How to Make A Resin Faux Stained Glass Trinket Box
In this tutorial we teach how to make an antique resin faux stained glass trinket box using UV resin. First up is the video tutorial where we show you the entire process to make this gorgeous, antique looking trinket box with a faux resin stained glass top. Next, is a list of materials you need to create this project on your own. Then we include a written tutorial, outlining the steps to make this project yourself. The project is beginner-friendly and a lot of fun! Neither an advanced knowledge of resin chemistry nor any experience in carpentry is necessary to make this beautiful, functional trinket box. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask them in the comment section below and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
Faux Resin Stained Glass Wooden Box Video Tutorial
In this video, we use UV resin to create FAUX STAINED GLASS on the top of a wooden box!
This resin ‘faux stained glass’ box works great as a jewelry or trinket box, and also looks great on display in front of a window.
Putting little lights inside, such as battery-powered twinkle lights, transforms the resin-stained glass wooden box into a magical fairy box, a perfect new fixture for your secret garden. In the video. you can see what the box looks like when lights are inside. If you love fairy gardens, you will love the look of this box!
The box also looks beautiful in the sunlight, so display it next to a window with lots of natural light, on your patio, or even in your garden.
Whether you use the box for storing paper clips or potions, we want to hear from you in the comments!
Let me know if you want to or if you do complete this project.
What ideas did you come up with?
Send pics of your projects to CraftelotResinCo@gmail.com to be featured on CraftelotResinCo.com
This resin faux stained glass wooden box UV resin project is simple enough for everyone. Using UV resin makes this project less time-consuming than the typical epoxy resin project. Epoxy resins that have to cure naturally, without the use of a UV light, take days to cure! The UV resin used in this project allows you to create this box in no time!
All the other supplies or materials needed to create this project are affordable and each is listed below.
Resin Faux Stained Glass Wooden Trinket Box Materials
This is the best UV resin I have found so far. It is a reasonably priced and sets up well. You don’t want to buy the cheaper UV resin options because many of them do not set up correctly. Further, it is unnecessary to purchase a more expensive UV resin option because this one works just as well!
This is optional. You can also use sandpaper or even skip this step completely if you choose to add a top layer of resin onto your box as I did in this video. However, I get questions about what rotary tool I use, so here is the link. It works great for small projects like this and it is one of the cheapest options on the market!
Be sure to select the color you want before purchasing your wood stain!
Here are some awesome decorative wooden boxes to choose from:
(NOTE: As I was searching for these, I got so excited with the possibilities that emerged for this project!)
Resin Faux Stained Glass Wooden Trinket Box Process
Step One: Prepare Workspace
One of the most important things to do when preparing your workspace for an epoxy resin art project is double and triple check you are working on a level surface. You save yourself a ton of headaches and end up with a much nicer product if you take care of this before doing anything else.
As far as protecting your work surface goes, silicone is your friend. As we have discussed in multiple other tutorials, investing in a silicone craft mat is key to protecting your workspace from resin and/or pigment spills and leaks. Check out the Best Silicone Craft Mats For Resin Artists for our recommendations on affordable craft mats for your resin art space. As an alternative, you can use contact paper to protect your workspace, however, resin does not peel from it as easily so you will have to continue buying this product, unlike a silicone craft mat.
As far as the floors of your resin art space go, it is important to protect them with plastic sheeting. It is really affordable and you wont regret laying it down before getting started. I found this plastic floor protector marketed for underneath a baby’s highchair and it works fantastic for resin art purposes. Check it out here:
Lastly, I suggest purchasing a silicone resin art kit, which includes silicone measuring cups in assorted sizes, silicone stir sticks, gloves, and more. Here is a great option, with prime shipping!
To prepare, set out the box you are going to work on. Use a screwdriver to unscrew the hinges of the box and separate the top of the box form the bottom. Lay out the alcohol inks you want to use, your UV light, the UV Resin, a silicone stir stick, your utility knife and tape. With all of thee items in reaching distance, this project goes very smoothly!
Note: If you are particularly handy with wood, you could construct your own box and even cut out your own intricate patterns if you are especially DIY savvy. I would love to see any boxes my readers make so please send them to CraftelotResinCo@gmail.com. I will feature them on the site!
Step Two: Place Tape on Top of the box
In the video, I do not remove the hinges from the box. (Do as I say, however, not as I do! :)) I suggest you remove the hinges so you can separate the top of the box from the bottom. This makes the project easier, and removing hinges is pretty simple. Be sure to keep track of the screws you take out of the hinges.
HOT TIP: I suggest taping the screws and hinges to the inside of the box so you do not lose them while you are completing the stained glass top.
Using aluminum or packing tape, apply tape to the top side of the box. The top side of the box is the side visible when the box is closed. Be sure to press tape down to minimize leaking of your UV Resin. Make sure all the holes in your box top are completely covered with tape. Press down around the edges of the holes to prevent resin from seeping under the tape and on to the wood between the holes.
Use the utility knife to cut off any excess tape around the edges of the box top.
(Note: If you decided not to take the hinges off and are working on your box top still attached to the bottom of the box, use a box of the appropriate height to place the open lid on. An appropriate height box will make your open box top level with the surface you are working on. See video for an example of this.)
Step Three: Pour A layer of UV Epoxy Resin
Apply UV resin to the holes in the wooden box. This does not need to be a thick layer. In fact, in the interest of quick curing times, this layer should be quite thin. However, you need to use enough UV Resin to fill every hole on the box top so all the tape has UV Resin on it.
Use a torch or heat gun to pop any air bubbles that are trapped in the resin. Only apply heat in short bursts to the resin. UV resin does not react to heat the same way epoxy resin does, so use the torch or heat gun sparingly.
Step Four: Add Alcohol Inks to UV Resin
Choose the colors of alcohol inks you would like to use to color your UV Resin. In the video tutorial, I use rainbow colors.
Keep in mind that using darker colors in UV resin affects curing time. It takes longer to cure the resin colored with dark pigments, such as purples or black. This is because the darker pigments block the UV light from activating the curing process of the UV resin. With enough patience, the darker-colored UV resin eventually cures using the UV light, but it is something you should keep in mind. For first-time resin crafters, pick lighter alcohol inks to avoid any frustrations.
Also, do not use more than a couple drops of alcohol ink in your UV Resin. You only need to use enough to create a transparent colored resin. If you over pour the inks, curing issues are likely to arise. Again, it cures eventually, but it takes much more time if the resin is flooded with alcohol.
If you overcolor your resin, you lose transparency, which is what makes this technique look like stained glass.
Step Five: Cure with UV light
Next, use a UV light to cure the UV epoxy resin. (If you chose to not purchase a UV light, you can cure the resin in the sun instead. However, this method will take more time.)
Once the resin has started to cure and is no longer runny, move on to the next step.
Step Six: Remove Tape
Remove the tape from the top of your box. If you are having trouble getting the tape off, you can use a heat gun to loosen the tape. Wipe any excess resin from the top of the box, using isopropyl alcohol and a paper towel.
Step Seven: Use Dremel to Sand Down Resin
Using a Dremel, or sandpaper, sand down the backside of the lid so the resin sits flush with the wood. This is only necessary if your resin is uneven. This part does not show when the box is closed so if it does not bother you, you may skip this step. After sanding, wipe down the entire box with isoprpul alcohol to remove all dust particles.
Step Eight: UV Resin Detail Coat
Using a nail polish brush or a small paintbrush, paint the top of your box with UV resin. focusing on the areas of the box with holes that are now filled with cured resin. Basically, you are gloss coating the resin that is supposed to look like the stained glass. After you have coated the resin filled voids in your wood top, using the UV light to cure the resin.
Step Nine: Condition and Stain Wood
Using the MiniWax Wood Conditioner and a paintbrush, brush the wooden box with conditioner until the wood is saturated.
Wait a few minutes.
After the conditioner has adequately seeped into the wooden box, apply the Miniwax Wood Stain to your box. Build your stain to the desired color. Let the stain dry.
Step Ten: Add UV Resin Top Coat and Cure
Lastly, add a layer of UV resin to the top of your wooden box. Again, you only want to pour a thin layer to avoid any issues with the curing process. After pouring, use the UV light to cure the resin.
dISPLAY sUGGESTIONS
For a super shiny look, put some twinkle lights in the box and close the top. If you are going to display this piece, put it in a place with lots of natural light because the resin really does shine like stained glass. Let me know if you any questions by leaving a comment below!
11 Responses
very well informed!!
Good site as it’s very instructive on how to work with epoxy. Eventually, I plan to work with epoxy for a couple of river table projects and this is a good way to work with something smaller at first before taking on something bigger.
I will admit, when I first attempted to place a comment on your site at first I didn’t think anything was happening. I then went on a hunch and highlighted and saw the comment there. However, the lettering is in white, which matches the white comment box. I managed to leave a comment anyway, but you may want to consider making a change to that so people can leave you more reviews.
Great! I hope this site can help you with your epoxy endeavors! Thank you so much for letting me know about the white text. I have corrected the issue, but I never would have known had you not told me so thank you, again!
I’ve been looking into working with epoxy for a number of projects. What you’ve shown is a good way for me to learn how to work with the stuff as if in baby steps. This is good! By the time we get closer to winter, I intend to work with river tables.
River tables are lots of fun, but yes it is best to start small. I may do a river table tutorial on here soon if you are interested! It is important to use the correct type of resin for the project you are attempting. Check out Best Epoxy Resin To Buy For Your Specific Project
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, loved your tutorial on making a trinket box! The way you have explained it step by step was awesome and very easy to follow. I am a person who doesn’t have much experience with crafts but after reading your post, I am confident that I can try this out. I tried couple of projects before but the surface was damaged badly. But your tip of using silicone, gives me hope now 🙂 thanks for that tip!! Overall a great post.
Silicone is literally your best friend when working with epoxy resin. Trust me, it has saved many surfaces from resin messes! Check out Best Silicone Craft Mats For Resin Artists for my top suggestions on silicone mats to protect your space and good luck with your trinket box. I bet it turns out great. Let me know if you have any questions along the way!
Every time I visit your website, I am not disappointed, as there are always great instructions provided to make something beautiful and practical. This is a great idea to spruce up old jewelry boxes or even plain boxes and custom them to suit the room or person they are for.
I would love to try one of these for my Step Mom for Xmas. I am just worried I get the mixture wrong. Is it better to get somebody to help you the first time you try this, or should I give it a bash with these instructions?
Absolutely. if you have some old wooden boxes, it is a fun project to revamp them instead of trashing them! I love recycled art. It always seems to have more sentimental value and usually turns out looking pretty retro.
So, you do not need to worry about mixing accuracy for this project because you are using UV resin, which is just a 1-part resin. It does not need a hardener because it cures with a UV-light. I did put a 2-part of epoxy over the top of this box as a seal coat, but you could use UV resin for this step if you are worried about getting the mixture wrong.
If you decide to try it out and use the two-part epoxy, check out How to Mix Bubble-Free Epoxy Resin for some great tips on mixing your epoxy resin. You should be fine trying it yourself the first time! Make sure you watch the video a couple of times and let me know if you have any questions.
I love resin art so much and wanted to make a trinklet box using resin for so long. I was scared of the fumes that might come off while curing resin as I have heard that they are very harmful and it can cause health issues in the long run. What precautions do you take?
You can use a ventilator mask, like the one I linked if you like. However, the resins I recommend have no VOC’s so you do not have to worry about that kind of thing. Check out Art Resin or StoneCoat Countertops Craft Coat