🔑How to make resin keychains?🔑

DIY resin keychains are a fun and popular craft project, particularly for resin beginners. Easy to personalize, they're a cool way to express yourself and are perfect for gifting.

Are you interested in learning how to create your own resin keychains?  Here are some easy-to-follow useful tips and techniques for anyone looking to create resin keychains of their own:

What do we need to make a resin keychain? 

Artline Crystal Epoxy Resin kit (150g kit will be enough: mixing cup/stick, protective gloves are already in the kit!)

• Heat gun
• Plastic dust cover
• An assortment of pressed dried flowers/leaves (Golden Autumn is here)
• Gold or Silver gilding flakes to add
• Tweezers
• A silicone Alphabet mold
• Toothpicks
• A sanding block
• An electric drill and a small drill bit
• Jewelry eye pins, and keychain hardware (including a jump ring)
• 2 pairs of jewelry pliers to open and close jump rings

Here are 8 Steps:

#1: Choose Your Dried Flowers and/or leaves

Start by selecting dried flowers/leaves for your resin keychain. For the best results, choose items that are flat and dried. You can either dry them by yourself (see our blog How to dry flowers)

When creating a resin keychain with dried flowers/leaves, it's important to handle them delicately to prevent damage. Use a pair of tweezers to place them very carefully.

#2: Measure and mix the Artline Crystal Epoxy Resin

Wearing gloves, measure the Artline Crystal Epoxy Resin according to the instructions. To make 10-15 letters you need about 150 g total (100 g of resin + 50 g of hardener). 

Mix the resin and hardener together slowly for 5 minutes. If desired, use a heat gun on the resin periodically throughout the mixing process to eliminate bubbles.

#3: Pour the Artline Crystal Epoxy Resin 

For a crystal clear finish we recommend pouring the resin into mold first, filling it half way and then applying the flowers and/or leaves on top. This technique will help prevent air from forming in between the flowers/leaves and the mold.

Then run a toothpick along the perimeter of the mold to release air bubbles that might appeared in the resin.

Once the resin has been poured, it's time to add the flowers/leaves on top, and then pour the remaining resin over them. This technique will ensure that your flowers/leaves are evenly embedded in the resin without any air.

#4: Add the Dried Flowers/Leaves
Drop the flowers/leaves where you want them using tweezers. Use a toothpick to push the flower pieces down into the resin.

#5: Add Gold or Silver Gilding Flakes

Drop a small amount of gold or silver gilding flakes into the resin, using a toothpick to break it up and move the pieces into place.

#6: Top Up the Molds with Remaining Resin

Top up the mold with the remaining resin to cover the flowers/leaves 

#7:  Unmold and Sand

Remove the letters from the mold once they are dry to the touch, approximately 18-24 hours after pouring. Note: the resin may still be sticky - this is normal. It simply indicates that the resin has not 100% cured yet.
Sand rough edges smooth using a sanding block or you can carefully trim rough edges using a deburring tool. Do not use a deburring tool on fully cured resin – it should be still flexible. 

#8: Attach the Keychain Hardware

Drill a small hole for the eye pin with an electric drill. Attach the eye pin.

Open the jump ring on the keychain and attach it to the eye pin. Using two pairs of pliers, securely close the jump ring. Put the ready keychain on the flat surface and allow curing for at least 48 hours more, until it is rock hard, before putting into use.

So, here you are! You first resin keychain of your own design is ready!