Use resin to make your own custom color-changing phone grip!
I was in denial about it for a while, but having a phone grip attached to your phone is actually pretty helpful. Not only is this custom resin phone grip a fun accessory, but it has a magical color-changing twist! Like a mood ring, this set uses the magic of thermochromic (color-changing) powders to change color with heat! This is a great project for resin beginners, and is a clever gift idea. I have been so excited to share this tutorial, and I know you are going to love giving this project a try.
New to resin? Be sure to check out Resin 101: Getting Started with Resin!
To make your own Color-Changing Resin Phone Grip, you will need these supplies:
*Save 10% on resin supplies when you shop ETI with code AFM
SAFETY FIRST: Before getting started, wear disposable gloves, protect your workspace, and be sure to work in a well-ventilated area!
What gives this project its magic is the thermochromic mica powder! There are 5 different heat-sensitive color changing powders in this set, but I went with just three for this project: purple-pink, dark green-lime, and violet-blue.
Prepare 2oz (60ml) of Amazing Clear Cast resin according to package directions. Pour in equal parts of resin and hardener to the mixing cup. Slowly stir the resin together with a stir stick for two minutes. If the resin looks cloudy or has any streaks running through it, you need to keep stirring it until it becomes clear. If you want some sparkle, add some white iridescent glitter into the resin and stir until combined.
Split the resin equally into three smaller mixing cups. Add a generous amount of thermochromic mica powder into each cup. Stir the resin mixtures slowly with a clean stir stick until the powder is completely combined with the resin. For best results, add a little more mica powder than you normally would in a regular resin project.
Use droppers or stir sticks to alternate adding a little bit of each resin mixture into the phone grip mold cavity until the mold is full. To prevent a lot of trimming later, make sure not to overfill the molds! Let the resin sit for a few minutes, then use a straw, heat gun, or spritz with 91% alcohol to remove any air bubbles that rise to the top. With this amount of resin, you should be able to make 4-5 phone grip shapes.
To marble the resin colors, place a stir stick in the center of the mold and draw a swirl through the resin. This isn't a mandatory step, but I like the way it slightly blends the edges of the colors together.
As resin starts to cure, it heats up as a chemical reaction. You may not normally notice, but with thermochromic mica powder, you sure will! Check out the colors on the right - the colors have started to change to lime green, hot pink, and bright blue!! Isn't that awesome?!
Leave the resin to cure in an undisturbed, well ventilated area for 24 hours. You will know that the resin is completely cured when it is no longer tacky to the touch. As the resin cures and cools down, you can see the resin change back to dark green, violet/dark blue, and purple/magenta. It's such a fun process!
Carefully remove the pieces from the mold. Trim away any excess resin with scissors or a craft knife. If the resin still feels flexible, it may just need more time to cure. Let the pieces sit in a warm, flat area to cure for a few hours (or days).
Ready for the color-changing magic?! When heated up to 88º F (31º C), the resin will color-change from the darker shades to these brilliant and vibrant ones right before your eyes! I decided to heat one of the phone grips up so that you can see the comparison. Needless to say, I am beyond impressed with the thermochromic mica powder!
There are so many fun projects you can make with thermochromic mica powder, but I think a phone grip is one of the best uses of it! Look how my fingermark was left behind on the phone grip - won't that look so cool when you are using your phone?!
Add a little bit of strong adhesive to the top of a blank phone grip holder. Center it on the back of the resin phone grip, and allow the adhesive to dry completely.
This is such a fun and simple resin project, and I definitely recommend giving thermochromic mica powder a try! I would love to hear what you think, and I'd love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram and Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest!
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