How Are Resin Earrings Made? A Peek Inside My Apollo Beach Studio
One of the questions I get most often at markets and in my inbox is some version of, "Wait, how do you actually make these?" People pick up a pair of ocean-blue teardrop earrings, hold them up to the light, and want to know how the little swirl of sand-gold ended up frozen in there. I love that question, because the honest answer is: slowly, carefully, and with a lot of coastal Florida sunshine coming through my studio window.
So here's the real behind-the-scenes look at how resin earrings are made, at least the way I make them here in Apollo Beach. If you've ever been curious about the process, or you're thinking about ordering a custom pair and want to know what goes into them, this one's for you.
It Starts With Two Bottles and a Lot of Patience
Resin is a two-part material: a resin and a hardener. On their own they stay liquid forever. Mixed together in the right ratio, they begin a slow chemical reaction that turns them into a hard, glassy, water-clear solid. That transformation is the whole magic of resin art.
The mixing step sounds simple, but it's where a lot of pieces succeed or fail. I measure by weight, not eyeballing it, because an off ratio means a tacky surface that never fully cures. Then I stir for a solid three to four minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the cup, slowly enough to avoid whipping in air bubbles. Bubbles are the enemy of a clean pair of earrings. After stirring, I let the cup rest for a few minutes and gently warm it so trapped air rises and pops before anything gets poured.
Humidity matters too, and living on the Gulf Coast means I'm always watching it. On a sticky August afternoon, resin behaves differently than it does on a crisp January morning. I've learned to run a dehumidifier in the studio and to pour on days when the air cooperates.
Color, Sand, and the Coastal Details
This is my favorite part. Once the resin is mixed and settled, I split it into small cups and tint each one. I use mica powders for shimmer, alcohol inks for those watery washes of turquoise and seafoam, and opaque pigments when I want a solid sunshine yellow or coral.
For ocean-inspired pieces, I'm usually working with layers. A deep navy base. A ribbon of teal. A thin veil of white that I drag with a toothpick so it looks like foam rolling onto a beach. Sometimes I'll add real beach sand from a morning walk, tiny shell fragments, or a pinch of gold flake to catch the light. Every one of those choices is made by hand, pair by pair, so no two sets of earrings are ever truly identical. That's not a flaw. That's the point.
When a customer orders custom resin earrings, this is the step where their vision comes to life. Someone might send me a photo of their wedding colors, or say "the water at Anna Maria Island at sunset," and I'll mix until the cup looks like the picture in my head.
Pouring, Curing, and Waiting (Lots of Waiting)
The tinted resin gets poured into silicone molds. I have drawers of them: teardrops, hoops, little arches, hexagons, seashells, and sea turtle shapes that match my turtle boxes. A silicone mold gives the earring its shape and a glossy surface without any sanding on the front face.
Then comes the hardest part for an impatient maker: leaving it alone. Most of my pieces need a full 24 hours before they can be demolded, and a complete cure takes closer to 72 hours. During that time I cover everything with a dust lid, because one stray cat hair or speck of lint will cure right into the surface. Ask me how I know.
Once they're out of the mold, each piece gets inspected under good light. Any sharp edges get sanded smooth and sealed. If I'm adding a resin dome for extra depth, that's another thin pour and another day of curing.
Hardware, Finishing, and the Final Check
Resin earrings are only as good as what holds them on your ear. I drill or pre-mold a small hole, then attach hypoallergenic hooks or studs, usually stainless steel or gold-plated stainless, so they're kind to sensitive ears and hold up to a humid beach day.
Before anything gets packaged, I do a last pass:
- Weight check: I actually wear each style for a bit. If it tugs, it gets redesigned lighter.
- Edge check: I run a fingertip around every edge. Nothing should catch on hair or a sweater.
- Pair match: Handmade means slight variation, but the two earrings should clearly belong together.
- Cure test: A fully cured piece is hard and glassy with zero tackiness. If it isn't, it waits another day.
The same care goes into everything else in the shop, from resin keychains to the coastal table decor and the little turtle boxes people love for rings and keepsakes. The materials change, the patience doesn't.
Why Handmade Resin Earrings Are Worth the Wait
From the first stir to the final hook, a single pair of custom resin earrings takes several days and a lot of small decisions. That's why they don't look like the mass-produced pairs stamped out by the thousands. When you hold a handmade pair up to the light, you're seeing the exact swirl I made that morning, the sand from a beach a few miles from my house, and the colors we chose together.
If you'd like a pair made in your colors, for your beach wedding, your bridesmaids, or just because you miss the Gulf, I'd love to make them. You can browse what's in the shop at sunlitcreations.com, or email me at Ashley@sunlitcreations.com with your colors, theme, quantity, and any details. I'll take it from there, one careful pour at a time.