If you have seen our previous crafts, you know we love resin! We use it with mosaic projects like our Steampunk Mosaic Coasters. The clear resin lets the design shine through. Well, here’s another resin project inspired by a trip to the beach. We made Seashell Coasters! If you’ve never used resin, no worries. We’ve included a video showing how to mix and pour the resin. It’s not hard. You just follow the directions. We’ll show you how!
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links for products or services we think you’ll like. This means if you make a purchase from one of these links, we’ll make a little commission at no additional cost to you so we can keep making how-to videos and share our crafts with you. We think it’s helpful, too, to see what the products we used look like, even if you don’t buy them from our affiliate.
How To Make Seashell Coasters With Resin
Materials (for each coaster)
1 jar lid, 3¼” to 3½” diameter
Seashell chips
Large shell (not too tall)
Small shells
Pearls
4 self-adhesive felt pads (optional: to put on the bottom)
Supplies
Spray paint, silver
Clear silicone adhesive
Envirotex Lite Pour-On Finish (resin and hardener kit)*
4 straight-sided cups
2 paint stirring sticks
Protective goggles
Protective gloves
Timer (You can use your cell phone.)
Toothpick
* The linked kit is only 8 ounces. That is enough resin for two or three coasters.
Steps To Make The Seashell Coasters
1. Wash and dry your jar lids, then spray paint them silver. Stick the felt pads to the bottoms of the lids.
We used the lids to Pirouette cookies, which are delicious. But that’s not why we chose them. They are unthreaded which we think looks nice. You can also use salsa jar lids.
2. For each coaster, glue a large shell into the lid. Make sure the shell does not stick up higher than the edge of the jar lid. We used a ruler and swiped the edge across the top of the lid to make sure it didn’t touch the shell. Drizzle the shell chips in to surround the shell and cover the bottom of the lid. Add smaller shells around the center one. We added a few pearls too.
3. Now you are ready to mix the resin. Put on gloves and protective eyewear and get your supplies ready.
Here’s a video we made showing how to mix the two-part resin.
Pour the resin in one cup and pour the hardener in second cup making sure the two cups have the same amount. Our coasters used 2-3 ounces of mixed resin each. We mixed the resin in two batches (more manageable!). To make the first batch, we measured 3 ounces of the resin in one cup and 3 ounces of hardener in another cup. This amount will cover two of the seashell coasters.
Once you have carefully measured out the resin and the hardener, pour the entire contents of each cup into the third cup. Start the timer – you will stir for two minutes. Mix the resin with a paint stirring stick, scraping the bottom of the cup and scraping the resin off the stirring stick and back into the mix while mixing. After two minutes, pour the mixed resin into a fourth clean cup. Mix again for one minute using a new clean paint stirring stick.
5. Pour the resin into the seashell coasters. We like to drizzle it all over so we make sure it gets in every nook and cranny. Pour to the top lip of the lid. Make sure the coasters are on a level surface. W like to cover them to prevent dust from settling on them while they are curing.
6. Five to fifteen minutes after pouring the resin, little bubbles will appear in the coasters. These are expected and are a part of the process. Exhale gently over the surface of the coaster to release the bubbles. (The carbon dioxide in your exhaled breath releases the bubbles.) You can pop the big bubbles with a toothpick. Look for trapped bubbles near the shells too and pop them.
Let the coasters cure on a level surface in a dust-free area for 48 hours.
We made a version with sand to see how it would look, and although it is pretty, we think the shell chips look much more glamorous! But if you want to make them with sand, here’s a picture of what that looks like.
Here is one made with shell chips.
We think these turned out so pretty! And what a lovely way to remember summer. If you have any questions or comments while you’re working on your coasters, you can post a comment and we’ll respond. We’re here to help!
Happy Crafting,
Jennifer & Kitty
We love getting pinned!
If you like seashell crafts, we have plenty! Here are some of our favorites.
Your resin coasters are just lovely
Thank you Diana!
J&K
Hi ladies,
I’ve done these resin coasters with shells, sand dollars and star fish and they come out so cute. The only problem I noticed was with the sand dollars, they absorb the resin and it affects their color, making them translucent in some areas. Any hints on how to prevent that from happening? Thanks,
We have seen that happen too. Perhaps you could seal the sand dollars with a spray coat of clear varnish. Let us know if you figure out a fix! J&K
Or some PVA glue, let it dry 24 hours before adding resin. The same with photos or any absorbant material you put in resin
What a fabulous idea! i love the coasters that you made, and look forward to making some, myself 🙂
Thanks Linda!
What is the clear silicone adhesive used for? Also would a mason jar lid work ok for this project? Thank you
We used the clear silicone adhesive to glue the jars into the bottoms of the lids. And yes! Mason jar lids would work great for this project!
I love this idea! Would you mind if I included a photo and a link to your how-to post in a blog post I’m writing about decorating beach-themed decor for a new blog I’m starting for RV owners?
Sure! And thank you for asking!
Cheers,
Jennifer & Kitty
Thank you!
The coasters look great! I made some last night and covered it with a paper towel so that it would prevent dust. Unfortunately, the paper towel must have settled overnight and accidentally glued to the resin! Do you know how I can get this off? I’ve been working with a knife just prying it off piece by piece. Thanks!
Oh no! Sorry that happened. Not sure what to do to get it off, but we do know that if you get the paper towel removed, you can clean the surface with alcohol and pour a fresh layer of resin to make it nice again. (Be careful with that knife!) ETI who makes the resin has excellent customer service. Perhaps you could call them. Good luck! Jennifer & Kitty
Would it be possible to make these with a hot coffee cardboard sleeve? a local coffee shop has really cute pictures on theirs that I’d love to make. And are the coasters in the lids permanently or do they come out after?
Hi Brittany! Great questions! The lids are permanently part of the coasters. The coasters do not come out of the lids. Cardboard and paper will become wet from the resin and will remain wet looking even when the resin cures. We tried using a piece of newspaper once and it looked like wet newspaper. You could see the printing on the other side. We did not like the results. Our solution is to laminate the paper. Here’s a project where we used paper with UV Resin so you can see how we used clear packing tape to laminate the paper: http://runningwithsisters.com/how-to-make-a-uv-resin-picture-pendant/
Hope that helps!
J&K
So they stay In the lids?
Yes. They stay in the lids. Hope that helps! J&K
These are beautiful! I’m new to working with resin, and I’m wondering – would it be okay to put a warm drink like a coffee cup on these, or would it damage the resin? Thanks!
Thanks Saundra! We use these coasters all the time. No problem with a hot beverage at all! J&K
Love the seashell coasters. Can’t wait to try to make them. I make a whole bunch of sea shells and driftwood stuff , but I’ve never worked with resin before. So looking forward to it! Great video also ?
Thanks Pamela! J&K
Love your website. All the things I want to try.
Yay! Thanks for the kind words!
Could you use silicone molds and just pop them out after they have cured!!! Love the shells but not so much the lids….
Hi Lauren,
If you want to use a mold, you may want to try a different resin. ETI who makes the resin we used also makes resin for molds. They are very helpful! https://www.eti-usa.com/
J&K
I’m thinking you could glue some sisal rope around the outside edge of the lid so the lid didn’t show. That’s what I’m going to try anyway. ??
That’s a fun idea!
J&K
Love the resin coasters. When the glass sweats,doesn’t it leave a lot of moisture in it?
Yes, the water can pool a little on the coasters. If you want an absorbent coaster we love the Thirsty Stone ones!
J&K
So I need to put a bit more of the mix to fill to the top, (some of my shells are a bit above the surface, (I did the ruler swipe) so how long do i have to wait before i can put a bit more in? Also do I have to follow the exact same directions?
Hi Beth,
Yes, do the second layer the same way you did the first.
J&K
I made the sea shell coasters and I need to add more resin to level it off to the top,(there is a small part on all the coasters that is poking through, so I have to wait for a full 72 hrs to do this or would 24 to 48 hrs be okay ?
Hi Beth,
Great question and sorry for the delay! It is best to wait until the resin is cured so you can wipe it with alcohol before pouring on another layer. The alcohol cleans off any dust and grease so the second layer will adhere. So we recommend waiting 48 hours before adding a second layer of resin.
Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty
U have used jar lids of metal.can we use wooden base for that?.
Hi Falguni,
These coasters require sides to keep the resin from pouring out. The jar lids are leak proof and work best for this. If you have a wooden base, perhaps you’d like to try a no-grout technique like this: http://runningwithsisters.com/how-make-mosaic-house-numbers-with-no-grout/
J&K
Where do you get the seashell chips? I have made the steam punk coasters as a gift and they are adorable plus since hand made there won’t be another one like it. You guys have the very best ideas. Where does your inspiration come from?
HI Lynne,
So glad you had success with the Steampunk Mosaic Coasters! We got the seashell chips in a bag from Joann’s. Here’s something similar, but we’re not sure of the actual size of the chips in this link: https://www.joann.com/panacea-products-pearl-fine-crushed-shells-175-lbs/9581737.html#q=crushed%2Bshells&start=1
Hope that helps,
J&K
If I wanted to use resin for a similar but much larger project than the seashell coasters, would I use the same resin? Does it come in different quantities? Also, do you know how this resin holds up over time? Does it yellow? Are heat fluctuations a problem? What is the recommended temperature range? Thanks so much, Leslie
Hi Leslie,
The company that makes the resin (Envirotex) has excellent customer service. They will be happy to answer these questions. They know the products much better than we do! They also have a fun blog showing all kinds of resin projects: https://resincraftsblog.com/
We found a seashell table top project sheet they created too: https://www.eti-usa.com/embedded-seashell-table-top-envirotex-lite-epoxy
Hope that helps!
J&K
Are you able to remove the whole coaster from the lid? I’ve seen some projects that are all resin. They look fabulous. Is there a certain medium that you can pour into that will release it eventually?
Great question Cris! These coasters stay in the jar lids. If you want to make clear resin coasters, try using a mold with casting resin. Here’s a link to a similar project using a silicone mold and resin that is made to use with molds: https://resincraftsblog.com/gold-leaf-resin-paperweights-diy/
Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty
I love your projects with the shells. I have worked with table top resin for years but not the casting resin. I ‘ve got to try it. Just one word of caution, please consider using a torch or heat gun or even a hair dryer to dispurse the bubbles, it is so much safer for your lungs. I personally know someone who damaged his breathing by exhaleing on sand dollar ornaments. It is naturlal for us to hold the item in front of us and take a breath {drawing in fumes to our lungs} then exhale on the item. Maybe if someone is only doing a few now and then it doesn’t matter. But again your work is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Vicki. We don’t do resin crafts very often. And we promise when we do we’ll be very careful. But thank you for your concern and we will take your advice if we start doing more of them. Very sweet of you!
J&K
thank you for this very informative video. I wondered if a jar lid could be used for resin coasters. If you use silicone molds instead of jar lids, do you need to put a layer of resin in first, let it harden a bit, before adding your shells? appreciate your advise on this.
Yes, we used jar lids to make the coasters. You can do it all in one step. Arrange everything, then pour on the resin. We haven’t tried making them in a mold. Hope that helps some!
J&K
Love your work
Thanks Liz!
I would love to make the seashell coasters. Is there a way to remove it from the lid or use a different product to remove and just have the resin coaster?
Thanks so much for your reply.
Great question Linda. If you want to make molded resin coasters, you will need a mold and different kind of resin called Casting Resin. But then you can have the coasters be all resin with the shells inside. Here’s a similar project: https://www.eti-usa.com/leaves-and-shells-paperweight
Goodluck!
J&K
I’ve had a lot of success with seashells and casting resin on wood projects (tables), but I never considered using them as coasters. I am so happy to have found this post. I live on the Georgia Coast, so there is an unending supply of shells. Especially tiny, but perfect ones. With this idea, I need to plan another trip to the beach very soon!!! Thank you.
We love the shells on the East Coast. You are so lucky to have them. And what fun to gather them!
J&K
How long after finishing our coaster do we have to wait to be able to use them? How do you know if your resin has cured is their a way to know or is it just by the hours?
It is best to time the resin. To test it, we use a straight pin and gently poke a hidden section, like over to the side. If you touch it with your finger and it’s not cured, you can leave a finger print. So use a toothpick or a pin.
J&K
I did a beach resin coaster in molds but the sand was still on the back and wet and chunky and wet what did I do wrong
So sorry you had trouble with your resin coaster. If your resin remained wet, it was not mixed properly. What kind of resin did you use?
J&K