How to Make Resin Gems

If you are in need of resin gems for crafting, jewelry making, or just for decoration, I can tell you these great little gems could not be simpler to make, or more fun. And the great news is, the items you need to make them, are easy to get your hands on. With just some resin, a mold and some add-ins like glitter, you can have mountains of gems at your disposal. Here are a few different ways you can make these gems and jazz up your next craft project.

Making Gems Using UV Resin

UV Resin is really the way to go if you want instant gratification, or need these gems fast. Since this resin cures using a UV light, you can have gems ready to use in minutes, instead of the 24 hours 2 part epoxy resins take to cure. UV resin does cost a bit more, but is worth it if time is not on your side.

Materials We Used:

• Mr. Resin UV Resin Kit https://geni.us/nw3QDuR (Found on Amazon)
• UV Curing Lamp (Ours came with the above kit)
• Paxcoo Resin Molds for Jewelry Making https://geni.us/FBonf9I (Found on Amazon)
• Silicone Mixing Cup (Came with Mr Resin Kit)
• Craft Sticks or Silicone Mixing Tools for Stirring
• LEOBRO 16 Colors Mica Powder for Epoxy Resin https://geni.us/5iY0 (Found on Amazon)
• Glitter (For the opal looking gem I used large flake glitter.) Large Flake Glitter- https://geni.us/nMGjl – (Found on Amazon)
• Grill Lighter

Optional:

• Silicone Work Mat –https://geni.us/lw9C–
• Tweezers

Instructions:

Plain Clear Gem

1. With your work station set up and your UV lamp plugged in, squeeze enough UV resin into the gem mold of your choice until it is full. Be careful not to over fill the mold.
2. Make sure the resin has made it into all of the corners.
3. Using your grill lighter or heat gun, pop any of the bubbles on the surface of the resin.
4. Place the lamp over the gem mold and turn it on. This could take several minutes depending on how thick the resin is.
5. Once you have cured from the back side, flip over the mold and cure it again on the front.
6. When the light goes off, test to see if the resin is sticky or soft. If it is hard, remove it from the mold.
7. If the gem feel tacky to the touch, you can place it back under the UV light. Be careful touching it when it is sticky because it will leave fingerprints in your final piece.

Ruby Red Gem

1. In a small mixing cup, add enough resin to fill as many gem holes in the mold as you would like to make.
2. Add a small amount of red mica powder (a small amount goes a long way) to the mixing cup and stir until the color is mixed well.
3. Make sure the resin has made it into all of the corners.
4. Using your grill lighter or heat gun, pop any of the bubbles on the surface of the resin.
5. Place the lamp over the gem mold and turn it on. This could take several minutes depending on how thick the resin is.
6. Once you have cured from the back side, flip over the mold and cure it again on the front.
7. When the light goes off, test to see if the resin is sticky or soft. If it is hard, remove it from the mold.
8. If the gem feel tacky to the touch, you can place it back under the UV light. Be careful touching it when it is sticky because it will leave fingerprints in your final piece.
9. To clean your mixing cup (if it is silicone) place it under your UV light and cure it. You can then pull the mess clean from the cup.

Add-in Gems

1. Squeeze some UV resin into the bottom of one of the gem molds. Only add enough to cover the bottom of the mold.
2. Using your tweezers, add in some of your small add-ins (I used tiny heart glitter add-ins) being sure to place them where you want them.
3. Place the UV light over the mold and turn it on for about 45 seconds.
4. Add more UV resin to the mold to fill it the rest of the way.
5. Use your grill lighter to pop any surface bubbles in the resin.
6. Cure fully under the UV light.

Glitter Gem

1. Squeeze some UV resin into the bottom of one of the gem molds. Only add enough to cover the bottom of the mold.
2. Add some glitter over the top of the resin in the mold (to make it look like opal, I used some shiny, white opaque, large flake glitter like this one I found on Amazon- https://geni.us/nMGjl). Use your tweezers to push the glitter slightly into the resin.
3. Place the UV light over the mold and turn it on for about 45 seconds.
4. Add more UV resin to the mold to fill it the rest of the way.
5. Use your grill lighter to pop any surface bubbles in the resin.
6. Cure fully under the UV light.

Making these gems really is a fun and easy project that you could go overboard on creating. Use your imagination and try other add-ins, glitters and colors, to see what amazing little beauties you can create.

Making Resin Gems Using 2 Part Epoxy Resin

Materials We Used:

• CRAFT RESIN Epoxy Resin Kit https://geni.us/nw3QDuR (Found on Amazon)
• Paxcoo Resin Molds for Jewelry Making https://geni.us/FBonf9I (Found on Amazon)
• Mixing Cups (One for plain and then one for each color)
• Craft Sticks or Silicone Mixing Tools for Stirring
• Glitter-You can use small or large glitter- Here is some Large Flake Glitter- https://geni.us/nMGjl – (Found on Amazon)
• Grill Lighter

Optional:

• Silicone Work Mat –https://geni.us/lw9C–
• Tweezers
• a Timer

Instructions:

1. Prep your work area and put on your gloves and safety goggles. Make sure all of your materials are close at hand.
2. Mix your resin in a small mixing cup with a craft stick, according to the package directions. You will want to time this with an actual timer. (Time passes differently when you are mixing and your hand starts to hurt.) Unless you work very fast, you will want to mix this in small batches as your work time will be limited to between 30-45 minutes.
3. Once your resin is mixed, you can pour some into your gem shaped silicone molds to make any clear gems. Be careful not to overfill the mold. When your resin is poured, use your grill lighter to wave flame back and forth over the top of the resin to get rid of any surface bubbles and set the mold aside.

4. Now, using a fresh cup and craft stick, add some glitter to your cup, then pour some of your resin over it. Stir this mixture with the craft stick just enough to incorporate the glitter.
5. Pour this mixture into your gem molds. Take your tweezers or a toothpick (something pointy!) and work the mixture into the corners of the mold. And once again, don’t overfill.
6. Use your lighter to clear the surface bubbles of the uncured gems.

7. You can repeat this process with other glitters, add-ins, and mica colorants until you run out of clear resin, or your clear resin becomes too thick (which ever comes first).
8. Now you need to set your resin filled mold aside to cure. Somewhere that is just above room temperature is best. If your curing area is too cold (below 70 degrees) it will not cure and can cause it to become rubbery.
9. After the recommended curing time (mine was 24 hours), you can remove your gems from the mold. If there is any overfill on the gems, you can carefully trim those up with a pair of scissors (Not your good sewing scissors!), and file it with an old nail file.
10. Now with your gems are complete, you can add them to any number of craft projects.

You can use all the same add ins, such as mica powders and confetti, for this 2 part epoxy resin as you used with the UV resin. It does take 24 hours to cure, but costs a bit less than the UV resin. So if you have the time and have a lot to make, you may want to give this resin a try. Either resin makes a quality product, and in the end it is truly just preference and what type of project you are making.