Our Story
The Resin Diaries started as a small home studio experiment and grew into a handmade shop built around one material: resin. Every coaster, pendant, tray and wall piece we sell is poured, cured, sanded and finished by hand in small batches — which means your piece will always carry small, natural variations that make it genuinely one-of-a-kind.
So, What Actually Is Resin?
“Resin” refers to a liquid material that starts as two separate components — a resin and a hardener — and turns into a solid, glass-like material once they’re mixed together. The two liquids react chemically, releasing gentle heat as they bond into a rigid, transparent (or pigmented) solid. This process is called curing.
There are two main types we work with:
Epoxy resin — a two-part resin and hardener mixed in a precise ratio, poured into a mould, and left to cure slowly over 24–72 hours. It self-levels as it cures, which is what gives our trays, coasters and wall art that smooth, glass-like top surface. Epoxy is the workhorse of resin art — it’s what we use for anything with depth, layering or embedded objects like pressed flowers.
UV resin — a single-component resin that stays liquid until it’s exposed to ultraviolet light, at which point it cures in minutes rather than days. We use this for small, detailed pieces like earrings and pendants where fast, precise curing matters more than depth.
How a Piece Is Made
- Mixing — resin and hardener are measured and mixed in exact ratios; getting this wrong is the most common cause of a cloudy or tacky finish.
- Pigmenting — mica powders, alcohol inks or dyes are stirred in to create colour, and swirled or layered for pattern.
- Pouring — the mixture is poured into a silicone mould, sometimes in stages, with each layer left to partially set before the next is added.
- Curing — the piece is left undisturbed, usually 24–72 hours depending on thickness, while it hardens fully.
- Finishing — once cured, each piece is sanded, polished and, for functional items, sealed for durability.
Caring For Your Resin Piece
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight — UV exposure over months can cause slight yellowing.
- Clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth; avoid abrasive scrubbers.
- Resin is heat-resistant, not heatproof — always check the specific product description for its safe temperature range.
- Small scratches can often be buffed out with resin polish; deep scratches are usually permanent, so we recommend a coaster or trivet under hot items regardless.
A Note on Uniqueness
Because everything is hand-poured rather than machine-moulded, no two pieces are perfectly identical — colour swirls, embedded flecks and edge texture will vary slightly from the product photos. We see this as the whole point of buying handmade.