DIY Creative Christmas Coasters With Epoxy Resin

Resin coasters? Cool. Christmas resin coasters? Really cool. You’ll impress your guests when you’re gathering around a crackling fire. (Even if it’s a youtube fireplace.) Plus, you can make a set to give as a hostess gift when you go to a party.

Supply list:

Four wooden coaster blanks at least 3 1/2 inches wide and long
Gold metallic spray paint
Christmas ornament molds with cutout detailing
Mixing cups
Stir sticks
Resin Obsession super clear resin
Resin Obsession transparent epoxy pigments in purple, red, yellow, and green
Resin Obsession pearl powder
Chunky glitter
Heat gun
Painters tape

Step 1: Paint the wood.

Set up your coasters outside. Then, coat both sides with spray paint. Apply two coats to make sure you get even coverage.

Let the paint dry for 24 hours.

Step 2: Make resin ornaments.

While the paint is drying, you can make the ornament decorations that will go on top of the coasters.

Mix 1 1/2 ounces of super clear resin (1 ounce Part A and 1/2 ounce Part B), then divide into four cups.

By the way, if you’ve never mixed epoxy before, be sure to learn the five steps to mixing resin to make sure it doesn’t cure sticky.

Color each cup with a transparent resin color. If you want an extra sparkle, add a bit of chunky glitter.

Or, if you want a pearlized finish for your Christmas coasters, add a pinch of pearl powder to the colored resin. Then, be sure to mix again thoroughly.

Pour the colored resin into the mold. BUT you only want to add enough resin to cover the bottom of the mold. Don’t fill it up. In other words, you want this ornament to be thin. Thinner than you would make it to hang on a tree.

Go over the molds with a heat gun to pop resin bubbles before letting the resin cure.

💡 Pro tip: It can be hard to get the resin into the mold details without making a mess. To minimize that, add a bit of resin, then pick up the mold. Tilt it back and forth to get the resin to move into the tight spaces. Then, drip in more resin.

Peel the ornaments out of the molds once they’re dry.

Step 3: Prep the squares.

Run tape around the wooden base so that the top of the tape meets the edge. Then, prop up the squares on small mixing cups on your crafting table. You need room for the resin to drip off the sides.

💡 Pro tip: Check the squares with a level before moving on. You want the next resin layer to cure evenly. If the ornament pieces don’t sit evenly, sand the backs with wet/dry sandpaper.

Next, set a resin ornament in the center of each square.

Step 4: Add a clear resin layer.

Mix enough Resin Obsession crystal doming resin to cover your squares. (It mixes equal parts of Part A and B.)

How much do you know how to mix?

First, measure the length and width of your Christmas coasters. Then, put those numbers in the Resin Obsession resin calculator. It tells you how much resin to mix.

For these coasters, which are 3 7/8 inches on each side, that works out to 0.58 ounces of mixed resin for each coaster.

💡 Pro tip: Don’t hurt yourself with the mental gymnastics of mixing precisely that amount. Instead, mix a little more than that for each coaster and have some leftover resin projects ready to go should you not use all your resin.

Cover each square and ornament with the clear resin.

You can use your stirring stick to bring the resin to the edge.

Some resin will run off the sides, which is normal. That’s why you add the painter’s tape to the wood edge.

Go over the surface with a heat gun to pop bubbles.

💡 Pro tip: Bubbles like to trap in the fine details of the ornament. Check these spots well before letting your resin cure.

Step 5: Finish.

Once the resin has cured, remove the tape. Touch up the sides with paint as necessary.

Woo hoo! You’ve got a new set of Christmas resin coasters.

What if you don’t want a gold base?

You can do a different color. Any metallic paint in a holiday color would look great.

What if you make the ornaments and they’re too thick for the resin to cover evenly?

You’ve got two options:

Sand the ornament until it’s as thin as you like. (That’s if you know before you pour the resin.)

Or…

Create a tape dam

Instead of placing the painter’s tape where the top edge meets the wood edge, stick the tape higher. The tape will act like the sides of a mold. Then, you’ll be able to add the clear resin in a thicker layer.

And, you can use this option even if you don’t know that the ornaments are too thick until after you pour the first resin layer. Remove the painter’s tape and reapply with a new border above the current edge.

What kind of drinkware can you use with these Christmas resin coasters?

You should only use cold or warm items on these coasters. Hot mugs and dishes will damage the resin.

How should you store the coasters?

If you don’t have them out all year long. (And no judgment from me if you do… 😉). Store them between layers of a soft cloth or glassine paper.

Ready to take on more resin crafts besides Christmas coasters?

Then get the latest Resin Obsession ebook, Ten Epoxy Crafts. It’s perfect for the advanced crafter who wants to try something adventurous with resin. Buy the ebook now and get an email download link in minutes.

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