Resin Photo Keychains with EasyCast

Take your favorite photos with you wherever you go with Resin Photo Keychains made with EasyCast!

Hello resin crafters! Lindsay from Artsy-Fartsy Mama here with a sparkling new resin craft to share with you! I love using photos in crafting, and there are so many ways to incorporate photos with resin. I used photos of my daughter and my dogs to make a set of Resin Photo Keychains using EasyCast Clear Casting Epoxy, and we are so excited about how they turned out. These keychains are a great gift idea, and would also be fun for kids to attach to backpacks or luggage. If you are a resin beginner, keychains are a fun and simple project to get started with!

TO MAKE YOUR OWN RESIN PHOTO KEYCHAINS, YOU WILL NEED THESE SUPPLIES:

• 8 oz EasyCast Clear Casting Epoxy
• Mold Conditioner and Release Spray
• Measuring Cups
• Stirring Sticks
• Disposable Gloves
• Castin’ Craft Opaque Pigment – White
• Resin Glitter (optional)
• Rectangle Keychain Mold(s)
• Transparency Film
• Scissors

Safety first! Before you start working with resin, make sure that you’re wearing disposable gloves & protective eyewear, and that your work surface is covered and are working in a well ventilated area.

STEP 1:

Size your photos to fit the keychain molds, and then print them out on transparency film*. Carefully cut the photos out using sharp scissors.

*Make sure to check your transparency packaging for printing instructions. If you print using an inkjet printer, you will need to spray a coat of clear spray sealer over the printed photos to prevent the ink from bleeding into the resin. Let the sealant dry completely before moving on to the next step.

STEP 2:

Prep your silicone mold with Mold Conditioner and Release Spray and let it dry completely. This will help to make sure your project comes out perfectly every time.

Each keychain mold will need 5 ml/cc EasyCast Clear Casting Epoxy. Prepare the resin according to package directions and follow all safety guidelines. Pour in equal parts resin and hardener to the mixing cup. Stir the resin mixture together SLOWLY with a stir stick for two minutes, and then pour the resin into a clean mixing cup. Stir the resin again for another minute or two with a clean stir stick. If the resin still has streaks running through it, keep mixing until it becomes clear.

STEP 3:

Pour 5 ml resin into the mold, and then gently lay the photo down into the epoxy. If there are any words on the photo (i.e., the names on dog tags), be sure to place the photo right-side down! Lightly drag the stir stick from the center to the outer edge of the transparency to bring any bubbles out that are stuck underneath the to the surface.

Pop any bubbles that rise to the top using a heat gun, by blowing through a straw, or lightly spritzing with alcohol. Leave the resin to cure in an undisturbed area for at least 4 hours. DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE MOLD.

STEP 4:

Prepare another 5 ml/cc EasyCast Clear Casting Epoxy per keychain. Pour in equal parts resin and hardener to the mixing cup. Stir the resin mixture together SLOWLY with a stir stick for two minutes, and then pour the resin into a clean mixing cup. Stir the resin again for another minute or two with a clean stir stick. If the resin still has streaks running through it, keep mixing until it becomes clear.

Add in a little bit of white Castin’ Craft Opaque Pigment to the resin, and a little bit of iridescent Resin Glitter (if you’d like a little extra sparkle). Stir the resin mixture together until everything is combined. Pour 5 ml into each keychain mold, and tilt the mold a little bit in each direction to make sure that the entire keychain is covered.

Pop any bubbles that rise to the top using a heat gun, by blowing through a straw, or lightly spritzing with alcohol. Leave the resin to cure in an undisturbed area for at least 24 hours. You will know that the resin is completely cured when it is no longer tacky.

STEP 5:

Carefully remove the keychains from the molds and admire your work! “Demolding” is one of my favorite parts of working with resin. You work so hard on these projects, and it makes the big reveal so exciting! If you over-poured any resin, you can trim the excess away using a craft knife or scissors. If the keychain still feels a little flexible or bendy, it may just need more time to cure. Let it sit in a warm, flat area to cure for a few hours (or days).

STEP 6:

Use jewelry pliers to open a 10-12mm jump ring, and hook it through the hole in the keychain. Next, hook a small chain and keyring to the jump ring and close the jump ring using pliers.

These keychains are such a simple project, but make such an impact! They would be great for gift-giving, or to make for yourself to take your favorite photos with you wherever you go!

As always, I would love to hear what you think about these Resin Photo Keychains made with EasyCast! Be sure to check out these other resin keychain tutorials for more inspiration, and share your own creative resin projects in the ETI Facebook Group!

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