How to Make Resin Keychains: The Complete Beginner's Guide to UV and Epoxy Resin Charms
Resin keychains are among the most beautiful and versatile handmade accessories you can create. Encasing dried flowers, glitter, photos, or tiny charms inside a crystal-clear pendant produces results that look genuinely professional — and the process is far more accessible than most beginners expect.
This guide covers everything you need to know about making resin keychains from scratch: the difference between UV and epoxy resin, what materials you need, a step-by-step process, troubleshooting common problems, and how to combine resin pendants with charm hardware to create finished keychains ready to use or sell.
For the hardware side of your resin keychains — key rings, jump rings, lobster clasps, and accent charms — our keychain making kit collection has everything you need to finish and assemble your resin pieces professionally.
UV Resin vs Epoxy Resin: Which Should You Use?
The first decision every resin crafter faces is choosing between UV resin and two-part epoxy resin. Both produce beautiful results, but they work very differently.
| UV Resin | Epoxy Resin (Two-Part) | |
|---|---|---|
| Curing method | UV lamp or direct sunlight | Chemical reaction (mixing Part A + Part B) |
| Curing time | 1–3 minutes under UV lamp | 24–48 hours at room temperature |
| Ease of use | Very beginner-friendly | Requires precise measuring and mixing |
| Best for | Small pieces, quick projects, beginners | Larger pieces, deep pours, professional results |
| Clarity | Excellent | Excellent (may yellow over time with cheaper brands) |
| Cost | Higher per ml | Lower per ml for larger quantities |
| Shrinkage | Minimal | Minimal with quality brands |
Our recommendation for beginners: Start with UV resin. The fast cure time means you get immediate results, can correct mistakes quickly, and don't need to wait 48 hours to see whether your design worked. Once you're comfortable with the process, explore epoxy resin for larger or more complex pieces.
What You Need to Make Resin Keychains
Essential Materials
- UV resin or epoxy resin — Choose a brand specifically formulated for jewellery and craft use
- Silicone moulds — Keychain-specific shapes: stars, hearts, teardrops, circles, rectangles
- UV lamp (for UV resin) — A 36W nail lamp works perfectly and is widely available
- Mixing tools — Silicone mixing cups and stir sticks (resin won't stick to silicone)
- Inclusions — Dried flowers, glitter, gold foil flakes, small charms, photos, or pigment powders
- Sandpaper — 400, 800, and 1200 grit for finishing and polishing
- Resin polish or UV resin top coat — For a final glossy finish
Safety Equipment
Resin is a chemical product and should be handled with appropriate care. Before starting, always read the manufacturer's safety data sheet. The UK Health and Safety Executive's guidance on resin recommends:
- Nitrile gloves — Resin can cause skin sensitisation with repeated exposure
- Safety glasses — Protect eyes from splashes
- Good ventilation — Work near an open window or use a small fan to direct fumes away from your face
- Protective surface covering — A silicone mat or disposable covering protects your work surface
Once fully cured, resin is inert and safe to handle without protection. The precautions apply to uncured resin only.
Hardware for Finishing
Once your resin pendant is cured and polished, you'll need hardware to turn it into a finished keychain. Our 341 Pcs Charms Keychain Making Kit includes all the essential hardware — jump rings, key rings, lobster clasps, chains, and accent charms — to professionally finish your resin pieces.
Step-by-Step: How to Make a UV Resin Keychain
Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace
Cover your work surface with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Lay out all your materials within easy reach. Put on your gloves and safety glasses. Ensure the room is well-ventilated.
Step 2: Prepare Your Inclusions
If using dried flowers, ensure they are completely dry — any moisture will cause cloudiness in the resin. Press flowers flat in a book for 1–2 weeks, or use a flower press for faster results. Cut or arrange your inclusions to fit within your mould shape.
For glitter and foil flakes, have them ready in small containers so you can add them quickly once the resin is poured.
Step 3: First Pour — The Base Layer
Pour a thin layer of UV resin into your mould — approximately one-third full. Use a cocktail stick or toothpick to spread it evenly and pop any surface bubbles. Cure under your UV lamp for 60–90 seconds until the surface is no longer tacky.
This base layer creates a foundation for your inclusions and prevents them from sinking to the bottom of the mould.
Step 4: Add Your Inclusions
Place your dried flowers, glitter, charms, or other inclusions onto the cured base layer. Arrange them exactly as you want them to appear in the finished piece — remember that the bottom of the mould will become the front face of your pendant.
Add a small amount of resin over the inclusions to hold them in place, then cure for another 60 seconds.
Step 5: Final Pour — Top Layer
Fill the mould to the top with resin, ensuring all inclusions are fully covered. Use a cocktail stick to remove any air bubbles — you can also use a heat gun on a low setting held briefly over the surface, or simply breathe gently across the surface (the CO2 in your breath pops surface bubbles).
Cure under the UV lamp for 2–3 minutes for a full cure. The resin should be completely hard and non-tacky when done.
Step 6: Demould
Gently flex the silicone mould to release your pendant. If it doesn't release easily, place it in the freezer for 5 minutes — the slight contraction makes demoulding much easier.
Inspect your piece for any uncured sticky spots. If found, cure under the UV lamp for an additional 2–3 minutes.
Step 7: Sand and Polish
If your pendant has rough edges or a slightly frosted surface, sand progressively through grits: start with 400 grit, move to 800, then finish with 1200. Sand in circular motions with the piece submerged in water (wet sanding) for the best results.
After sanding, apply a thin coat of UV resin or resin polish to the surface and cure for 60 seconds to restore the glossy finish.
Step 8: Add a Drill Hole or Bail
To attach your pendant to a keychain, you have two options:
- Drill a hole — Use a 1–1.5mm drill bit to carefully drill a hole near the top edge of your pendant. Thread a jump ring through the hole.
- Embed a bail during casting — Place a small metal bail (a loop finding) into the top of the mould before the final pour, so it becomes permanently embedded in the resin.
The embedded bail method produces a cleaner, more professional result and is recommended for pieces you plan to sell.
Step 9: Assemble the Keychain
Using the hardware from your keychain making kit, attach your resin pendant to a key ring or lobster clasp using a jump ring. Add accent charms alongside the resin pendant for a more layered, professional look. Ensure all jump rings are fully closed before finishing.
Popular Resin Keychain Inclusion Ideas
🌸 Botanical Inclusions
Dried flowers are the most popular resin inclusion by far. Lavender, baby's breath, forget-me-nots, and rose petals all press beautifully and retain their colour well in resin. Ferns and leaves add a more graphic, structural element.
Tip: Seal dried botanicals with a thin coat of UV resin before embedding them in your main pour. This prevents air bubbles from forming around the plant material during curing.
✨ Glitter and Foil
Holographic glitter, chunky glitter, and gold or silver foil flakes create stunning effects in clear resin. Layer different types of glitter at different depths for a three-dimensional sparkle effect.
📸 Photos and Artwork
Printed photos or artwork can be embedded in resin to create personalised memorial keychains, pet portrait keychains, or custom illustration pieces. Always seal printed paper with a coat of Mod Podge or UV resin before embedding — unsealed paper will absorb resin and turn translucent.
💎 Pigment Powders and Alcohol Inks
Mica pigment powders and alcohol inks mixed directly into resin create stunning colour effects — from solid opaque colours to swirling galaxy effects. These are particularly popular for abstract, artistic keychain designs.
🐚 Natural Elements
Sand, tiny shells, coffee grounds, and even small insects (ethically sourced) can be embedded in resin for unique, nature-inspired pieces. These work particularly well for coastal or woodland-themed keychains.
Troubleshooting Common Resin Problems
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudy or milky resin | Moisture in inclusions or mould; incomplete mixing | Ensure all inclusions are bone dry; mix epoxy resin thoroughly for the full recommended time |
| Sticky surface after curing | Insufficient UV exposure; resin too thick for UV to penetrate | Cure for longer; for thick pieces, cure in layers rather than one deep pour |
| Air bubbles | Mixing too vigorously; cold resin | Warm resin slightly before use; stir slowly; use a heat gun briefly over the surface |
| Yellowing over time | Low-quality resin; UV exposure after curing | Use a UV-resistant, jewellery-grade resin; store finished pieces away from direct sunlight |
| Inclusions floating or sinking | Resin too liquid when inclusions added | Partially cure the base layer first before adding inclusions |
| Pendant won't release from mould | Resin not fully cured; mould too rigid | Cure for longer; place in freezer for 5 minutes before demoulding |
Selling Resin Keychains: What You Need to Know
Resin keychains command some of the highest prices in the handmade keychain market, because the results look genuinely premium and the process is perceived as skilled. Botanical resin keychains regularly sell for £12–30 each on platforms like Etsy.
According to Etsy's Seller Handbook, resin jewellery and accessories is one of the fastest-growing handmade categories, with strong year-round demand and particularly high sales around gifting occasions.
Key considerations for selling resin keychains:
- Disclose materials — List the resin type and any inclusions in your product description. Customers appreciate transparency, especially for botanical pieces.
- Care instructions — Advise customers to keep resin pieces away from prolonged direct sunlight to prevent yellowing, and to avoid dropping them on hard surfaces.
- Packaging — Resin pieces are relatively fragile. Wrap in bubble wrap or foam and use a rigid box rather than a padded envelope for postal orders.
- Photography — Resin keychains photograph beautifully in natural light. Backlit shots that show the translucency of the resin are particularly effective for online listings.
Combining Resin with Charm Hardware
One of the most effective ways to elevate resin keychains is to combine your resin pendant with metal charms from a keychain making kit. A resin flower pendant paired with a small gold bee charm and a delicate chain creates a piece that's far more interesting than either element alone.
Our keychain making kit collection includes a wide variety of accent charms, chains, and hardware that pair beautifully with resin pendants — giving you everything you need to create layered, professional-quality resin keychains in one order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is resin safe to use at home?
Yes, with appropriate precautions. Always wear nitrile gloves, work in a well-ventilated space, and follow the manufacturer's safety instructions. The UK Health and Safety Executive classifies craft resin as safe for home use when handled correctly. Once fully cured, resin is completely inert and safe.
How long do resin keychains last?
A well-made resin keychain using quality UV-resistant resin will last for many years without significant degradation. The main risks are yellowing from UV exposure (mitigated by using UV-resistant resin) and cracking from impact (mitigated by not making pieces too thin).
Can I put real flowers in resin keychains?
Yes — but they must be completely dried first. Fresh flowers contain moisture that will cause cloudiness and eventually rot inside the resin. Press flowers for 1–2 weeks until bone dry, then seal with a thin coat of UV resin before embedding in your main pour.
What's the best mould shape for beginners?
Simple geometric shapes — circles, ovals, and rectangles — are the easiest to demould and finish cleanly. Avoid very intricate shapes with fine details until you're comfortable with the basic process.
Do I need a UV lamp or can I use sunlight?
Direct sunlight will cure UV resin, but it's slower and less consistent than a UV lamp. On a bright sunny day, expect 5–10 minutes in direct sun versus 1–3 minutes under a 36W UV lamp. A UV lamp gives you much more control and is worth the small investment if you plan to make resin pieces regularly.
What hardware do I need to finish a resin keychain?
At minimum, you need a jump ring (to attach the pendant to the keychain) and either a split key ring or lobster clasp (as the attachment point). Our 341 Pcs Keychain Making Kit includes all of these plus accent charms to complement your resin pendants.
Start Your Resin Keychain Journey
Resin keychain making has a slightly steeper learning curve than charm assembly, but the results are genuinely stunning — and the satisfaction of creating something that looks like it came from a high-end boutique is hard to match.
Start with UV resin, simple moulds, and dried flowers. Make your first five pieces without worrying about perfection. By piece six, you'll have developed the instincts that turn a good resin keychain into a great one.
For all the hardware you need to finish and assemble your resin keychains, explore our keychain making kit collection — everything from jump rings to accent charms, ready to pair with your resin creations.