My Materials: Epoxy Resin Jewelry

Discover the tools and materials you need to make DIY epoxy resin jewelry at home, with Mia Winston-Hart

Epoxy resin is a versatile material that lets you make creative DIY jewelry at home using just a few simple tools.

Mia Winston-Hart (@miawinstonhart) is an educator and accessory designer who specializes in creating jewelry using epoxy resin. In this video, she shares simple tips and advice as she takes you through the materials you will need to create your own epoxy resin jewelry.

Epoxy resin

The primary material is, of course, the resin itself. There are other types of resin available, including UV resin, which hardens under a UV lamp and yellows over time, and polyester resin, which lets off toxic fumes. For these reasons, Mia recommends that you use epoxy resin.

Epoxy resin comes in two parts which are mixed together and left to cure for about 6 hours, until it becomes as hard as plastic. You will want to measure these proportions accurately with a digital scale.

Liquid silicone

The liquid silicone also comes in two parts.

Protective gloves

Make sure you protect your hands and read the instructions of all the materials you use in order to ensure you are safe when making your jewelry.

Pliers

These will help you manipulate your metal and adjust your jewelry according to your needs.

Sandpaper

You can use sandpaper to create a polished finish on your final piece.

Jump rings

Use metal rings to attach your pieces together and to put them in your ears.

Drill

Mia uses three different types of drill bits, two for making holes of different sizes and one to sand and polish the piece.

If you do not have a drill, there are molds you can use that will leave a hole in your piece.

Silicone jugs and mixing sticks

Because resin does not stick to it, silicone is the perfect reusable material. Wooden popsicle sticks can also be used for mixing.

Polishes

There are two main types of polish, finishing spray and grit that, with the sandpaper, will leave your pieces gleaming.

Opaque pigments and alcohol inks

These pigments come in a wide variety of colors and can be used in different quantities to achieve different finishes.

You can also use alcohol inks to create different effects such as the petri dish effect that Mia explains in her course.

Cookie cutters

These will prevent resin from overflowing over your desktop when working. A turned over tupperware box with the bottom cut out will serve the same purpose.

Dried flowers, leaves, and opal flakes for decoration

If you would like to learn how to use decorative techniques to create a unique collection of earrings with epoxy resin, check out Mia Winston-Hart’s online course, Resin Jewelry Design.

You may also like:

- Design and Creation of Beaded Jewelry, a course by Fatto
- Macramé Jewelry, a course by Fibra Bohemia
- Ceramic Jewelry for Beginners, a course by Julieta Álvarez