Resin Keychains with Glitter and Pressed Wildflowers

5 min read

Resin keychains with pressed wildflowers look like tiny pieces of jewelry, yet they are simple to make. Clear resin holds a small flower, a pinch of glitter, and a metal ring in a shape you can carry every day. Pressed wildflowers keep their color inside resin for years, and glitter adds sparkle that catches the light. This guide shows how to make resin keychains safely, from mixing the resin to adding the final hardware. The project takes about an hour of active work, plus a day for the resin to cure.

Resin work needs care and ventilation. Use epoxy resin made for crafts, which is low-odor and cures clear. Work in a well-ventilated room, wear disposable gloves, and cover your table with a silicone mat or wax paper. You will need silicone molds in keychain shapes, such as rounds, teardrops, or rectangles, plus pressed wildflowers, fine glitter, mixing cups, stir sticks, a toothpick, and keychain hardware. Pressed flowers should be fully dry and flat; fresh flowers hold moisture that can cloud the resin. You can press flowers yourself in a book for a week, or buy ready-pressed flowers from a craft supplier.

Mixing and Pouring the First Layer

Read the resin instructions before you start, because mixing ratios differ by brand. Most craft epoxy uses a one-to-one ratio of resin to hardener by volume. Measure both parts into a clean cup and stir slowly for two to three minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the cup. Stirring too fast whips air into the resin, which creates bubbles. After mixing, let the cup sit for five minutes so bubbles rise and pop. Pour a thin first layer, about one-third of the mold depth, into each mold. This base layer holds the flower in place and keeps it from floating to the surface.

Use a toothpick to pop any bubbles that appear in the poured resin. A quick pass with a heat gun or a lighter held a few centimeters above the surface also pops bubbles, but keep the flame moving and never touch the resin with the flame. Let the first layer cure until it is tacky, usually one to two hours, depending on the brand and room temperature. The tacky surface grips the flower and keeps it in position for the second pour. Do not wait until the layer is fully hard, or the layers may separate. Check the resin by touching the edge of the mold lightly with a gloved fingertip.

Placing Flowers and Glitter

Arrange the pressed wildflowers on the tacky first layer with tweezers. Small flowers and petals work best: tiny daisies, forget-me-nots, fern fronds, and single petals. Press each flower gently onto the tacky resin so it lies flat. Avoid thick flowers or buds, which can trap air and cloud the resin. Sprinkle a small pinch of fine glitter around the flowers, keeping it away from the mold edges so the keychain edge stays clean. Less glitter looks better than more; a light dusting catches the light without hiding the flowers. Step back and check the arrangement before pouring the second layer, because you cannot move the flowers once they are covered.

Pour the second layer of resin slowly over the flowers, filling the mold to the top. Pour from one side so the resin flows across the flowers without pushing them out of place. Use a toothpick to guide resin into the corners and to pop any bubbles that rise. If a flower shifts, nudge it back gently with the toothpick before the resin thickens. Cover the molds with a box or a tray to keep dust off while they cure. Let them cure for at least 24 hours in a warm, dust-free spot. Do not move the molds while the resin is curing, or the flowers may drift.

Demolding, Sanding, and Adding Hardware

Once the resin is fully hard and cool, flex the silicone mold gently to release the keychain. The piece should pop out cleanly. If the edges feel rough, sand them lightly with fine sandpaper, starting at 400 grit and finishing at 1000 grit for a smooth edge. Wipe away the dust with a damp cloth. To add shine, you can brush a thin coat of clear resin or clear nail polish over the edges, or polish them with a soft cloth. Drill a small hole at the top of the keychain with a pin vise, or use the mold’s built-in hole if it has one. Thread a jump ring through the hole, attach a keychain ring or lobster clasp, and close the ring with pliers.

Resin keychains make lovely gifts because each one is unique: no two flowers sit the same way. Store them away from direct sunlight to keep the flowers bright, and avoid leaving them in a hot car, since heat can soften resin. If a keychain clouds over time, a light polish with a soft cloth usually restores the shine. Once you are comfortable with flowers and glitter, try other fillings: small shells, tiny beads, dried herbs, or a printed word on paper sealed with glue. The same two-layer method works for all of them, and each new filling teaches you a little more about working with resin.

There is always another angle. The guides below explore a few, starting with How to Make a Resin Paperweight with a Dried Flower.

Related Articles:

• How to Make a Resin Paperweight with a Dried Flower
• How to Make a Resin Coaster with a Geode Pattern
• How to Make a Resin Keychain with Dried Flowers