How to Make An Epoxy Tumbler

How to decorate a tumbler with resin

I have seen several resin tumbler projects and wanted to show you how to make them by marbling the epoxy. This resin project is easy and perfect for those who want to customize their drinkware. Use any insulated tumbler that you love and personalize the project with your favorite color combination.

Resin supplies needed:

resin tumbler supplies

● Insulated tumbler
● Tumbler turner (I am using the Spin It from We R Memory Keepers.)
Resin Obsession Crystal Doming Resin
Resin Obsession resin opaque pigments in the colors of your choice
Mixing cups
Stir sticks
Gloves and other protective equipment
● Painter’s tape
● Cardboard or other protective paper
● Craft paint
● Paintbrush

Step 1:  Prime the cup with white paint.

prime tumbler with white paint

Start by painting your tumbler if it’s not powder-coated already. The one I’m using was plain steel, so I gave it a few coats of white paint before starting. I primed it with white paint in case any of the tumbler peeks through the resin.

💡 Pro tip:  You can use the tumbler turner for the painting as well as the pouring.

white tumbler cup

Allow the paint to dry in between coats as well as when you are finished, before adding any resin.

Step 2:  Cover your crafting area.

place down cardboard

When ready to pour your resin, be sure to cover your area completely because resin will drip off the tumbler. I’m using scrap cardboard that I can throw away once the resin cures.

Step 3:  Cover the cup with tape.

cover tumbler cup bottom with tape

Cover the bottom of the cup with painter’s tape.  This will catch any resin drips.  You’ll peel this off later.

tape on inside of steel tumbler
This part of how to make an epoxy resin tumbler is important!  Add painter’s tape to the inside of the cup to catch any resin that may spill or drip over into the inside.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: My tumbler has a lid and straw so that is what will be used for drinking. If you are going to drink directly from the tumbler, ensure your resin is food safe or leave a lip that is not coated at the top.

Step 4:  Mix the resin.

mixing and coloring clear resin

Now it’s time to use resin. Plan on using 1 ounce of mixed resin per cup.

Measure equal parts of the crystal doming resin in a large mixing cup and stir well. Then, divide this into as many smaller containers as you have colors.

Please always remember to wear safety equipment when working with resin.

If you haven’t mixed resin before, read this first:  how to mix resin and hardener.

Step 5:  Color the resin.

resin colors for a tumbler

Add drops of pigment to each of your smaller cups. You can add white or black to the original colors to create lighter or darker shades.

resin colors in mixing cups

Mix well.

Step 6:  Start the rotating motor and add the resin.

pour colored resin on the tumbler

Turn the tumbler turner on low and allow your cup to spin. Straighten the cup if necessary so that it spins correctly. Drip your resin onto your cup surface.

applying colored resin to a stainless steel tumbler

You’ll want to drip each color randomly as the cup spins, getting each color all over the cup.

colored resin on a tumbler

My resin tumbler looked like this once I had all of my colored resin applied. It will start to run together and blend at this point.

blending colors

Use a stir stick to start pushing the resin around on the cup surface. Just barely touch the tip to the surface so that the components spread and do not mix too much.

spreading resin on a tumbler

Continue with this method all the way down the cup until you’re happy with the coverage. Remember you can always add more resin if you need it, but it is hard to remove it once it is added.

At this point of making the epoxy tumbler, you might wonder how to make the colors come together.  Besides using your stick, you can also use a gloved finger to blend the colors together.

Step 7:  Let the cup spin while the resin cures.

Once you’re are happy with your design, pop any bubbles while your cup continues to spin. Then, leave the cup spinning for about 4 hours while the resin hardens. I like to leave a little bit of resin in a cup beside my project so I can check on the cure before turning off my turner.

When the resin is thick enough that it doesn’t run, you can turn off your turner but leave the cup in place for the entire cure time. I left mine for about 18 hours, then took it off the turner.

Step 8:  Finish.

cured resin on tumbler

This epoxy tumbler is almost done!  Remove the tape from both ends and give it a wash with dish soap before using it.  Tumblers coated with resin shouldn’t go in your dishwasher, but they can take a good handwashing any day.

marbled resin tumbler

This gorgeous marbled cup is perfect to keep for yourself or give as a gift. I will warn you that resin tumblers are a bit addictive. It is such a fun and easy craft plus there are so many ways to make them!

resin tumbler with books

Give this marbling look a try on a tumbler or even another project. Wait until people start asking you where you got your epoxy tumbler, and you tell them how easy it is to make!

If you want to try a different tumbler project, here’s how you add a glittered resin finish to a steel tumbler.

Excited to try making other crafts with resin but worried about making a mistake?

I get it.  I’ve been there too.  It’s why I wrote the downloadable ebook Resin Fundamentals.  It’s helped thousands of other artists worldwide go from confused to confident when creating with resin.  Buy your copy of the PDF book now, and it’s ready to download in minutes.

Originally written by Angie Holden

Unpublished Blog Posts of Resin Obsession, LLC © 2023 Resin Obsession, LLC

 

Like this post? You may be interested in  How To Use Leftover Epoxy To Decorate A Vase

12 thoughts on “How to Make An Epoxy Tumbler

  1. Looks great.. but wouldn’t you have to allow for the lid to go on? The resin would make it harder.. the room smaller where there lid clips over?

  2. Can I resign right on the stainless steel or do I have to paint it? I want to put a decal on the stainless steel and leave the “natural” stainless stainless silver color? Do I need to sand the stainless steel 1st if I don’t paint it? Thanks.

  3. If you wanted a decal after this marbling process, could you sand, put the decal on and then another coat of resin (clear, of course)?

  4. When I apply the resin it doesn’t come out really smooth. It’s like it is repelled in some places & over thick (kinda wavy) in others. I also can’t get rid of all the bubbles even with a heat gun or torch. What am I doing wrong?
    Thanks

  5. How can I prevent things from sticking to the resin during the curing process? I don’t know what else to do… I cover them with boxes and they still manage to catch dust particles in the air. I currently have a cured bottles and it caught dust particles…is there anyway I can fix this?

    1. Hi Sofia, I’m sorry this is happening to you. It sounds like you need to check on your pieces towards the end of the pot time to check for stray hairs and dust. I also find it helps me to work in a room that no one else visits, especially anything furry!

  6. You missed a step. ALWAYS wear a respirator mask while working with resin. Resin releases HIGHLY toxic vapors while pouring and while it’s curing. If you do a quick YouTube search you will find tons of stories about people getting seriously sick from working with resin regularly because they weren’t wearing a mask, gloves, and non-ventilated room.

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