Gather your supplies and materials.Pictured below are the basic supplies that you'll need to make your ornament. Check the supply list above for more details.You'll also need vinyl and a vinyl cutting machine (we used a Cricut) if you'd like to add words on your ornaments.
Step 2: Mix the resin
Begin by protecting your working surface with a silicone mat, and be sure to wear protective nitrile gloves and eye protection.You may also need to wear a respirator, depending on the resin. Check your resin label for the safety requirements.
Mix the amount of resin needed for the number of ornaments you'd like to make. Our molds need 15ml of resin each, and we made 4 ornaments (one was off camera) so we mixed 60 ml of resin total. You'll need to adjust the resin amount depending on the size of your molds.Start by adding 1 part of Part A to the silicone measuring cup. The amount of Part A should be half the total amount needed. (In our case, 30 ml)Follow your specific resin's instructions for ratios, drying times, and curing times.
Add an equal amount of Part B to the measuring cup. Or whatever ratio your brand of resin suggests. (In our case, 30 ml)
Mix the resin and hardener together with a popsicle stick or a reusable resin stir stick.Stir slowly, scraping down the sides and bottom of the measuring cup. Continue mixing for 3 minutes or until the mixture is clear.
Step 3: Add glitter to the resin
Pour the resin into separate plastic cups (1 cup per colour of ornament you want to make).
Pour glitter into the resin cups. You'll want to use about 1 teaspoon of glitter total per ornament, between several different types of glitter.
Try using fine glitter, chunky glitter, and holographic glitter to help catch the light.The different textures of glitter will give the ornament depth.
Stir well to mix the glitter in. The resin mixture should be thick, and there shouldn't be any transparent spots.
Pour the resin into the ornament mold.You may want to use the stir stick or a toothpick to get rid of any air bubbles around the edge of the ornament.
Repeat with the other ornaments and let the ornaments sit, untouched, for the recommended dry (or demold) time.Our resin's dry time is 12 - 18 hours, but we recommend waiting 24 hours so that the ornaments are definitely hard enough to handle without warping.
Step 4: Unmold the ornament and prepare the vinyl lettering
Once your resin ornament is dry you can demold it.Grab the side of the mold and stretch it a bit as you pull it back. The ornament should come out easily.
Print your Christmas message, or whatever you'd like your ornament to say, on vinyl using a Cricut or other vinyl cutting machine.Find the link for our templates in the materials list above, or below this tutorial.
Cut around the vinyl design.
Peel off the outer layer of vinyl carefully, so that only your word design remains.
Use the weeding tool to take out any small pieces from inside the design (eg. the inside of an "e" or "a").
Cut a piece of transfer tape to be the right size to fit on your design.
Place the transfer tape on top of the vinyl word and use a scraping tool to make sure the vinyl is stuck nicely to the transfer tape.
Step 5: Add the lettering and an ornament hanger
Peel the transfer tape off, bringing the vinyl design with you.
Carefully place the design on the ornament and press it down.
Use the scraper tool again to really ensure the vinyl is adhered to the ornament.
Remove the transfer tape, peeling it off carefully.
Repeat, adding Christmas messages to your other ornaments.
Cut a thin piece of ribbon to be about 8 inches and insert it through the hole in the ornament. Tie the ends into a knot, creating an ornament hanger.Repeat for the other two ornaments.