How to Make Resin Coasters

See how to make show-stopping coasters with resin! This DIY resin coasters tutorial includes tips on choosing the best molds and shows design ideas such as beach coasters, flower coasters, and agate coasters.

DIY resin coasters

Homemade resin coasters are so creative and easy to make. They are so lovely to serve drinks on and make a conversation piece on every table. They’re also a fantastic gift idea for your family and friends. I’m so excited to share this tutorial with you!

This post is sponsored by our friends from IntoResin. All our opinions are my own, and I only share products I personally love. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this site possible.

Materials & tools

Have you crafted with resin before? Resin coasters are a great project to start with, even if you are a beginner. In the next section, we’ll discuss the materials and supplies you need to create beautiful epoxy coasters.

Resin coaster molds

IntoResin offers an amazing array of coaster molds. They come in different sizes and all sorts of shapes, ranging from simple geometric forms to flowers to agate molds.

I really love the quality of their molds! They are self-releasing, made of soft, bendable silicone that is very sturdy and long-lasting.

I had the chance to test several molds, and each design turned out so beautiful. The coasters have perfectly smooth, shiny surfaces, and there’s no need to polish them.

The edges are well defined and sharp, and the coasters have a good size and thickness. And afterward, they are super easy to clean with just a bit of soapy water.

The best resin coaster molds

The variety of molds is simply amazing. Here are some of my favorites resin coaster kits:

• Geometric forms: Round Coaster + Coaster Holder, Geometric Coaster Molds,
• Geode + crystals: Geode Mold, Irregular Mold, Wave Mold
• Flowers: Sunflower Mold, Mandla Tray Mold
• Novelty shapes: Butterfly Coaster, Compass Coaster, Star Mold

The best resin for coasters

Now that we have our molds, let’s talk about the best epoxy resin for making coasters! Resin is a chemical compound made of 2 parts, resin and hardener. Both are liquid, but they harden and solidify when you mix them together.

Different types of resin are available, like epoxy resin, polyester resin, or UV resin. For this resin coaster tutorial, I highly recommend the Fast Cure Casting Resin from IntoResin. Since some molds are pretty large, I recommend stocking up on the 32 oz size option.

I’ve been crafting with this resin for over a year now and have used it in many projects. It cures fast, looks crystal clear, and is perfect for casting small pieces. Here is everything I love about this product:

• Cure time: The Fast Cure Casting Resin cures incredible fast. Small objects cure within a few hours, and larger pieces harden within 24 hours.
• Clarity: IntoResin‘s epoxy resin is the clearest resin you will find. It almost looks like glass and doesn’t yellow.
• Surface: It cures hard and shiny on the surface. No need for sanding or polishing!
• Bubbles: If you combine the resin and hardener slowly, you should be able to avoid bubbles. As you can see in the photos, the letters came out almost bubble-free.
• Fumes: I also love that it doesn’t smell strong, and I have never experienced headaches.

Colorants & embeds

Epoxy resin is incredibly versatile! You can color it in just about any color and embed all sorts of embellishments. Here are a few fun ideas to customize your resin art coasters:

• Epoxy dye: This set comprises of 15 vibrant colors. This is the dye you want to achieve clear, see-through hues.
• Mica powder: Mica pigment will add a pearlescent, opaque shimmer to resin. The collection includes 15 gorgeous shimmery shades.
• Holographic glitter will add a touch of sparkle to your coaster project.
• Metallic flakes: Specks of gold flakes look so elegant and will elevate any design.
• Pressed flowers + dried leaves add a gorgeous botanical touch to your resin creations.
• Seashells: This collection comes with a cute selection of seashells that are perfect for beach-inspired designs.
• Metallic paint brushes: These are great to color in details and give the edges of your coasters an elegant finish. The set includes gold and silver.

Supplies

You also need the following equipment to craft epoxy resin coasters:

• Plastic cups to mix the resin and hardener.
• Wooden stirrers or popsicle sticks for mixing.
• Disposable pipettes: Resin rings require precise pouring, and the best for this job are disposable plastic pipettes.
• Toothpicks and a fine needle to perfect the details and burst air bubbles.
• Tweezers to insert ornaments and dried flowers.
• Nitrile gloves protect your hands from being exposed to resin.
• Mouth cover or a face mask to ensure you aren’t inhaling any resin fumes.
• Drop sheet: Cover your work surface with a drop sheet, wax paper, a resin mat, or old newspaper to protect it from spills and drips. Uncured resin is super sticky and hard to remove.

How to make resin coasters

Before you start, read through the instructions and make sure your you have all of your materials and supplies. Crafting with resin is time sensitive, so you want everything close by and ready to go.

I’m starting with a super simple design to show you how to make epoxy coasters step-by-step. You can find more resin coaster design ideas in the following sections. Enjoy!

#1: Set up your work area

• Ensure your work area is clean, free of dust, and well ventilated.
• Cover your worktop with a drop sheet or old newspaper. Gather all supplies and materials.
• Put on nitrile gloves and a mouth cover.

#2: Mix epoxy resin

• The Fast Cure Casting Resin is 1-to-1 part by volume. So, mark 2 disposable plastic cups with measurement lines. Other resin brands may have a different mixing ratio, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions if working with another type of resin
• Measure out equal parts of both resin and hardener into the cups. Pour the hardener into the resin. Using a wooden stirrer, mix for 5 minutes. Stir thoroughly until you see no more streaks between the resin and hardener and the mixture looks clear.
• Tip: Stir slowly to avoid creating air bubbles. I also like gently tapping the container against the work surface to release air bubbles.

#3: Color resin

• Optionally color the resin with a few drops of resin dye or mica powder. Stir the resin until the colorant is evenly distributed throughout and all blobs of dye or powder have dissolved.

#4: Pour resin

• Place the coaster mold on an even surface. Pour resin into each coaster mold. Go all the way to the top but be careful not to overfill.

#5: Dissolve bubbles

• Let the resin sit for a couple of minutes.
• Then wave a lighter or heat gun over the resin to pop any bubbles that have risen to the surface.

#6: Cure

• Let the resin cure, undisturbed, and at room temperature. The curing time for the Fast Cure Casting resin from IntoResin is 8 to 12 hours. You can tell the resin is fully cured once it feels no longer tacky.
• The curing process can take 24 to 48 hours if using another brand or another type of resin.

#7: Unmold

• When the resin has hardened through, carefully remove the coasters from the mold. Simply push the shapes out of the mold until they pop out.
• Tip: If you notice any over-poured resin, use scissors or a blade knife to trim it away and sand down any edges if necessary.

Resin coaster ideas

To get you started on your crafting journey, I have created a few beginner-friendly resin coaster design ideas. Which project will you try?

Resin coasters for beginners

These marble resin coasters are pretty and a great beginner project! I used this set of resin coasters and a coaster holder.

Once you’ve combined your epoxy resin, pour half of the resin into a separate cup and tint it with white dye and a touch of white mica. Pour a small amount of resin into another cup and color it gray. Leave the remaining resin uncolored.

Drizzle clear resin into the mold and then pour some white resin on top. Follow with another drizzle of clear and white resin until the coaster is almost full.

Pour a little grey resin on top. Use a heat gun to dissolve bubbles and merge the gray veins with the white a little.

If you want to create gold veins, let the resin cure for 15 to 20 minutes until it starts to gel and thicken. Spray gold spray paint into a small cup. Dip an ice cream stick or stirrer into the gold spray paint and gently draw veins onto the coasters. Allow curing completely.

Resin flower coasters

These pretty resin flower coasters are incredibly easy to create for anyone and are a gorgeous piece of art for your desk or coffee table.

Prepare the resin, then divide it between two cups. I tinted one portion with a few drops white resin dye and soft pink mica powder. I left the other portion clear and stirred in bronze metal leaf flakes and chunky glitter.

Pour both mixtures into your molds simultaneously, swirling the cups around. Let the flower resin coasters cure.

The cherry blossom mold had an imprint on the stamen and carpel. You can use the gold brush to gild this imprint.

Mandala resin coasters

These elegant mandala resin coasters are actually very simple. Mix up resin and divide between 3 different cups. Color each resin differently. I used blue, purple, and bronze mica.

Next, load a disposable pipette with resin and start filling the mold. Position the colors next to each other and keep adding resin until the mold is full. Pop any bubbles with a needle or toothpick. Cure and demold.

Resin coasters with flowers

Combine pressed botanicals and clear epoxy to create resin coasters with dried flowers. These are such a gorgeous and unique project to make!

First, fill each mold about halfway with clear resin. Let sit for a few minutes, then use a heat gun or lighter to pop any air bubbles that rise to the surface.

Next, use tweezers to pick up pressed flowers and leaves and arrange them on your coaster. You can use a clean stir stick to move them around until you’re happy with the design.

Seal the botanicals with a layer of clear resin. Remove any bubbles that rise to the surface and let your resin coaster with dried flowers cure.

Resin geode coasters

DIY resin agate coasters are miniature works of art. You can create any color combination of the rainbow and they look exquisite. Here’s how to make geode resin coasters:

1. Dye. After mixing the resin, split it into 4 to 5 small mixing cups. Add a few drops white dye + white mica to one cup. Stir gold flakes in another cup, and tint the others in various colors of pink and red (or any other color combination). I colored each portion with mica powder and resin dye.
2. Pour. Pour a little gold flake mixture into the center of the agate mold. Pour a light color around the center. Next, Pour the darkest shade along the edge of the mold. Finally, fill up the mold with the other colors, always going circular around the center.
3. Pop bubbles. Using a heat gun, remove bubbles and blend the layers together.
4. Cure. Let cure until solid.
5. Gild edges. After unmolding, gild the edges of your resin agate coasters as a finishing touch. I used the gold brush, but silver would look gorgeous, too.

Resin beach coasters

These maritime resin beach coasters bring a bit of the seaside into the home. They are made with real sand and seashells and feature beautiful blue ocean colors.

Make sand

1. Mix resin according to the instructions. Then mix a little sand with resin until the sand is thoroughly moistened and has a paste-like consistency. If the texture is too runny, add more sand.
2. Place the sand into 1/3 of a round or hexagon mold.
3. If you have, you can place tiny seashells into the sand. Just make sure they are flat so they don’t stick out of the coaster.

Ocean water

1. Add 2–4 drops transparent blue or turquoise resin dye into the remaining resin and pour a little into the mold until it reaches the sand.
2. To make waves and sea foam, color a little resin with white dye. Drizzle the white resin along the shoreline (where the blue resin meets the sand).
3. Blow the coaster with a heat gun to remove bubbles and spread out the white resin into the form of waves.
4. Let cure until fully set. Optionally, add a layer of clear resin to seal everything in place.

FAQ

Are resin coasters food safe?

The food safety of resin coasters depends on serval factors. If you measured the components on their specified ratios and mixed + cured the resin properly, your epoxy coasters should be non-toxic.

However, additives (like pigments, glitter, and dyes that aren’t food safe) will render the project not food safe too. To be safe, I would simply avoid putting any food directly on a coaster.

Are resin coasters durable?

Yes. Once cured, epoxy resin becomes very hard and durable and isn’t prone to breaking or chipping. If well maintained and cared for, you can enjoy your DIY resin coasters for many years to come.

Are DIY resin coasters heat resistant?

Yes, resin coasters can handle high heat for a short amount of time. You can place a hot mug of coffee or tea on your coaster without a problem.

If your beverage is very hot, I’d let it cool off a little first and then set it on your coaster. That way, you minimize any risk of damaging your DIY epoxy coaster.

How do you clean homemade resin coasters?

Simple! Wash your coaster in soap water and gently rub off any spills or food debris with a soft kitchen sponge. Avoid using the scrubbing/scouring side to not scratch the surface. Then tap them dry with a kitchen towel or let them air dry.

Can I put epoxy coasters in the dishwasher?

No, it’s best to wash your resin coasters by hand. The dishwasher can get very hot, which can distort your coasters.

More resin projects to try

If you love resin crafts as much as I do, then you must try these other resin projects. They are so much fun and make great crafts to gift and sell!

• Resin Dice: See how to make resin dice with this fun tutorial! Resin dice are perfect for role-playing and gaming and can be customized in so many ways.
• Jewelry: The post shows how to make resin earrings, necklaces, pendants, and rings. Resin jewelry is beautiful and great for gift giving.
• Resin keychains: DIY resin keychains are gorgeous, lightweight, and great for gifting and selling.
• Rings: If you are interested in resin ring making, have a look at this post. It’s an in-depth resource on all things resin rings and comes with plenty of design ideas.
• Ornaments: Resin ornaments add festive flair and make fantastic holiday decorations!
• Beach Tray: This easy seashell craft is a fun summer craft project and beautiful coastal decor.