Resin Coasters DIY For Beginners

DIY Resin Coasters For Beginners that are surprisingly easy to make with pretty Damask Chipboard.



Today is our first Int'l Bloggers Club challenge of 2021 and the theme is I Love Resin. Which I do and have been admiring resin art on Pinterest for years. But the truth is, I've never made anything with resin in my life. Never, not even a paperweight in grade school.



So to say I was a little nervous about our theme this month would be an understatement. But I'm always up for a challenge and decided to dip my feet into the resin pool with something simple. And if you too have never made anything with resin, I'll show you how easy it was to make these drink coasters.



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

DIY Resin Coasters For Beginners

If you haven't heard of our Int'l Bloggers Club, we are a group of blogging friends from around the globe who come together on the third Monday of every month to share a themed DIY project.



We have members from Spain, South Africa, Australia, the USA, and Canada. The theme for our last challenge in 2020 was Christmas where I made a Scrap Wood Scandinavian Village.



After taking down Christmas and packing away the DIY Ornament Coasters, I realized the ones we use year-round were looking a little worse for wear. That's when inspiration struck for this month's challenge to replace them with unique handmade resin coasters.



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

The biggest challenge for this resin craft was finding the supplies I needed during a lockdown. After a few failed attempts at finding supplies for other coaster ideas I had swirling around in my head, I managed to find these at Michaels for curbside pickup.



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from any qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!


I was instantly smitten when I saw the pretty damask chipboard sampler on the website and knew it would be so pretty set inside the resin. My choice for resin was limited to this fast cure kit but there are many other choices like these clear casting resin kit alternatives.



Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how to make the DIY resin drink coasters, almost all of the DIY projects shared here at Interior Frugalista have step-by-step tutorials so why not get your budget DIY on and subscribe. You can also follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.



So let's get started.



How To Cut Damask Chipboard For DIY Coasters

I used my Cricut Machine to cut the damask chipboard shapes for the silicone coaster molds.



What If I Don't Have A Cutting Machine?

No worries if you don't have a cutting machine. You can easily trace the shapes onto the chipboard and manually cut them on a cutting mat with either a straight edge and sharp craft knife or rotary cutter.



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

Cricut Machine Set-Up

  1. First, make sure you have the knife blade in your Cricut Machine.
  2. Next, move the white star wheels on the roller all the way to the right otherwise they may leave an imprint on the chipboard material.


These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

Cutting Mat Preparation

It is recommended you use a strong grip mat for cutting chipboard but I spared the expense of buying one and tried the standard grip mat and it worked just fine.



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

Set a sheet of chipboard onto the cutting mat and use a brayer to get a firm bond between the chipboard and the mat's adhesive surface. It's important that you secure the chipboard to the mat with masking tape or painter's tape, making sure not to tape over the cutting surface area.



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

Create Coaster Shapes In Design Space

  1. In Cricut Design Space open a new project.
  2. Click on the shapes icon on the left menu.
  3. We'll be using a circle, square, and hexagon shape.
  4. Adjust the size of the circle and square shapes to 3.5 inches.
  5. For the hexagon shape adjust the width ONLY to 4.0 inches and let the length adjust accordingly so it retains the correct shape. Ask me how I know. 😉
  6. If you plan on having a different Damask pattern for each coaster, like I did, then you'll have to cut each shape separately.
  7. Press the make it button and let the cutting begin.

These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

Now here's where you can get all fancy-schmancy and have the damask pattern line up perfectly center within each shape.



In the Design Space cutting mat screen, move the shape on the mat to best align with the damask pattern. You'll have to do some measuring here. I on the other hand was too lazy and just let the pattern fall where it may.

  1. Once you have the shape aligned on the cutting mat, press the Browse All Materials on the top right.
  2. Select the Chipboard 1.5mm option.
  3. Then click the Done button.
  4. Feed the mat into the Cricut machine and press the cut button.
  5. Note that the blade will make several passes when cutting the chipboard.
  6. It's a good idea to babysit the cutting process in case anything goes array. Mine cut perfectly every.single.time.


These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

Now we're ready to start playing with some resin!



How To Make Resin Coasters

Before we begin, check to make sure your work surface is perfectly level or you'll risk having slanted coasters.



The resin in my kit was enough to make three coasters with a teensy bit leftover. Unfortunately, I didn't have any silicone molds in my stash other than an ice cube tray. Not letting anything go to waste around here I made faux ice cubes for blog photo props with the leftover resin.



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

Here's what you'll need to prepare the resin for pouring.



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

It's important that you use equal parts of resin and hardener. If you use red solo cups like I did, I recommend you double them up for added strength.

  1. Pour 1/3 of the bottle of resin in the Part A Bottle into a cup.
  2. Pour 1/3 of the bottle of the hardener in the Part B Bottle into the cup.
  3. For crystal clear resin this next step is very important. Stir the resin for three minutes, scraping the sides and the bottom of the cup.
  4. Remove any particles that may have settled inside the silicone molds by tipping them upside down and blowing on them. Do the same on the chipboard shapes too.
  5. Pour the resin equally into each silicone mold until it fills the side cavities and thinly covers the center.
  6. Set the chipboard shapes (good side down) into the center of each mold.
  7. With a stir stick lightly press the chipboard down so they are completely submerged in the resin.
  8. Remove any air bubbles (see how below) and let the resin set for approximately 3-hours.


How Do You Remove Air Bubbles?

Ideally, a long neck lighter or butane blow torch is recommended for removing air bubbles in the resin. But if you don't have either here are some other options.

  1. I used a heat gun because that's what I had on hand. But with this method, you need to be careful because you can get too much air, and risk blowing dust on the resin.
  2. Use a blow dryer with caution because you may not get enough heat, too much air, and risk blowing dust on the resin.
  3. Last but not least, you can blow into a straw. The least ideal and most tedious but it does help.


These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

It's important that you cover the molds to prevent any particles in the air from settling on the resin. I had a plastic organizer nearby and grabbed one of the empty drawers. Use whatever you have handy that won't shed any particles.



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

Be forewarned, you'll need to babysit the coasters because those sneaky little damask chipboard shapes may want to slide off-center on you.

  1. Set a timer for 30 minutes and with a stir stick carefully move the shapes back to the center again.
  2. Remove any air bubbles that come up.
  3. Set the timer for another 30 minutes and repeat the process if necessary.
  4. If the resin has started to solidify, don't touch them or you risk having permanent impressions etched on your pretty coasters.


After they have been set for approximately three hours we can top the silicone molds with more resin.

  1. Pour the remaining 2/3 of the bottle of Part A into a cup.
  2. Pour the remaining 2/3 of the bottle of Part B into the cup.
  3. Stir the resin for three minutes, scraping the sides and the bottom of the cup.
  4. Remove any particles that may have settled inside the silicone molds by tipping them upside down and blowing on them.
  5. Pour the remaining resin equally into each silicone mold.
  6. Remove any air bubbles (see tool suggestions in the previous section).
  7. Cover the coasters again with the plastic container to prevent any particles in the air from settling on the resin.
  8. Let the resin set for at least six hours or better yet, overnight.


After The Resin Has Set

  1. Once the resin is completely set, remove the coasters from the silicone molds and gently smooth the bottoms by rubbing your finger or fine sandpaper along the edges to remove any bits.
  2. Attach some clear vinyl pads to the bottom of each coaster.
  3. Let the coasters cure for another 48 hours before setting drinks on them.


These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

Enjoy your new coasters!



These DIY Resin Coasters with a pretty Damask pattern are an easy resin craft for beginners and you'll have unique drink coasters you can be proud of.

I was really nervous going into this resin project but was pleasantly surprised by how easy they were to make. They are not perfect as you can see there are some small air bubbles but practice makes perfect. This gave me the courage to maybe try geode coasters next with dye colors and glitter.



Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today. I hope you were inspired by the handmade resin coasters.



If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!



If you enjoyed these DIY resin drink coasters, I'd be so thankful if you shared them with a friend and pinned it to your favorite board on Pinterest.




Have you always wanted to try a resin craft but was a bit nervous? I will show you how easy it is to use resin and make your very own coasters. #resin #coasters #diy #crafts #handmade


Now let's see what my talented friend's made for our I Love Resin challenge by clicking the links below.



Int'l Bloggers Club I Love Resin Challenge

Spring Heart Wreath - A Crafty Mix
Wooden Suncatcher - Unique Creations By Anita
How To Make Simple Resin Tags - What Meegan Makes
Thrifted Wooden Valentines Paint Pour Heart - Raggedy Bits
DIY Resin Coasters For Beginners - Interior Frugalista



I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.



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Comments

  1. The first time I ever tried resin I was petrified so I can relate to your nerves Marie. It seemed so terribly complicated and all that stirring and debubblyifying seemed like such a mission, but it's totally worth it. And I love how your coasters turned out. They'll last a very, very long time too. I can;t wait to see how your geodes turn out.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Oh Michelle, I am totally hooked now. I want to get all fancy with some colorful dyes, glitter, and interesting materials plus I need to amp my silicone mold supply. They ended up being a lot of fun.

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  2. You have thought of everything, Marie. Your step by step tutorial is right on point. I know what you mean about resin being intimidating. I was intimidated as well. BUT, it's so fun. I can't wait to try it again and making your coasters.
    Thanks for sharing your tutorial. Definitely pinned.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Right! I had so much fun that I made another set of coasters the next day so we had a complete set. I'm totally hooked now and can't wait to make more resin crafts. Thanks for your kind comments regarding the tutorial, they can be such a challenge to write.

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  3. Well, being your first attempt at resin you did a fabulous job. I and so impressed that you got that cricut out to cut your shapes, that was real good thinking. The design you chose was so pretty and I love the colour. Now for the ice cubes, that was just brilliant, I am also a waste not person so these gave me a good giggle.

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    1. Thank you Anita, it ended up being a lot of fun. So much fun that I made another set of coasters for a matching set the very next day. I'm on a mission to put that Cricut machine to good use in 2021 too. LOL

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  4. Those are really pretty Marie! I don't think I have ever made anything with resin either but have been thinking about trying it.

    Tania

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Tania, it's so much easier than I thought. Now I want to up my resin game with resin dyes and glitter. But first I need to work on a silicone mold stock.

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  5. Those are so pretty, Marie! I've always wanted to try my hand with resin. I've used it in repair, but not for fun. One day!

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    1. Thank you! I'm totally hooked now and itching to make more resin crafts. Give it a whirl, I promise you'll have a lot of fun!

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  6. You are amazing, I am daunted by the fiddle faddle of my Silhouette, no patience, not to mention learning a new craft medium. Your coasters are so pretty and practical as well. Love the look Marie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Leanna, I am still very much daunted by the learning curve with my Cricut machine but knew it could cut the shapes much cleaner than I probably would by hand. I had so much fun making these that I made three more the next day so I had a complete set for our living room. I'm glad you like them!

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  7. Very creative Marie. I've never worked with resin before...you make it look doable. And I love your ice cubes! Great idea. Now I'll be looking for a few creative drink posts in the near future with ice cubes nearby. 😉

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    Replies
    1. Ha ha ha...good idea! I was surprised how easy these were to make so now I want to up my resin game and play with resin dyes and such. Finger's crossed.

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  8. You absolutely nailed your first resin project Marie! I love the pattern you chose for the insert. These would make such lovely gifts too!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Sam, they were a lot of fun. So much so that I made three more the very next day!

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  9. Marie, I've wanted for ages now to try my hand at resin, but still not taking the plunge :) However, I hope I do one day and I thank you for sharing this. I pinned it!

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    1. Oh you definitely should try, Maya! I could see you making beautiful crochet florals and embedding them into resin. They have earring molds, gift tag molds, and so many others.

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  10. These are so pretty Marie! And isn’t resin amazing!?! I’ve mastered using it in silicone molds for furniture but when I tried it in a table top... 😬 yikes. You’ve inspired me to try again! 💙💙💙

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of my next goals is to try it for furniture appliques, so you're a step ahead of me. Pouring it over a table top is like a long term goal. LOL Glad you were inspired, Denise. xo

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  11. I really enjoy and admire resin crafts too but have always been too intimidated to try it myself-- which is weird considering my son made resin animal crafts for years and honestly if he could do it I'm sure I could too! These look so easy to make and I just love the patterned chipboard you were able to find. Pinned.

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    1. Joanne, if I could make these, you definitely can! I hope you give resin a try. Besides, you have an expert helper. Have fun!

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  12. Those are very pretty! I have wanted to try resin but I'm intimdated by it, lol!

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    1. Cheryl, if I could do it, you definitely can! I was very intimidated at first but was pleasantly surprised how easy it was. You'll be hooked after giving it a try.

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  13. Just so you know..... You write the best tutorials.
    I've always wanted to try resin, but never had the courage. I think starting with coasters is brilliant. Great job.
    Susie from Chelsea Project

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for that, Susie, it's always a struggle to write them so I'm honored you feel that way about my tutorials. xo Girl, if I could make these resin coasters, you definitely can. It's surprisingly easy and now I'm totally hooked.

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  14. I have never used resin before, but really want to start using it. This was a great tutorial to start me of, thanks

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    1. I'm glad you found the tutorial helpful and inspiring to give resin a try. Thanks for popping over for a visit Natasha!

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  15. Love that paper you have there! I tried resin coasters several years ago, and after many rubbery failed attempts, I had success with a set of two, and have yet to venture back in, but what I did with scrapbook paper was I poured half of the resin mixture in the molds, and let it dry, then I placed the paper, and poured the rest of the resin mixture over. It was more difficult coming up with the mixture half at a time.

    Alexandra
    EyeLoveKnots.com

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    1. Yes, I've heard that is one way of doing it and if you use a small kit like mine where you pour the entire contents of each bottle, the resin mixture will be consistent with each pour. The way I did it all in one shot does require some babysitting to keep the paper centered until it starts to set but I would imagine the same applies when doing the first stage of the two pour method. The one pour method is less time consuming and the coasters can be ready in as little as five hours (depending on the resin).

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  16. Thanks for partying with us, Marilyn, and have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete

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