How to Make Resin Geode Coasters
Rock your DIY game with these resin geode coasters! They’re a fun, beginner-friendly resin craft that’s perfect for teens and adults.
Yield: 3 resin geode coasters
Cost: $5
Equipment
Materials
- Casting resin
- Mica powder (main colour, black, and white)
- Gold foil flakes
- Glitter (gold)
- Gold paint pen
Instructions
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Prepare the 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 amount of geode coasters you'd like to make. We mixed 200 ml to make 3 coasters.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, 100 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, 100 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.
Step 3: Add colouring
- Divide the resin equally into 4 disposable plastic cups.
- Choose a main colour for your coaster. (We chose purple). Add about 1/8 teaspoon of this colour of mica powder to the resin in one of the cups. Then add about 1/8 teaspoon (or a bit less) of black to the same cup to darken the colour.
- Stir well with a popsicle stick until the colour is completely combined.
- Add about 1/4 teaspoon of the main colour to a second cup of resin and stir well. Add more colour, if needed, to get the desired colour. It's recommended that the pigment be less than 6% of the volume of the resin.
- Add a small sprinkle of the main colour to a third cup of resin. Then add about 1/4 teaspoon of white to create a lighter colour. Stir well.
- Add a sprinkle of gold glitter and a generous amount of gold flakes to the last cup of resin. Stir these into the resin.
Step 4: Fill the molds
- Pour a thin layer of the darkest colour (that contains black) around the edge of a silicone geode mold. Make sure the resin is right against the edges, with no gaps.
- Pour a line of the main colour along the inside line of the darker colour, going all the way around.
- Repeat with the lightest colour (that contains white).
- Pour the gold and clear mixture into the center of the mold.
- Repeat these layers, placing the dark resin overtop of the dark, the light over the light, and so on, until the mold is full to the top.
- Use the rest of the resin to make another 2 coasters. Pop any surface bubbles with a toothpick or by spraying rubbing alcohol on the surface. Allow the resin to dry for 18 to 24 hours, untouched.
Step 5: Paint the edges
- Demold the coasters by grabbing the side of the mold and stretching it.
- Colour the edges of the coasters with a gold paint pen.
- Your resin geode coasters are complete!Don't use the coaster until the curing time is complete (72 hours). Once the curing time is finished, you can also sand any rough edges. Be sure to wear a dust mask or respirator when sanding.
Video
Notes
Looking for more resin crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
Snowman Resin Coasters
Resin Snowflakes
Resin Coasters