See how to make dice! Homemade resin dice are fun for dice games and online gaming. This beginner-friendly tutorial shows how to make polyhedral dice with ready-made dice molds. You’ll also learn different ideas to customize and embellish your DIY dice with alcohol ink, mica, gold leaf, and paint.
How to make your own dice
Are you wondering how to make a dice? Making resin dice is easier than you think! In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to cast dice with resin and ready-made silicone molds. Homemade dice are a fun addition to board games, dice games, and role-playing games such as Pathfinder or Dungeons & Dragons.
Making resin dice is a fun DIY project! You have sheer endless possibilities to color customize your homemade resin dice. I’ll walk you through the whole dice making process and show different design ideas.
Unlike some other dice-making tutorials I found online, I explain how to make your own dice with lots of step-by-step photos.
My tutorial is geared towards beginners looking for a simple way to make polyhedral resin dice with ready-to-use resin dice molds and without a pressure pot or vacuum chamber.
For more resin projects, try see these DIY resin rings and resin ornaments.
This post is sponsored by IntoResin. All opinions are my own, and I only share products I personally love. Thanks for supporting the brands that make this site possible!
Tools and supplies for resin dice making
Let’s talk dice making supplies! Here’s a list of the materials and tools you need for how to make resin dice:
Materials
- Silicone dice mold: I received a set of 7 dice molds from IntoResin for this dice making tutorial. The set includes different shapes + sizes and creates dice with sharp edges and shiny surfaces. The molds are made of sturdy yet flexible silicone, making it easy to release the resin dice.
- Resin: I recommend the Fast Cure Casting Resin from IntoResin for resin dice making. It cures crystal clear and creates homemade dice that look like glass.
- Alcohol ink (optional) is a fantastic colorant for resin. They come in endless varieties and dissolve well.
- Mica powder (optional) creates opaque dice with a gorgeous shimmer effect.
- Metal leaf (optional) is another idea to spruce up DIY polyhedral dice.
- Acrylic paint or fine-tipped permanent markers are needed to paint in the numbers. I love metallic markers for this job!
Tools
You’ll also want to gather the following supplies:
- Disposable mixing cups are useful for mixing the resin.
- Wooden stirrers are my go-to choice for combing the resin + hardener and mixing in colorants.
- Plastic pipettes are helpful to fill the dice molds. Buy them in bulk, so you don’t run out while you’re casting resin dice.
- Small paintbrush to paint on the numbers (only needed for acrylic paint).
- Nitrile gloves protect your hands from coming in contact with resin.
- Face cover will ensure you aren’t exposed to any resin fumes.
- Drop sheet: Cover your work surface with a drop sheet or old newspaper to protect it from spills and drips. Uncured resin is very, very sticky and difficult to remove.
Before I show you how to make dice, I want to discuss the polyhedral dice molds and the best resin for dice making.
Resin dice mold
While you can make your own dice molds from scratch, I was happy to receive resin dice molds from IntoResin. These sharp edge dice molds are made of white silicone that is sturdy enough to shape the resin but still flexible enough to release the finished dice.
The molds create beautiful, crisp edges and a super reflective, smooth surface that reminds me of glass or crystals. The corners appear sharp, and the numbers seem well laid out.
The numbers on some dice are quite small, and you’ll need a fine tip marker to ink them, but they look incredibly precise.
I’ve cast different dice designs over several days, and the molds held up quite well. They didn’t tear or lose shape. I’m confident, and I will get many more uses out of these resin dice molds.
Different types of dice
The dice set comprises of 7 different polyhedral dice molds. Polyhedral means that each dice is composed of multiple equally-sized, flat surfaces. Here’s what’s included:
- D4 (tetrahedron): This triangular dice has 4 sides with 3 numbers on each face. This dice features only 4 numbers arranged so that the numbers are the same apex on 3 fronts. The D4 is usually thrown into the air as it doesn’t roll well.
- D6 (cube): You’re probably familiar with the classic 6-sided dice from family board games. The standard dice has the shape of a cube and shows numbers 1 through 6. The sum of the numbers on opposite sides adds to 7.
- D8 (octahedron): Each face of this 8-sided die resembles are triangle, and the die looks like 2 square pyramids attached at the base. The dice bears the numbers 1 to 8.
- D10 (deltohedron or pentagonal trapezohedron): The faces of this ten-sided dice resemble the shape of a kite. The die has two sharp corners where the pointed ends of the kites connect. The dice features numbers 0 to 9, with the even numbers on one half and the odd numbers on the other. The total when adding opposite numbers is 9.
- D12 (dodecahedron): This variety has 12 sides, and each face resembles a pentagon. The sum of the opposite faces adds to 13.
- D20 (icosahedron): The set also includes a small and large D20, a popular gaming dice. This type is composed of regular triangles and has 20 sides, displaying numbers 1 to 20 with opposite faces equaling 21.
I’m by no means an expert on dice types. Please let me know if I mixed up any dice shapes, and happily correct my mistake.
How do the dice molds work?
When you first receive your resin dice molds, you might be unsure how to use them. Let me show you how to assemble the dice mold:
- Each silicone mold comes in 2 parts. One is the container, the other is the lid with a small pouring hole.
- The container has a groove running around the rim. The lid is equipped with a tongue at the top and a raised number at the bottom.
- To assemble the mold, put the lid with the numbered side down onto the container.
- Then tuck the tongue into the groove to lock the dice mold. The number should be inside the mold.
The best resin for dice
What resin should I use to make dice? My resin of choice for making dice is the Fast Cure Casting Resin from IntoResin. You will receive 32 oz of product, 16 oz epoxy resin, and 16 oz hardener. The mixing ration resin-hardener is 1:1, and I was told that the product is measured by volume.
The resin and hardener need to be stirred together for 5 minutes. After combining the resin and hardener, you have approximately 20 minutes working time. The cure time is 8 to 12 hours.
As you can see in the pictures, the resin cures crystal clear. A few DIY dice were poured without any colorant, and they look like glass, not the faintest trace of yellowing. I will update this post in a couple of months once I know if the resin remains clear in the long run.
I also love that this resin is almost bubble-free. Of course, there will be bubbles when you stir and pour the resin. But once it settles down into the silicone rubber mold, most bubbles rise to the surface and disappear.
Just look at the close-ups of the transparent resin dice. Given that, I made resin dice without a pressure pot or vacuum chamber, I find these results quite impressive.
Also, I want to mention that IntoResin’s product didn’t cause me a headache. I always cover my nose and mouth when working with resin but still get headaches from some resins. I’m happy to report that I didn’t have this issue with the Fast Cure Casting Resin.
New to resin? Check out this helpful guide about epoxy resin on the IntoResin website.
How to make dice
How do you make your own dice? Time to cast beautiful resin dice! While DIY dice may look super fancy, the instructions are actually pretty straightforward. Here are the simple steps for how to make polyhedral resin dice:
Step 1: Prep
- Ensure your work area is clean and free of dust and layout a drop sheet or old newspaper.
- Gather all supplies + materials and assemble the dice molds.
- Put on nitrile gloves and a mouth cover.
Step 2: Mix the resin
- The Fast Cure Casting Resin is 1-to-1 part by volume. So, mark 2 disposable plastic cups with measurements lines. You need approximately 1/8 cup of each resin and hardener to cast all 7 molds.
- Measure out equal amounts of both resin and hardener into the cups.
- Pour the hardener into the resin.
- Using a stir stick, stir for 5 minutes. Mix the resin thoroughly until you see no more streaks between the resin and hardener and the mixture looks clear.
Step 3: Color the resin
- If making colored dice, stir the colorant into the resin until well dispersed throughout.
Step 4: Fill the mold
- Use a plastic pipette to soak up resin from the cup and fill the mold through the hole in the lid. Move the pipette around inside the mold as you are injecting resin to cover all areas and corners.
- Keep adding resin until it starts to spill through the hole in the cap. Check the mold from all sides to see if you need to inject more.
Step 5: Cure
- Let the resin casting dice cure, undisturbed and at room temperature. The curing time for the Fast Cure Casting resin from Into Resin is 8 to 12 hours. If using another brand, the curing process can take 24 to 48 hours.
Step 6: Unmold
- After the resin is fully cured, unmold the dice. Take off the lid and carefully pull the mold to release the resin dice.
Step 7: Remove the sprue
- Using a hobby knife or scissors, remove the sprue (the raised part where you injected the resin) and any extra resin along the dice edges.
Step 8: Ink the numbers
- Fill in the numbers with an ultra-fine point permanent marker, following the grooves of the numbers.
- Trace each number several times to get an opaque finish.
- If you accidentally get marker on the dice, quickly wipe it off with a damp paper towel.
Tips for the best resin dice
After casting multiple resin dice sets, I’ve come up with a few tips and tricks that will help you make the best homemade dice.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a mask to avoid inhaling any resin fumes and work in a well-ventilated area.
- Wash with soap and water if your skin comes in contact with resin.
- To keep bubbles at a minimum, stir the resin and hardener with slow, circular motions.
- Avoid handling the dice mold during the curing process. If you touch the mold when the resin is soft, you risk distorting the shape.
- To test if the dice have cured, check if they feel hard to the touch.
- Clean the molds after each pour. Sometimes resin fragments remain in the mold.
Custom resin dice ideas
Rainbow dice, galaxy dice, petri dish dice, crystal dice, marbled dice, ocean wave dice, flower resin dice… you have unlimited possibilities to make custom dice.
Transparent dice
Transparent resin dice is the easiest resin dice technique. I love how light shines through clear dice, and they remind me of cut gemstones or colored glass. You can create beautiful effects by choosing contrasting colors for the dice and numbers. This is what you do:
- Add 1 drop alcohol ink to the resin and stir until you no longer see any streaks of color.
- Alcohol ink is very potent. 1 drop is enough for a light hue. 2-3 drops will create a medium color. The resin will become opaque once you go over 4 drops. White colorant will make the dice opaque.
- Continue as described above.
Gold leaf dice
Gold leaf creates a luxurious sparkle effect. Metal leaf is available in different colors. Colored foil is ultralight and stays suspended in the resin, whereas glitter will sink to the bottom of the mold.
- Add a piece of a metal leaf into the liquid resin.
- Mix in and use the stirrer to break up larger pieces.
- The more your stir, the smaller the metal pieces will become.
- Pour into the dice resin mold. Use a toothpick/cocktail stick to push larger pieces into position.
- Cure as indicated.
Mica dice shimmer dice
Mica powder, a super fine glitter, is an excellent resin colorant. It lends the handmade dice an elegant shimmer and iridescent look. I created black and white marbled dice and another dice set with pink mica and chunks of metal leaf.
- Mix a little mica into the liquid resin and stir until the powder is evenly distributed. Start with 1/8 tsp or less and keep adding more in small increments until you are satisfied with the color.
- For more color options, combine mica with alcohol ink.
- Pour and cure the dice.
- I found that mica will thicken the resin, so you’ll have a slightly shorter working time.
Dice embeds
You can also embed small items like dried flowers, charms, or beads in your DIY polyhedral dice. Embeds work best with clear or light-colored resin. Try these tips for embedding small objects in resin dice:
- Pour a little resin into the resin mold and circle the mold in the air to cover the sides of the mold in resin.
- Fill the mold halfway.
- Using a toothpick, position the embed in the mold. The object must be small enough to fit into the silicone dice mold and still leave space to be covered in resin on all sides.
- Fill up the mold all the way and cure.
Resin dice making FAQ
Do I need a mold release agent?
No, the DIY dice pop out of the mold without issue.
Do I need to polish the dice?
No, you don’t have to polish the resin dice with sandpaper or resin polish. The mold does all the work for you and creates a smooth, glossy finish.
Help! My resin dice are sticky and don’t harden.
Soft and sticky resin hasn’t cured properly. As mentioned, the minimum curing time for resin casting dice is 8 hours. Sticky resin also happens if you didn’t combine the resin and hardener thoroughly. Stir for at least 5 minutes.
DIY Resin Dice Instructions
See how to make dice! Homemade dice are fun for dice games and online gaming. This beginner-friendly tutorial shows how to make polyhedral resin dice with ready-made dice molds. You’ll also learn different ideas to embellish your custom dice with alcohol ink, mica, gold leaf, and paint.
Materials
- dice molds
- resin and hardener (you’ll need 1/8 of each to cast a complete dice set)
- alcohol ink (optional)
- mica powder (optional)
- metal leaf (optional)
- fine-tipped permanent marker or acrylic paint
Tools
- disposable mixing cups
- stirrer sticks
- plastic pipettes
- small paintbrush (only needed for acrylic paint)
- nitrile gloves
- face cover
- drop sheet or old newspaper to cover the work area
Instructions
- Prep. Ensure your work area is clean and free of dust and layout a drop sheet or old newspaper. Gather all supplies + materials and assemble the dice molds. Put on nitrile gloves and a mouth cover.
- Mix the resin. The Fast Cure Casting Resin is 1-to-1 part by volume. So, mark 2 disposable plastic cups with measurements lines. You need approximately 1/8 cup of each resin and hardener to cast all 7 molds. Measure out equal amounts of both resin and hardener into the cups. Pour the hardener into the resin. Using a stir stick, stir for 5 minutes. Mix the resin thoroughly until you see no more streaks between the resin and hardener and the mixture looks clear.
- Color the resin. If making colored dice, stir the colorant into the resin until well dispersed throughout.
- Fill the mold. Use a plastic pipette to soak up resin from the cup and fill the mold through the hole in the lid. Move the pipette around inside the mold as you are injecting resin to cover all areas and corners. Keep adding resin until it starts to spill through the hole in the cap. Check the mold from all sides to see if you need to inject more.
- Cure. Let the resin casting dice cure, undisturbed and at room temperature. The curing time for the Fast Cure Casting resin from Into Resin is 8 to 12 hours. If using another brand, the curing process can take 24 to 48 hours.
- Unmold. After the resin is fully cured, unmold the dice. Take off the lid and carefully pull the mold to release the resin dice.
- Remove the sprue. Using a hobby knife or scissors, remove the sprue (the raised part where you injected the resin) and any extra resin along the dice edges.
- Ink the numbers. Fill in the numbers with an ultra-fine point permanent marker, following the grooves of the numbers. Trace each number several times to get an opaque finish. If you accidentally get marker on the dice, quickly wipe it off with a damp paper towel.
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david
Tuesday 5th of September 2023
would any other kind of coloring product work (e.g food coloring)? i only need 4 colors
Cyna | Country Hill Cottage
Wednesday 6th of September 2023
Hi David! You can use acrylic paint, mica powder, alcohol ink, glitter, pigment powders, glass paint, air brush paint, and food colors to dye resin.
Food coloring works, but it may not provide the most vibrant colors.
I would perform a small test batch to see how your color of choice behaves. Happy making!
Amanda
Tuesday 31st of May 2022
Hi. I just came across this post and am looking to get into dice making. Do you perhaps have any video to go along with these instructions? I am a very visual learner. It’s okay if not. Just wanted to ask!
Cyna | Country Hill Cottage
Tuesday 31st of May 2022
Hi Amanda! I'm sorry but this tutorial doesn't come with a video. Still, I hope you find it helpful and happy dice making!
Eric
Friday 13th of May 2022
Great Info. I have yet to get even 1 useable set, but it was a helpful start. Holes all seem too small to pipette through. Leaving no space for air to escape. Hopefully I figure it out
Cyna | Country Hill Cottage
Saturday 14th of May 2022
Thank you for checking out my tutorial, Eric!
Michell
Friday 8th of April 2022
I've heard keeping the molds in hot water would help reduce buddles have you tried this?
Cyna | Country Hill Cottage
Friday 8th of April 2022
Hi Michell! No, I haven't tried this. The molds are pretty small so you would have to be very careful not to get any hot water into the molds. Still, if you try it, please let me know how it goes. Happy making!
Stephanie
Sunday 6th of February 2022
Thanks for the help. I still get small surface bubbles on the side with the cover. Anything I can do for that?
Anne
Wednesday 7th of December 2022
Hi, thanks for the tutorial! So far, I've only worked with UV Resin, because it's easier to handle. Do you know if UV Resin would work here, as well?
Cyna | Country Hill Cottage
Sunday 6th of February 2022
Hi Stephanie! Without a a pressure pot, it's pretty difficult to get rid of 100% of the bubbles. However, there are a few strategies that you can try to minimize bubbles:
1) When combining the resin and hardener, stir the mixture in slow circular motion to avoid introducing air. 2) Always fill you pipette all the way. If the pipette is only 1/3 or 1/2 full, you risk squeezing air bubbles into the mold.
You can also try the following technique, which is a bit more advanced:
1) Fill the dice mold without the lid attached. Fill it until you just reach the top of the mold (beneath the groove.) 2) Then tap the mold gently against the worksurface a couple of times. Doing this will bring any bubbles trapped in the resin to the surface. 3) Use a fine metallic needle to pop the bubbles. You can repeat this process a couple of times to make sure no more air remains in the resin. 4) The last step is to fit the lid into the groove. Now, this part is tricky because as you have to careful not to spill any resin.
I hope this helps and please let me know how it goes!