Pond Coasters

Close up of a blue clear circular coaster with green frogs and lilypads embedded in it

The older I become, the more insistent I become on using a coaster. I just wanted to make these little ponds. That said, they make lovely gifts. This is a nice, easy way to get started with embedding objects in resin.

What you’ll need

Roughly £10 if you already have some 2-part resin and hardener, plus the colourant.

2-part epoxy resin (resin and hardener)
Blue liquid resin dye
Mixing cups and stirring sticks
Round coaster silicone mould (I bought mine from SKsuppliesBG on Etsy)
Tiny frog (you can get tiny packs of 5 from MoldedCandy on Etsy)
Resin lilypad (available from nicoledebruin on Etsy)
Safety gear

Steps

Step 1

Mix your 2-part resin and add blue dye

We don’t need the blue to be too strong here, so a couple of drops will do the trick. Make sure to mix until no streaks remain.

Step 2

Pour a thin layer of blue resin into your coaster mould

We’ll be adding more layers after, so we don’t want this to be too thick. Leave to cure for 3-5 hours.

A layer of blue resin being poured into a flat circular silicone mould

Step 3

Mix some clear resin and pour a very thin layer into the mould

That’s right, right on top of the semi-cured blue resin, depending on your room temperature. The resin should be slightly ‘tacky’ – this gives the new layer something to cling to, and you’ll see fewer bubbles in your work when the other layer is added.

Clear resin being poured over a silicone mould containing a blue layer of resin

Step 4

Add your frog and lilypad

Stick them where you like. Leave for another 3-5 hours.

Tiny lilypads and frogs being placed in a coaster silicone mould filled with blue resin

Step 5

Mix some more clear resin and fill to the top of the mould

Now we’re just evening out the coaster so it can actually be used as a coaster. Mix some more 2-part resin and fill to the top of the mould.

Hands pouring clear resin over a pond scene in a silicone mould

All done!

Tiny frogs and lilypads embedded in blue circular coasters — My frogs are microscopic.