How to Make Agate Slice Resin Bookends

Customize the color, shape and size to fit your personal design aesthetic.

Resin Bookends

HGTV Handmade’s Crafty Lumberjacks share step-by-step instructions for trendy, resin bookends. To make, you will need a resin kit, mixing cups, faux agate slice mold, craft sticks, wooden skewers, gloves, teal and white alcohol ink, four wood pieces, sandpaper, wood glue, embossing glue, embossing powder, embossing heat gun and a microfiber cloth.

From: HGTV Handmade

Photo by: Cassidy Garcia

Cassidy Garcia

By: Rachael Jones and The Crafty Lumberjacks: Andrew Boza and Dennis Setteducati

Show: HGTV Handmade

Related To:

Decorative geodes and agate slices are having a moment, but they can be a little pricey. Envy no more and make your own trendy, agate-inspired bookends using colorful resins. HGTV Handmade’s Crafty Lumberjacks share an easy, step-by-step guide to craft up a pair of resin bookends that’ll perfectly flank your favorite reads.

Loading Video...

Agate Resin Bookends

06:21

The Crafty Lumberjacks make a gorgeous set of agate-inspired bookends.

Materials + Tools

resin kit
mixing cups
faux agate slice mold
teal alcohol ink
white alcohol ink
(2) 3-1/2'' wood pieces
(2) 4'' wood pieces
wooden skewers
craft sticks

gloves
wood glue
super glue
embossing glue
embossing powder
embossing heat gun
microfiber cloth
paint brush
tarp or craft paper

Tip: Use a resin kit that has a longer setting time and be sure to follow the instructions on the package.

Mix Resin + Add Color

Before you begin, gather all materials together, put on protective gloves and cover your work surface to protect from any spills. For this design, pour equal parts (1:1) resin and hardener into two mixing cups (Image 1). Slowly mix the resin and hardener together with a craft stick for two minutes (Image 2). Now, split the mixture into three smaller mixing cups (Image 3). In one cup, add 2-3 drops of teal alcohol ink and stir well to distribute the color (Image 4). In the second cup, add 2-3 drops of white alcohol ink and stir well to distribute (Image 5). Keep the last cup clear.

Before you begin, put on protective gloves and cover your work surface to protect from any spills. For this design, pour equal amounts of resin and hardener into a mixing cup.

Cassidy Garcia

Next, pour the resin into a clean mixing cup and stir with a clean craft stick for another minute. Now, split the resin into three smaller mixing cups.

Cassidy Garcia

In one cup, add a few drops of teal alcohol ink and stir well to distribute the color.

Cassidy Garcia

In one cup, add a few drops of teal alcohol ink and stir well to distribute the color. In the second cup, add a few drops of white alcohol ink and stir to distribute. Keep the last cup clear.

Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Pour Resin

Before you begin, put on protective gloves and cover your work surface to protect from any spills. For this design, pour equal amounts of resin and hardener into a mixing cup.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Mix Resin With Stick

Next, pour the resin into a clean mixing cup and stir with a clean craft stick for another minute. Now, split the resin into three smaller mixing cups.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Spit Up Resin

Next, pour the resin into a clean mixing cup and stir with a clean craft stick for another minute. Now, split the resin into three smaller mixing cups.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Mix In Teal Ink

In one cup, add a few drops of teal alcohol ink and stir well to distribute the color.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Add White Ink

In one cup, add a few drops of teal alcohol ink and stir well to distribute the color. In the second cup, add a few drops of white alcohol ink and stir to distribute. Keep the last cup clear.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Pour + Layer Resin

Start by pouring a thin layer of the teal resin around the outside edge of your chosen mold (Image 1). Add a couple of drops of the teal alcohol ink directly into the first pour and mix with a wooden skewer (Image 2). Then, pour a small amount of the white resin on the inside section of the mold and mix together with the teal color using a wooden skewer (Image 3). Add clear resin to fill up each section (Image 4). Tip: Create a layered, organic look by pouring alternating colors in the same spot. Last, use an embossing heat gun and wave it back and forth over the mold to remove any air bubbles (Image 5). Then leave the resin mold to cure for 24 hours.

Pour a thin layer of the teal resin around the outside edge of your chosen mold.

Cassidy Garcia

Pour a thin layer of the teal resin around the outside edge of your chosen mold. Add a couple of drops of the teal alcohol ink directly into your first pour and mix with a wooden skewer.

Cassidy Garcia

Next, pour a small amount of the white resin in the inside corner of the mold and repeat with the clear resin.

Cassidy Garcia

Next, pour a small amount of the white resin in the inside corner of the mold and repeat with the clear resin. Create a layered, organic look by pouring alternating colors in the same spot.

Cassidy Garcia

Use a embossing heat gun to remove any bubbles from the poured resin mixture in the mold.

Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Pour Teal Resin

Pour a thin layer of the teal resin around the outside edge of your chosen mold.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Add Teal Drops

Pour a thin layer of the teal resin around the outside edge of your chosen mold. Add a couple of drops of the teal alcohol ink directly into your first pour and mix with a wooden skewer.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Pour White Resin

Next, pour a small amount of the white resin in the inside corner of the mold and repeat with the clear resin.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Pour Clear Resin

Next, pour a small amount of the white resin in the inside corner of the mold and repeat with the clear resin. Create a layered, organic look by pouring alternating colors in the same spot.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Remove Bubbles

Use a embossing heat gun to remove any bubbles from the poured resin mixture in the mold.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Emboss Resin Slices

Once fully dry, carefully remove the slices from the mold and pick two slices to emboss (Image 1). Now wipe down each slice with a microfiber cloth (Image 2). Using a paint brush, add a light coat of embossing glue around the outside edge of the two agate slices (Image 3). Next, generously shake on embossing powder along the edge and tap off any extra (Image 4). Heat the powder by waving an embossing heat gun back and forth until the powder turns shiny and dry (Image 5).

Carefully remove the dry slices from the mold and choose your two favorite to make into bookends.

Cassidy Garcia

Once fully dry, carefully remove the slices from the mold and pick two to emboss. Now wipe down each slice with a micro-fiber cloth.

Cassidy Garcia

Using a small paint brush add a light coat of embossing glue around the outside edge of the two agate slices. Let the glue set for a few minutes. Next, generously shake on the embossing powder along the edge and tap off any extra. Heat the powder by waving an embossing heat gun back and forth until the powder turns shiny.

Cassidy Garcia

Next, generously shake on the embossing powder along the edge and tap off any extra.

Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Remove Slices

Carefully remove the dry slices from the mold and choose your two favorite to make into bookends.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Wipe With Microfiber Cloth

Once fully dry, carefully remove the slices from the mold and pick two to emboss. Now wipe down each slice with a micro-fiber cloth.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Add Embossing Glue to Slices

Using a small paint brush add a light coat of embossing glue around the outside edge of the two agate slices. Let the glue set for a few minutes. Next, generously shake on the embossing powder along the edge and tap off any extra. Heat the powder by waving an embossing heat gun back and forth until the powder turns shiny.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Add Embossing Powder

Next, generously shake on the embossing powder along the edge and tap off any extra.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Embossing Heat Gun

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Glue + Emboss Wood

Add a small amount of wood glue to the end of the 4’’ wood piece (Image 1). Then adhere with the 3-1/2” wood piece at a right angle (Image 2). Let the glue dry completely. Next, use a paint brush to add a light coat of embossing glue to the ends of the wood (Image 3). Add embossing powder over the glued edges and shake off any extra (Image 4). Heat up the powder by waving an embossing heat gun back and forth until the powder turns shiny and dry.

Add a small amount of super glue along the straight edges of the wooden pieces and adhere them to the resin slices.

Cassidy Garcia

Using wood glue, create each bookend by glueing one 3-1/2” piece and one 4’’ wood piece together at a right angle. Let the glue dry completely. Once dry, wipe down the glued wooden pieces with a microfiber cloth.

Cassidy Garcia

Next use a paint brush to add a light coat of embossing glue to the ends of the wood. Let the glue set for a few minutes.

Cassidy Garcia

Now add embossing powder over the glued edges and shake off any extra.

Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Superglue Wood Pieces

Add a small amount of super glue along the straight edges of the wooden pieces and adhere them to the resin slices.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Glue Bookend Pieces

Using wood glue, create each bookend by glueing one 3-1/2” piece and one 4’’ wood piece together at a right angle. Let the glue dry completely. Once dry, wipe down the glued wooden pieces with a microfiber cloth.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Emboss Wood Pieces

Next use a paint brush to add a light coat of embossing glue to the ends of the wood. Let the glue set for a few minutes.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Add Emboss Powder

Now add embossing powder over the glued edges and shake off any extra.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Add Wooden Pieces + Enjoy

Lastly, add a small amount of super glue along the straight edges of the resin slice and adhere it to the inside of the wood (Image 1). Hold firmly until the glue is dry (Image 2). Repeat for the second piece. Craft these cute resin bookends as a colorful, handmade gift or display them with your favorite books (Image 3).

Add a small amount of super glue along the straight edges of the resin slice and adhere it to the inside of the wood. Hold firmly until the glue is dry. Repeat for the second piece.

Cassidy Garcia

Lastly, add a small amount of super glue along the straight edges of the resin slice and adhere it to the inside of the wood. Hold firmly until the glue is dry. Repeat for the second piece.

Cassidy Garcia

HGTV Handmade’s Crafty Lumberjacks share step-by-step instructions for trendy, resin bookends. To make, you will need a resin kit, mixing cups, faux agate slice mold, craft sticks, wooden skewers, gloves, teal and white alcohol ink, four wood pieces, sandpaper, wood glue, embossing glue, embossing powder, embossing heat gun and a microfiber cloth.

Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Superglue Resin Slice

Add a small amount of super glue along the straight edges of the resin slice and adhere it to the inside of the wood. Hold firmly until the glue is dry. Repeat for the second piece.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia

Resin Bookends: Glue Slice to Wood

Lastly, add a small amount of super glue along the straight edges of the resin slice and adhere it to the inside of the wood. Hold firmly until the glue is dry. Repeat for the second piece.

Photo By: Cassidy Garcia