Oh, Halloween, the time for candy, pumpkins and… crafts! It’s so much fun to make Fall and Halloween crafts and there are so many to pick from (like these Halloween Origami Ideas!), but which do you want to try first? How about a Halloween Resin Charm?
If you aren’t sure what resin charms are then you are in for a treat!
Epoxy Resin is a clear think liquid and when it is mixed with polyamine hardener, then it dried to be rock solid. It can be a little messy, but it’s great fun to make custom crafts with. There are dozens and dozens of ideas for resin crafts, but they are normally for adults.
This resin charm project is perfect for older kids and teens. Little kids could even help with it, but they would need a LOT of supervision!
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Resin Charms or Keychains?
Is it a charm or is a keychain? Well, it’s up to you!
I call these resin charms, but really they can be used for lots of different purposes. Put them on a necklace, attach to a keychain or just keep them as a lucky charm!
The instructions below are for fun Halloween charms, but you can make them for any occasion! Below you can see Christmas ones, Valentine ones and even just fun themed ones!
Epoxy Resin
It is relatively easy to buy epoxy resin and hardener (they normally come together in a kit), however, it can be pretty expensive at the crafts stores (and is rarely on sale).
I buy mine from Amazon, as I find this is the cheapest place to buy it. I personally use EnviroTex and like the way it pours and dries. However, there are many other brands (especially if you want to buy it in bulk).
Tips For Working With Epoxy Resin
Here are a few tips that will help you when you are making your resin charms!
- Make sure you measure the resin and hardener carefully. It must be exactly 1:1 ratio.
- Mix the two parts together thoroughly. Take your time and mix for at least 5-10 minutes. If they are not completely combined, then your resin charm will not set and will stay sticky!
- When mixing, make sure you do it carefully and don’t get too much air into the mixture. You want to keep the bubbles to a minimum.
- Once you pour your resin into the molds, if you still have bubbles on the surface of your resin, you can use a lighter to gently pop the bubbles.
Silicone Molds
To make this Halloween resin charm, you can either use a plain circle silicone mold or if you want something a bit different, then you can use a Halloween shaped mold!
Ideally, you want to pick a mold that is shiny on the inside. That way your charm will be shiny when you remove it from the mold. However, if the only molds you can find are matt on the inside, then all you need to do is apply a thin coat of glossy Modge Podge once the resin is completely dry.
How to Make Halloween Resin Charms
The steps to this craft are very simple and it’s a fun and easy project to do with your older kids or teens.
Scroll down for full instructions, supply list, and notes.
Start by carefully measuring and mixing the epoxy resin according to the instructions on the box.
Then gently pour the resin into the molds. If there are any bubbles on the surface on the resin, you can use a lighter to carefully heat the surface to burst the bubbles.
Carefully place any stickers, beads, or chunky glitter pieces into the resin. If you are using letters, be sure to spell any words backward, as they will be viewed from the other side on the finished product.
Allow the resin to set for 8-10 hours and then sprinkle a layer of glitter over the surface. Ensure you cover the entire area.
Allow to completely dry for a total of 24 hours before removing from the molds.
Easy Halloween Resin Charms
These resin charms are easy to make and so much fun! The options are endless - just pick your beads, stickers and glitter combination. Perfect Halloween craft for older kids and teens.
Materials
- 1/2 Cup Epoxy Resin
- 1/2 Cup Hardener
- Halloween Stickers
- Chunky Glitter
- Fine Glitter
- Letter Beads
- Jewelry Eye Pin (cut to length)
Tools
- Silicone Mold
- Plastic Container
- Wooden Stick
- Lighter
Instructions
- Carefully measure equal parts of epoxy resin and hardener in a disposable plastic container. Mix together thoroughly, follow the instructions on the packaging.
- Once the resin is completely mixed together, gently pour into the silicone molds.
- Use a lighter to heat the surface of the resin to remove any air bubbles. Keep the flame moving, so you don't burn the surface.
- Carefully place your stickers and beads into the mold.
- Sprinkle glitter over the surface on the resin (see note below if you are using fine glitter).
- If you would like to make your charm into a keychain or necklace pendant: wait until the resin is partly set (about 8-10 hours) and gently remove from the mold. Insert the jewelry eye pin into the top of the charm (you will need to cut the wire shorter, so it doesn't stick too far down into the charm).
- Allow the resin to fully set for 24 hours and then carefully remove from the mold.
