish your coasters.

Step 9: Eliminate bubbles: Using your torch, quickly sweep the torch over the dome coat to eliminate any bubbles. Cover & let cure for 24 hrs.

Step 10: Dome Coat Large Flower - Repeat Steps 8&9, using about 6 fl. oz. of hardener and 6 fl. oz. of resin.

Step 11: Paint the edges in gold. Coat the sides 2 times, letting the paint dry in between coats then, run the gilding pen along the top edge onto your dome coat for an ultra finished & chic look! Voilá!

**Artist Tip: If you get any gold paint fingerprints on your finished coasters, isopropyl alcohol & a q-tip or soft cloth will clean that right up. Always good to have isopropyl alcohol around when using resin. It’s a lifesaver!