How to Make a Resin Tray

Use our helpful tips to make your own resin tray! Follow our detailed step-by-step instructions and use epoxy resin, mica powder, and gold foil flakes to create your own resin masterpiece.

Active Time30

Curing Time3

Total Time3 30

Yield: resin serving tray

Author: Debbie Chapman

Cost: $20

Equipment

Silicone mat
Nitrile gloves
Silicone measuring cup (large size)
Popsicle sticks (or silicone stir sticks)
Silicone tray mold
Disposable plastic cup(s) (to divide resin)

Materials

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

Gather your supplies and materials.

Step 2: Mix the epoxy resin

Before working with resin, protect your working surface with a drop cloth and/or a silicone mat. Always wear protective nitrile gloves and eye protection.
Work in a well-ventilated space and wear a respirator if your resin requires it. Read your resin's label for safety requirements.
Mix the amount of resin needed for the size of tray you'd like to make. We mixed 500 ml of resin total.
Begin by adding 1 part of Part A to a silicone measuring cup. The amount of Part A should be half the total amount needed. (In our case, 250 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, 250 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 to 5 minutes or until the mixture is clear (streak free).

Step 3: Divide and colour your resin

Pour the resin into separate plastic mixing cups, 1 for each colour you'd like to use. We divided the resin into 4 cups.
If you'd like one or two of the colours to cover larger areas, add more resin into these cups.
Add mica powder or another pigment into the cups. The exact amount needed will depend on how much resin is in each cup, and it's recommended that the pigment is less than 6% of the volume of your resin.
Start with a small amount of mica powder and add more if needed. We used about 1/2 teaspoon of each colour (pink, blue, and white) and then added gold foil flakes to the last cup.
Use a clean popsicle stick for each cup, mixing the pigment in really well. Stir slowly and gently, to avoid creating air bubbles. Continue mixing until the resin is smooth, with no clumps.

Step 4: Pour the base of the tray

Begin by pouring some of the clear resin with gold flakes into your mold. We poured a bit off center on an angle from top to bottom, but you can choose wherever you'd like it to sit.
Next, add coloured resin to each side of the clear section. This colour (pink, for us) should be the one you want most dominant in your tray.
Add more lines of this colour across the tray. Pour on different angles, creating curves and lines.
Now pour your next colour into the tray mold. This should be your second dominant colour (white, for us).
Add this colour so it outlines the previous one.
Finally, pour your last colour. This will be your accent colour (blue, for us).
Add thin lines of this next to the last colour.
Continue adding lines of each colour. Start with the dominant colours (pink and white) and then add the accent colour (blue) if there's room.
Repeat until the bottom of the tray is completely covered.

Step 5: Fill the tray mold and create marbling

To fill the tray mold, begin by adding more of the gold flake mixture on top of the clear section.
Then layer your colours (in other words, pour pink resin on top of pink, white on top of white) until the mold is full.
Finish with the clear resin, so that it will push away any colours that have floated into this space.
Add more gold flakes to the clear resin, if wanted, or spread them out so they're evenly placed.
Now use a popsicle stick to create small swirls in the resin, blending the colours together a bit.
Avoid the clear area, keeping it separate.
Eliminate any surface bubbles by spraying the resin with rubbing alcohol or running a heat gun over the surface.
Then let your tray sit, untouched, for 18 hours (or whatever your resin's recommended demold time is).

Step 6: Add the tray handles

To demold the tray, grab the side of the mold and stretch it a bit as you pull it back. The tray should come out easily.
Now place it right side up (the side that was against the mold) on your working surface.
Mix another batch of clear resin (about 100 ml total) and carefully pour a thin layer on top of your tray.
Start with a small amount and add more, if needed.
Use a popsicle stick to spread the resin to the edge of the tray, making sure it doesn't spill over the edge.
Set the tray handles into the clear resin where you'd like them to sit on the tray. Be sure the two handles are evenly placed.
Allow the resin to harden for another 18 hours, or longer. We recommend waiting at least 24 hours before handling, to prevent warping.
Your resin tray is complete!
Don't use your tray until the curing time is complete. Our resin lists 72 hours, but we suggest waiting a week before use to be totally safe.

Video

Notes

Looking for more fun resin projects? Here's a few of our favourites:

Resin Coasters

DIY Resin Jewelry

How to Preserve Flowers in Resin