How to Make Resin Seashell Jewelry

Author:
Tammy
Updated date:
Jun 8, 2022

Tammy is the mother of four kids and worked as a paralegal for many years. She has a wide range of interests, including DIY craft projects.

Make beautiful jewelry with resin seashells. This is a beautiful way to preserve vacation memories.
Tammy Swallow

Embedding Shells in Resin

Resin is an excellent material for crafters and has a wide range of practical and advanced uses. For our purposes here, we will be using it to make jewelry by embedding shells in resin.

While working with resin isn't terribly complicated, beginners will have an easier time if they start with epoxy resin. Also, it might be helpful to read a little about resin crafts before starting your seashell resin pendant.

Reminder: Make sure you look up any local or state laws and regulations before collecting seashells from the beach.

Supplies to Make a Seashell Resin Pendant

Two-part clear epoxy resin kit, such as Envirotext Lite or Castin Craft
Plastic resin mold or cast from polymer clay for pendants
Mold release spray, such as Castin Crafts mold release for epoxy resin
Two craft measuring cups (old medicine cups work well, too)
Disposable mixing cups (I use Dixie cups)
Toothpicks or disposable crafts sticks
Miniature seashells (either plain or colored)
Pendant bails (you can use a pinch bail, glue-on bail, or screw-in bail that matches your piece of jewelry)
Standard drill with an 1/16" bit (or craft drill that can drill through resin if using a pinch bail)

Seashell jewelry can be made with single shells or several in the same pendant.
Tammy Swallow

Instructions to Make Seashell Resin Jewelry

Once you have your materials assembled, you are ready to begin.

Step 1. Prepare the Mold

If your mold is new, wash it with hot water and soap.
Let it dry.
Spray the mold release product over the entire mold heavily, making sure it gets into every cup.
Let the spray remain on the mold for at least 10 minutes.
Wipe the mold, making sure there is no fluid in the cups.
Place shells, sand dollar, or miniature starfish inside the individual resin cups. (Make sure the fancy side of the shell is facing down as this will be the side that is clearly visible on the outside of your jewelry.)

Miniature seashells come in many shapes and colors.
Tammy Swallow

Step 2. Cast the Resin

Prepare the resin mix according to the package directions.
Use the craft stick to slowly drop the prepared solution into each individual cup to cover the seashells.
Let the solution settle for five minutes (if air bubbles appear you can pop them with the craft stick).
The resin mix will become solid in about 15 minutes. If the seashells rise or turn crooked, it is important to reset them with the craft stick before the solution hardens.
As the resin epoxy solution is curing, do not touch it. Fingerprints and stick marks will be permanently cast into the pendant.
For best results, allow the solution to cure for at least 16 hours before moving it or touching it. When the resin is finished hardening, it will be smooth and dry.

A beautiful necklace made with seashells and resin.

A beautiful necklace made with seashells and resin.

Step 3. Turn the Cast Into Jewelry

It is time to remove the resin seashell pendants from the mold. The best way to get them out without warping your mold for later use is to tap the back of the mold with the handle of a knife until they pop out.
After removal, any uneven edges can be trimmed with scissors. Very jagged edges from overfilling cups can be sanded with fine grit sandpaper. Do not sand the front of the pendant or you will damage the surface and make it cloudy.
Using the power drill, add a tiny hole in the front of the pendant all the way through the piece of resin. Here, you will insert the pinch bail. If you prefer, you can drill a hole into the top of the pendant and insert a screw bail.
Put super glue on the bail tips and slide them into hole. Squeeze them gently with pliers to close the bail. If you do not have a drill, glue-on bails will also work for this project. Carefully glue the bail to the back of the pendant and give it ample time to dry.
When finished, place your pendant on a necklace and enjoy or give as a unique gift.

A single shell looks pretty in a resin pendant.
Tammy Swallow

How to Fix Fingerprints and Other Mistakes in Resin

If you make a mistake in a piece of resin jewelry, such as fingerprints or other indentions, the piece can be recoated and fixed.

Allow the pendant to cure for three days.
Wet sand the entire surface of the piece by hand with fine sandpaper until the flaw is no longer visible.
Allow the piece to dry overnight. It will look very cloudy and sanded.
Apply a thin coat of new resin to the surface very carefully with a small paint brush and allow this to dry for 16 more hours.

Scroll to Continue

Can You Add Text to Resin Jewelry?

Yes. Adding text to resin jewelry takes a little more patience and skill, but it’s definitely worth it! See the videos below for instructions and tips.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

patti on January 01, 2018:

cant wait to add this craft to my creations. thankyou (:

Mary on October 15, 2017:

I want to make these for the ladies on my beach retreat. I would like to put a phase on the pendant...can that be done? If so, how? Thank you

Shelly on July 11, 2017:

Just Beautiful!

dougvickie from jefferson city,tn on April 01, 2017:

I'M IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THIS KIND OF JEWELRY. ALSO USING PETRIFIED WOOD I FOUND ON THE BEACH AND MOUNTAINS.

Pam on June 08, 2015:

When doing these as a teenager, if I got a light fingerprint on the surface, I used to sand with very fine sandpaper and then polish smooth again with Brasso. Does take a while, but much less than 16 hours. Works well to remove scratches from most clear plastics. Really good for cd's or dvd's even clock faces. Hope this helps.

KonaGirl from New York on December 08, 2014:

These look fabulous and your tutorial is clear and concise. I have pinned it to my "DIY Seashell Crafts" board.

Connie120 on April 11, 2013:

Thank you very much!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on April 10, 2013:

Yes Connie 120. There is a special resin dye sold at craft stores. It usually comes in red, blue and yellow and if you want other colors you must mix them. Anything else other than glitter can make the resin cloudy. I hope you enjoy it!

Connie120 on April 08, 2013:

OK thank you very much. Is there a special dye to use, or can I use a drop of acrylic paint?

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on April 07, 2013:

Great question Connie120. None of these pieces are layered. If you do want to layer resin it is simple enough to do. Just let one coat dry for at least 24 hours, then another coat can be added. It gets really pretty when you are using dye in the resin.

Connie120 on April 07, 2013:

Thank you for really great instructions! I'm looking into using resin for a few projects, and this tutorial will really come in handy. One question, do you make multi-layered projects as well? I was wondering if there would be a line where the layers meet.

Jamie Brock from Texas on November 30, 2012:

Your resin pieces are gorgeous! I love how pretty the sea shells are. Thank you for sharing how you did it :)

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on November 22, 2012:

Thanks for reading Vespawoolf. These pendants are a really great way to make a unique gift. They have been really popular with beach lovers. I appreciate your comment and hope you will give them a try.

Vespa Woolf from Peru, South America on November 21, 2012:

I've never made anything like these pendants before, but your instructions are clear and precise and make me feel like I could do it! I especially like the oblong and teardrop-shaped pendants. I hope to try this as soon as I can get the supplies. Thanks!