Store your favorite jewelry, knick-knacks, and more in a seaworthy Resin Sea Turtle Trinket Box!
Trinket boxes are such a fun and simple resin craft, and make such great gifts! This Resin Sea Turtle Trinket Box adds a touch of the ocean to your decor, and is absolutely perfect for storing all of your favorite treasures in one place. No matter what level your resin skills are at, you can definitely create this trinket box with confidence. I love how this sea turtle box turned out, and I hope you feel inspired to give it a try!
To make your own Resin Sea Turtle Trinket Box, you will need these supplies:
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SAFETY FIRST: Before getting started, wear disposable gloves, protect your workspace, and be sure to work in a well-ventilated area!
Did you know that you can paint a mold before adding resin to it? For this project, I wanted the lines of the sea turtle shell to stand out in the lid, so I carefully drew over all of the ridges of the mold with a metallic silver acrylic marker. Easy, peasy! If you make any mistakes, dip a cotton swab in alcohol and gently wipe the marker away.
Prepare 130 ml of Amazing Clear Cast epoxy according to package directions. Pour in equal parts of resin and hardener to a large mixing cup. Slowly stir the resin together with a stir stick for two minutes or until combined. If the resin looks cloudy or has any streaks running through it, you need to keep stirring it until it becomes clear.
Add 2-3 drops of your favorite green/blue alcohol ink to the resin and stir with a clean stir stick until evenly incorporated. Give the resin a few minutes to "rest" and allow the bubbles to rise to the top.
Fill the lid mold with crushed fluorite rocks. Make sure to fit the rocks into all of the edges of the mold, but be careful not to overfill the mold. For best results, don't use too many clear or white rocks, because they pretty much turn invisible once they are coated in resin.
Use the stir stick to slowly add resin to the turtle lid mold and allow it to drip down to the bottom. Gently squeeze the mold along the edges to help release any trapped air bubbles. Alternate pouring some resin, and then working the bubbles out until you have filled the mold to the top. Do NOT overfill.
Let the mold sit for a few minutes, and then use a straw, heat gun, or spritz with 91% alcohol to remove any surface bubbles.
Now that the lid is filled, it's time to fill the jar portion of the turtle mold. Add 3-5 more drops of alcohol ink to the remaining resin to deepen the color and stir well until completely incorporated.
Slowly pour the resin into the center of the turtle mold until it's filled about halfway. Squish the head and leg areas of the mold to release any trapped air bubbles. If necessary, use a stir stick or even a skewer to help stubborn bubbles find their way to the top. Use a straw, heat gun, or spritz with 91% alcohol to remove any surface bubbles. Fill the mold up the rest of the way, and repeat the bubble removal process.
Leave both resin pieces to cure in an undisturbed, well ventilated area for 24 hours. You will know that the resin is cured when it is no longer tacky to the touch and easily pulls away from the edges of the molds.
Now for my favorite step in the process: demolding! Carefully remove the cured box and lid pieces from the molds. Trim away any excess resin with scissors or a craft knife. Sand down edges, if necessary, and bring back the shine with clear spray sealant.
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) to completely harden.
Place the turtle shell lid on top of the base to make sure it fits. If the resin is still pliable or if you over-filled the lid mold, you may have some fitting issues:
For an over-filling problem, gently sand down any problem areas until you have a good fit. For pliable resin, fit the pieces together, bending the resin as necessary. Gently take them apart to finish curing. If you let the pieces finish curing while the lid is still on, the pieces will stick together.
Now the box can be filled with any of your favorite trinkets; like jewelry, treats, or even paperclips! This Resin Sea Turtle Trinket Box look great at home or in the office, and of course, would make a great gift! As always, let's hear what you think of this project and I would love to see what you're making! Share your creations on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest! #AFMCrafts
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