How to Make Personalized Resin Christmas Ornaments

Hanging ornaments on the tree is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Many of my treasured ornaments are snapshots of my childhood. Salt dough handprints, popsicle stick houses, and snowmen made with cotton balls and paper, all made by hand. Each time I unwrap them, I'm flooded with memories of Christmases past. This year, I'm adding these handmade resin ornaments to my collection. Working with resin is surprisingly simple and you can customize these DIY ornaments with monogram letters, small trinkets, or family photos. I'm even going to try to encapsulate a few of my daughter's drawings. Read on to learn how to make your own Christmas ornaments using resin.

Ryan Krull

How to Make a Resin Christmas Ornament

Supplies Needed

• Respirator

• Nitrile gloves

• Safety glasses

• Round silicone molds

• Rubbing alcohol

• Lint-free towel

• Clear casting kit

• Plastic cups

• Wooden stir sticks

• Heat gun

• Wooden skewer

• Wood craft letters

• Faux greenery sprigs

• Faux berries

• Crafts knife

• Drill

• Decorative ribbon

Step-by-Step Directions

Working with resin may seem intimidating but with a few easy steps, you can create lasting handmade Christmas ornaments. We'll walk you through how to use resin including tips for removing any air bubbles that may form.

Step 1: Prepare Materials

It's important to wear safety gear before you open the resin. You'll need a respirator, protective disposable gloves, and protective eyewear ($8, The Home Depot). Choose a well-ventilated location like the outdoors or an open garage. Open as many windows as possible and use a fan to help with ventilation while working with the resin. Before you mix up the resin, wipe down the round silicone molds with rubbing alcohol and a lint-free towel. Let them dry completely. This will keep stray dust or lint out of your ornaments.

Step 2: Mix the Resin

A clear casting kit makes starting this Christmas ornament craft easy. Start with a two-part clear resin kit ($18, Michaels). The kit should include one bottle of resin and one bottle of hardener. Use the guide on the box to determine quantities. Mix one part resin with one part hardener in a plastic cup. Use a wood crafts stick to slowly stir the mixture until it's fully combined and there are no bubbles, about three minutes. Pour into another plastic cup and mix for two more minutes.

Step 3: Pour Ornament Molds

Slowly pour the resin mixture into the silicone molds until they are a third full. Use a heat gun ($15, Walmart) on low heat to remove any bubbles. Let the resin sit in the molds for 15 minutes.

Step 4: Add Decor

Use a skewer to place wood crafts letters, sprigs of faux greenery, and snipped red berries onto the resin. The items will sit on top but shouldn't sink. When you've placed all the items, let the mold sit for 4 hours.

Step 5: Add Resin

After the molds have dried for 4 hours, mix a second batch of resin and hardener using the same method as above. Pour it over until the mold is nearly filled. Use the heat gun again to eliminate any bubbles, then let the molds cure for 1-2 days.

Step 6: Drill Holes

Use a crafts knife to pre-etch the hole for hanging. This will help prevent cracking when drilling the holes. Use a power drill to finish the hole and thread with a decorative ribbon to hang on the Christmas tree.