How to Make Resin Seashell Jewelry

Author:
Tammy
Updated date:
Jun 8, 2022 4:58 PM EDT

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.

The pendant will look fabulous. This is an excellent way to create very clear, professional looking jewelry.

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!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on September 21, 2012:

I have one photo on the hub where it is glued to the back of the pendant. The glue bails aren't made to go on the front. I will check and see what pieces I have left. I hope you will give it a try. Thanks so much for reading and sharing!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on September 21, 2012:

I am sure they would prettynutjob. This would be a great project for show and tell too. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on September 21, 2012:

I hope you will give it a try Dwachira. It may be the start of a side craft business. :) I appreciate your visit.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on September 21, 2012:

That is a fantastic idea Tycoon Sam. I think they make punch bowl rings with critters inside of them too. It may give your guests the heebie jeebies, but it would certainly be memorable. Thanks for stopping by!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on September 21, 2012:

Thanks so much for reading and sharing Peggy W. I appreciate that! :)

RunningDeer from Iowa on September 21, 2012:

This is so COOL! I always come back with tons of shells from the beach and never know what to do with them. So they end up in a drawer. I am definitely doing this. Except, I don't have a drill. Could you possibly post a picture of a necklace that has been glued on from the front? Voted up and shared.

Mary from From the land of Chocolate Chips,and all other things sweet. on September 21, 2012:

This is such a cool idea, I know my kids would enjoy making this little project with me. They have so many shells this would be a much better way of show cases them than the bowl we have them in right now. Voted up, awesome and shared.

Danson Wachira from Nairobi, Kenya on September 21, 2012:

At the coastal town of Mombasa, Kenya i find a lot of seashells. I will remember to grab some the next time i visit and try making this Seashell Resin Jewelry, i looks beautiful and attractive. Voted up and useful.

TycoonSam from Washington, MI on September 20, 2012:

Hello Tammy,

Once again you caught my attention with a great Hub. I don't know if I'll make fancy jewelry like the ones you talked about but I have an idea for some resin ice cubes with flies or spiders in them. Halloween is right around the corner and they might be fun!

Voted up, useful and sharing

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on September 20, 2012:

Hi Tammy,

What a terrific idea! Seashells are so beautiful and this is a nice way to show them off by wearing them as jewelry. Beautiful little rocks or other found items could also be preserved and displayed to great advantage with this method. Many up votes and definitely sharing this with others!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 24, 2012:

Thanks Realhousewife. I have seen your patio hub.. you have got some great decorating skills.. lol. If we all lived closer we could have a "jewelry parties" and each time we would make a new craft. Those are so much fun. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

Kelly Umphenour from St. Louis, MO on August 23, 2012:

Very pretty Tammy! You are so darned crafty - I can't be trusted with any tools such as you have listed. Last time I used a glue gun - I glued stuff to my own thumb:) LOL

I wish you lived near so you could let me watch a few times before I try this a home:) hahaha

Up and excellent!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 20, 2012:

Thanks so much Prasetio. Perhaps I will make one with some of your tiny oragami. That would be neat too!

prasetio30 from malang-indonesia on August 20, 2012:

Very informative hub. I really enjoy this hub so much and your tips are useful for us. I hope I can practice soon. Thanks for writing. Voted up!

Prasetio

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 19, 2012:

Thanks so much pringooals. Thanks for commenting. :)

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 19, 2012:

Thanks so much Natashalh. With some practice, resin isn't too bad. It takes a few batches to get good at it and learn when it is "ready" to use. Thanks for reading and commenting!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 19, 2012:

Thanks Angelo52. I appreciate your visit! :)

Karina from Edinburgh on August 19, 2012:

I'am definitely trying it. The jewellery from pictures looks great! Very useful hub. Voted up!

Natasha from Hawaii on August 19, 2012:

How nice! I've thought about using resin, but I was a little afraid of it. Thanks for the great instructions. Your pendants look great! Voted up and useful.

Angelo52 on August 19, 2012:

Nice article with easy to follow instructions. The finished pendants with the seashells inside are great. Voted up and shared.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 18, 2012:

I am glad you found it useful bridalletter. This is a great hobby. You can add shells, flowers, scrapbook paper, photos, you name it. Best of luck to you in your jewelry making!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 18, 2012:

Thanks so much for stopping by Christy. I hope you enjoy making them. It will always make you think of your beach trip!

Brenda Kyle from Blue Springs, Missouri, USA on August 18, 2012:

I have been studying how to do this and want to try it. Your style with the seashells is just icing on the cake. I just love them! Thank you for sharing.

Christy Birmingham from British Columbia, Canada on August 18, 2012:

Tammy, this is so cool! I just collected shells at the beach a few days ago and was wondering how best to use them. Well helllo! Great timing that I read this hub. I am bookmarking until I get all of the supplies. Thanks hon. I vote awesome and sharing as well.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 18, 2012:

Now that is a wonderful idea Rolly! We do have an awesome male woodworker on hubpages- JJ Randol. He does woodburning and walking sticks. I am close to coming up with a way to make a "glass ball" to put on top of a walking stick with this same material. That would be a very cute hub! Thanks for stopping by and reading!

Rolly A Chabot from Alberta Canada on August 17, 2012:

Hi Tammy... now there is a novel idea. Maybe all us guys on here should try something like that. Can you imagine the creations.

Hugs from Canada

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 17, 2012:

Thanks Au Fait! This is a great craft to learn. Resin can be used in so many projects. It is a great way to make a meaningful Christmas gift. Thanks so much for stopping by and reading.

C E Clark from North Texas on August 17, 2012:

These pendants look fabulous and with Christmas just around the corner, they're something to think about that can be made ahead of time for gifts. I'm thinking a person could embed other things beside shells too.

Voted you interesting, useful, beautiful, and awesome! Will share also!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 17, 2012:

Thanks so much ishwaraa22. That is very kind of you. I can say the same of you with your awesome jewelry. :)

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 17, 2012:

Aww.. that is so very kind of you. I really appreciate your kind words and the shout out. It is wonderful to be able to do the things we love to do sometimes instead of the things we have to do. :)

Ishwaryaa Dhandapani from Chennai, India on August 17, 2012:

Wow! Your jewelry looked stunning! I enjoyed reading your hub with the well-explained tutorial and lovely photos! You sure become a super-successful businesswoman, selling your crafts! A wonderful hub! Well-done!

Thanks for SHARING. Useful, Beautiful & Awesome. Voted up, Socially Shared & pinned

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on August 17, 2012:

Well this one snuck by me....let me tell anyone who reads my comment, this stuff is really cool! We have one of Tammy's works and Bev loves it and wears it everywhere. Go to Tammy's website and buy some of it....it really is that good.

Great hub Tammy; you are a wonder and I love your new profile picture.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 17, 2012:

Good for you Mama Kim! LOL!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 17, 2012:

It is a pretty simple process Unknown Spy. I appreciate you reading and commenting.

Aloe Kim on August 16, 2012:

oh...hehe, I knew that.... ^_^ guess I could just pop into Michaels. Nah, I'm going to the beach ^_^

DragonBallSuper on August 16, 2012:

Amazing! We used to buy lots of these on market. it's so lovely and really i did wonder how they make it.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 16, 2012:

Thanks Mama Kim. You can also get shells from your local craft store and even the Dollar Tree. I do recommend going to the beach though. LOL. Thanks so much for reading!

Aloe Kim on August 16, 2012:

Absolutely beautiful! I NEED to go to the beach NOW! ^_^ Voted up and pinned! and definitely bookmarked so I have it after I take a beach trip.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 16, 2012:

Thanks for reading Lord. Aww.. I can't draw or paint so art classes would be interesting and limited to stick figures. LOL. It is good to SEE you.

Joseph De Cross from New York on August 16, 2012:

Great from the start! This hands on hub can be done even in pre-school. The quality of the final product is superb! Wish Tammy was my art teacher! Would've developed my Leonardo's abilities.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 16, 2012:

Thanks so much Glimmer Twin Fan! :)

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 16, 2012:

Thanks so much Gypsy48!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 16, 2012:

Thanks so much Lightshare! :)

Claudia Porter on August 16, 2012:

You always have such cool and unique craft ideas which I love. Thanks!

Gypsy48 on August 16, 2012:

Beautiful pieces of jewelry. Interesting hub :)

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 16, 2012:

Thanks for reading and commenting randomcreative. Resin is my favorite thing to make. :)

Lightshare on August 16, 2012:

Wouh!!! Thank you very much for a great beautiful hub -) -) -)

Rose Clearfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 15, 2012:

Just beautiful! I never would have thought to put seashells in resin. Thanks for the great tutorial.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 15, 2012:

Thanks Julie! I appreciate you stopping by! :)

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 15, 2012:

Thanks for reading and commenting talfonso. This is a great way to preserve a lot of things like baby teeth, coins, bridal flowers, you name it. :)

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 15, 2012:

Thanks Ms. Stephanie. I am sure you collect many shells in your travels. Thanks for reading and I hope you will try this craft!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 15, 2012:

Thanks Rusti. I hope you find many wonderful shells. Congratulations to you!

Blurter of Indiscretions from Clinton CT on August 15, 2012:

This looks so cool and like a lot of fun. Nice job on this hub. Clear and great pictures!

talfonso from Tampa Bay, FL on August 15, 2012:

Wow - that looks like a very nice idea! If I come home from a beach day or a cruise, I'd cast seashells in resin and make some jewelry! Memories captured, literally!

Stephanie Henkel from USA on August 15, 2012:

What a beautiful way to preserve those seashells I'm always collecting on the beach! I love that the jewelry features some of the tiny shells that are so pretty and delicate. Voted up and pinned!

Ruth McCollum from Lake Oswego, Oregon on August 15, 2012:

Love this! I'm taking a cruise in Dec 'We are renewing our vows after 30 years. I'll be on the tropical beaches where the shells you find are beautiful making necklaces out of them! Love your photo! Great job!

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 15, 2012:

Thanks for stopping by Nora. This is a great way to preserve shells from a vacation. I hope you enjoy doing this craft.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 15, 2012:

Thanks for reading tlmcgaa70. I appreciate that! It is wonderful if you decide to try it.

Tammy (author) from North Carolina on August 15, 2012:

Thanks TToombs! LOL.. This is a great way to preserve just about anything in plastic. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!

Nora411 from Chicago, IL on August 14, 2012:

I love the pictures of the jewelry! I always love to collect sea shells from the beach but I never get around to actually doing any thing with them. This hub is really interesting, it makes me want to go shell hunting so I can try to make a necklace :) Voting up and interesting!!

tlmcgaa70 from south dakota, usa on August 14, 2012:

totally awesome! voted up and across and shared! also lit my creative fires! thank you so much!

Terrye Toombs from Somewhere between Heaven and Hell without a road map. on August 14, 2012:

That is SO cool, Tammy! One question though, how the heck do you get those pretty shells in that plastic stuff? I'm really glad Linda told me to check this out.