3 DIY Epoxy Resin Projects That Make PERFECT Gifts

Looking for the perfect gift? Here are three of our favorite epoxy resin art projects for beginners or anyone looking for an easy, fun DIY project that can double as a gift. to your loved ones. Stay tuned to find out just how easy these projects are as Steve, our resident resin expert, walks you through the process!


 

Resin for Beginners Project 1: Wall Hanging (Estimated Working Time: 90 Minutes)

What You'll Need:

Don't have these supplies, here's where to buy epoxy.

 

Resin For Beginners Project 2: Bar Top (Estimated Working Time: 3 Days)

What You'll Need:

 

Resin for Beginners Project 3: Charcuterie Board (Estimated Working Time: 3 Days)

What You'll Need:

Project 1: Wall Hanging

 

Step 1: Prep Your Project

One important thing for resin beginners to remember is preparation is half the work. Take your time in the beginning and the rest of the project will go much more smoothly.

To prep we got a base canvas and spray painted it with a blue primer. We did this to match the blue color of the powdered pigment. When applying epoxy resin on wood, it’s important to prime your wood in order to create a strong chemical bond with the epoxy, which makes your project stay sleek, clean, and strong longer. 

 

Step 2: Add Your First Coat of Resin

Mix and pour your initial coat of art resin onto the canvas. We chose to add our powdered pigment of choice, Deep Blue (BL3), to this first layer, but you can keep it clear and not add any colors until the next layer if you like!

 

Step 3: Pour a Layer of Colored Art Resin

Just because this is a resin for beginners class doesn’t mean we can’t get crafty! After you have laid your first coat of epoxy down, add a secondary coat of art resin. Although we chose to stick with one color, you can add as many colors from the powdered pigments set as you like to the mixed resin. 

As for designs, you can keep the colors separate, use a heat gun for more fluidity, or use a popsicle stick and swirl the colors around for an original design. While it was curing, we sprayed alcohol on the piece to get a really cool abstract effect. Let the project fully cure for a day.

That’s it- it’s really that simple! This piece took us an hour and a half to complete- it’s just so easy, allows for a lot of creativity, and comes out stunning! A perfect project for resin beginners and also a perfect resin sign.

 

Project 2: Bar Top 

 

Step 1: Prepare the Wood Slab

As we learned with the first resin for beginners project, preparation is key. For this project, choose any kind of wood you prefer and feel free to manipulate it with power tools however you see fit. 

We started off with a piece of cedar wood, flattened it out, and taped up any cracks and crevices on the underside to prevent epoxy leaks. You can also do this project with an existing bar top! 

Step 2: Choose Your Colors

Once you have everything taped up, flip the project over and choose pigment colors! We decided to go with Vivid Blue (Y427), Olive (Y4655), and Gold Red (OR2). We mixed up a batch of both tabletop and deep pour epoxy resin, then added them into small cups and mixed our powdered pigments into them. 

Step 3: Pour the Colored Epoxy

Start pouring the colored mixtures one by one into the surface of the piece. We used the tabletop mixtures to fill up all the cracks and crevices on the face of the wood, and the deep pour mixtures on the deeper areas where there were big knots. 

We used our plastic spreader to make sure that all of the epoxy was seeping into the cracks, covered them briefly, and went over them two more times until the epoxy leveled up with the top of the crack. It’s important to make sure the surface is flush and level! Let the project cure for 2-3 days.

Step 4: Finishing Your Project

Another important lesson for resin beginners to learn is that finishing is really what makes the project shine. Be prepared to spend some time on this step to produce an excellent final project.

After the curing was done, we sanded it up and added a finishing coat of tabletop epoxy resin. This makes the project POP and give it a glossy finish! If you’re using an old bar top for this project, don’t skip this step! The tabletop epoxy resin restores life into older pieces. 

Wipe off the sides, remove drips, let it cure for another day or two, and you’re good to go! Bar tops are fun, easy to make, and can double as a gaming console table, a library table, a sofa table, and so much more. Look at how cool this came out! Once you've mastered this, you're also ready for a DIY epoxy table top!

 

Project 3: Charcuterie Board

Step 1: Place Your Pattern and Mix Your Resin

Add both the wood and your chosen pattern to the mold- you can make a custom form or purchase a pattern online. Next, mix up a batch of deep pour epoxy resin. DIY Tip for resin beginners: Be sure to use the calculator on our website to figure out how much epoxy is needed for your pattern!

Step 2: Choose Your Pigments

After thoroughly mixing your colored deep pour epoxy resin, mix in the powdered pigment color(s) of your choice. We went with Deep Blue (BL3), Sparkle White (AW4), and Purple (Y4705). Separate the mixed resin into cups, adding each of your color choices into one. 

Step 3: Fill the Mold and Sand

Next, fill the mold with each cup of colored epoxy resin. Allow some time for your project to cure (48-72 hours) and then you’re ready to take it out of the form! After removing the board from the form, we highly recommend sanding, planing, cutting, and beveling your edges to create a beautiful and sophisticated look. 

Step 4: Add a Flood Coat for a Glossy Finish 

Once it was safe to work with the project again, we poured a 1:1 ratio of tabletop epoxy resin mixing the product for 2-3 minutes. We did a flood coat on the piece and evenly distributed the epoxy with our plastic spreader. Next, we used a heat gun (you can use a torch if you have one) to pop any bubbles that came up. 

Step 5: Finish the Other side of the Board

As said in the last step, we finished the top of our board off with table top epoxy resin, but then we finished the other side with a finishing oil. If you want your board to be multifunctional, don’t skip this step!  You’ll have a glossy side and a matte side, giving your board extra versatility. 

Now you have a gorgeous piece that you can use multiple ways. Once you master a charcuterie board, you'll be able to move on to resin coffee tables, dining room tables, and more epoxy projects, such as epoxy tumblers, with ease. Join our digital resin course for more tips and tricks!

 

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