by Tara Diane

I recently discovered quick-dry casting resin and can’t get enough of it. Casting resin comes in two bottles. When you mix them together it forms this liquid plasticy shit (I don’t really care about the science), which you can then pour into molds and let harden into a solid plastic-like substance. So today, our DIY project is space invader resin magnets! Or just any resin magnet shape you choose; we don’t discriminate.



What you’ll need:

• Silicone or plastic molds. I used this mold, among others.

• A surface you don’t mind getting messy

• Gloves (I highly regret not using them!)

• Casting resin. The one I used is “Amazing Casting Resin” and it comes in the two big bottles seen below. It’s available at places like Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

• Resin dye. The one I used is by “Castin’ Craft,” and I just mixed red and white to make pink.

• Magnet strips with adhesive backing



The steps to this are actually insanely simple. You mix the two bottles in a 1:1 ratio and add in a few drops of dye (more in-depth directions are in the package, but it really is that simple). You QUICKLY pour the mixture into your molds. You wait a couple of minutes. Seriously, easiest shit ever.



Here are my filled molds. I mixed some yellow, light pink, and hot pink resins. Even though this looks messy, don’t worry, it isn’t going to ruin your precious molds.



Once they dry (about five minutes) peel them out of the molds.



See what I did there?



Now that all of your little resin pieces are finished, start sticking magnets to the backs of them. If you purchased magnet strips with adhesive on the back, all you have to do is cut and stick. Hard life!



You’re done! Enjoy giggling about your silly magnets when you come home sauced at 3am! Or give them to some geeky girl who is bound to be impressed by your creativity.

Notes:

- One of the two resin mixtures eats through plastic cups!  I left it sitting on my table and when I came back an hour later there was an awesome pile of goopy shit everywhere.  When you’re finished, dispose of everything immediately.

- Wear gloves!  I’m kind of cocky/stupid and don’t follow safety directions usually, but definitely wear gloves for this.  This stuff is impossible to wash off.

- When you mix the two ingredients together, it’s going to get very hot.  Don’t freak out, it’s normal.

- You should probably work outside.