DIY Resin Bead Necklaces from Leftover Epoxy

After pouring my epoxy coasters, there was always some leftover resin. Instead of throwing it away, I poured it into small silicone molds to make resin beads. The result? A small collection of six unique necklaces.

Overview of the four epoxy coasters and the silicone mold with resin beads in progress — *The four coasters and the silicone molds — the starting point for the beads*

Leftover resin? Never throw it away!

Anyone who works with resin knows the feeling: you’ve measured everything carefully, the pour goes perfectly, but at the end there’s still a little resin left in the mixing cup. Such a waste. Fortunately there’s a great solution: making resin beads. For this post I poured the leftovers from my epoxy coaster session into small silicone molds and made a handful of donut discs, cubes and round beads. These were then turned into six different necklaces, each with their own style and finish.

Step 1: Pouring the resin beads

While the coasters were still curing, I immediately poured the leftover resin into the molds — no need to mix anything extra and nothing goes to waste. I used three types of molds: a round donut mold (for disc beads with a hole), a small ball mold and a square mold for cubes. The color pigments in the resin are the same ones I used for the coasters: blue, petrol, white and a touch of gold foil.

Close-up of the silicone mold with nine round donut-shaped resin beads in blue petri dish style — *The nine resin beads in the mold — each with a unique petri dish pattern*

Two silicone molds: round donut mold with freshly poured resin and square mold with gold and blue pieces — *Round and square mold — leftover resin fills every shape*

💡 Tip: Petri dish patterns in small molds work even better than in large ones. The colors “explode” beautifully in a small format.

Step 2: Demolding and selecting

After 24 hours of curing the beads come out of the silicone mold easily. Because each piece of resin mixed slightly differently with the dye, no two beads are identical. Lay them side by side and pick the most beautiful ones for your jewelry.

Nine finished donut-shaped resin beads on wood, mostly blue marble with one gold and one turquoise — *The finished donut beads after demolding — each unique in color and pattern*

Close-up of a gold glitter resin bead with gold foil, held between fingers — *The gold foil bead — a real eye-catcher*

Full collection of handmade resin beads: donut discs, cubes and round balls in blue, gold and turquoise — *The full collection of resin beads — ready to be made into jewelry*

Step 3: Making necklaces — six ways

One bead, endless possibilities. Below I show the six finishes I tried, from the simplest to the most elaborate.

Necklace 1: cord + oval bead + donut disc

A white waxed cotton cord, a white oval resin bead as a spacer and a colorful donut disc as the centerpiece. Simple, but very effective.

Necklace on bust: white cord with white oval resin bead and colorful blue-turquoise donut disc pendant — *Necklace 1 — white cord with oval bead and colorful donut disc*

Necklace 2: wire-wrapped donut on black cord

Wire-wrapping is a classic technique where you wrap a bead with jewelry or copper wire and simultaneously create the attachment. Wrap the wire a few times around the donut disc and twist the ends into a loop for the cord. It gives a bohemian, handmade feel.

Necklace on bust: black cord with blue marble donut bead wrapped in silver wire — *Necklace 2 — black cord with wire-wrapped blue marble donut*

Necklace 3: round bead in wire cage

The round resin bead is perfect for a wire cage: a construction of multiple wires folded around the sphere that come together at a point at the top. The light blue shade of this bead contrasts beautifully with the matte black waxed cord.

Necklace on bust: black leather cord with light blue round resin bead in silver wire cage wrap — *Necklace 3 — light blue round bead set in a wire-wrapped cage*

Necklace 4: pin bail through the hole

The simplest way: push a piece of wire or a bent paperclip through the hole of the donut, bend the top into a loop and thread the cord through that loop. Done in less than two minutes, yet elegant.

Necklace on bust: black waxed cord with blue marble donut pendant with simple pin bail — *Necklace 4 — black cord with donut attached via simple pin*

Necklace 5: silver chain with decorative wire spirals

For a more finished look: wrap the wire not only around the bead but also create small spiral decorative elements. The silver chain gives this a more elegant appearance than cord.

Necklace on bust: silver chain with blue donut bead and decorative wire wrap with spirals — *Necklace 5 — silver chain with decoratively wire-wrapped donut*

Necklace 6: cord threaded directly through the hole

The most minimalist version: thread the waxed cord directly through the hole of the donut, knot it to the desired length with two simple knots and the necklace is ready. No extra materials needed.

Necklace on bust: adjustable black cord threaded directly through the hole of the blue marble donut bead — *Necklace 6 — cord threaded directly through the hole, simple and elegant*

The full collection

Group photo of all six finished resin jewelry necklaces on a wooden surface — *The complete collection — six unique necklaces made from resin beads*

Six necklaces, all from the same batch of leftover resin. Each necklace has its own character, but they fit perfectly together thanks to the same color palette. Just goes to show: there’s always a piece of jewelry hiding in your mixing cup.

Materials I used

Material	DE	BE
Epoxy resin (1:1)	letsresin epoxy resin set + pumps and accessories	letsresin epoxy resin set + pumps and accessories
Waxed cord	shop link (DE)	shop link (BE)
Jewelry wire	shop link (DE)	shop link (BE)
Silver chain	shop link (DE)	shop link (BE)

📖 Also read: Epoxy coasters for beginners — the post where these resin beads were born.