Creating My Skull Epoxy Trinket Tray

Creating My Skull Epoxy Trinket Tray (That Can Double as an Ashtray)

Hey everyone! I’m excited to share one of my recent resin creations with you. Meet this striking blue skull trinket tray (or ashtray, depending on how you use it). I absolutely love how it turned out — the translucent turquoise edges with the metallic silver skull centre and those dramatic, wavy, flame-like borders give it a mystical, almost glowing vibe.

I’ve always been drawn to skulls, dragons, and other whimsical, slightly edgy designs. There’s something powerful and timeless about a skull motif — it can feel bold, artistic, or even a bit rebellious. At the same time, I balance it out with plenty of fun, fantasy-inspired pieces. This one sits right in that sweet spot I enjoy creating.

Why This Piece Works So Well

I used a purchased silicone mold and Magic Resin (a 1:1 mix epoxy). The result is a sturdy, beautiful piece with great depth. It’s functional too — perfect for holding keys, jewellery, small treasures, incense, or yes, as an ashtray for those who need one. The translucent blue resin catches the light beautifully, especially around the irregular, organic edges.

How I Made the Skull Resin Trinket Tray

Materials:

• Silicone skull/tray mold (purchased)
• Magic Resin epoxy (or similar quality 1:1 ratio epoxy resin)
• Resin pigments or colors of your choice (I went for turquoise blue and metallic silver tones)
• 99% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle
• Mixing cups, stir sticks
• Gloves, ventilation (always work in a well-ventilated area and follow safety precautions for resin)

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Prepare your workspace and resin — Set up in a dust-free area with good ventilation. Measure and mix the Magic Resin at a 1:1 ratio. Stir thoroughly for about 5 minutes. I let it rest for around 30 minutes afterward — this helps with initial bubble release before coloring and pouring.
2. Color the resin — Right before pouring, I add my pigments. For this piece, I created a vibrant blue for the main body and a metallic silver base for the skull design. Mix gently but thoroughly so you don’t introduce too many new bubbles.
3. Pour into the mold — Carefully pour the colored resin into the mold. I like to pour the base layer first (silver for the skull area) and then add the blue, letting the colors blend naturally for depth and interest.
4. Remove bubbles — I skip the torch (it’s never worked great for me and sometimes fuses resin to the mold). Instead, I give a couple of light spritzes of 99% isopropyl alcohol across the surface. This pops most surface bubbles effectively without disturbing the design.
5. Let it cure — Allow the piece to set undisturbed. This resin starts to thicken and become gooey around the 40-minute mark, so work fairly quickly once you start pouring. Any marks or adjustments after that point may stay visible in the final cure. Full cure usually takes 24–72 hours depending on temperature and humidity — follow your specific resin’s instructions.
6. Demold and finish — Once fully cured, gently flex the silicone mold and pop out your creation. Trim any excess if needed and admire your new artwork!

Tips from My Experience

• Timing is everything with this resin — it has a good working window but thickens noticeably after about 40 minutes.
• Experiment with colors and layering for unique effects. The translucent properties really shine in pieces like this.
• Always prioritize safety: wear gloves, protect your surfaces, and work in a ventilated space.
• Don’t be afraid to play — resin is forgiving in many ways, but small details like bubble removal and pour timing make a big difference.

I’m really happy with how this skull tray turned out. It’s one of those pieces that makes me smile every time I see it. If you try something similar, I’d love to hear how it goes!

Want to see more of my resin art, dragons, skulls, whimsical creations, and other pieces? Check out the full collection here: Art for Sale on Thoughtstoyou.com

Thanks for stopping by Helen’s How-To! Drop a comment if you have questions about the process or share your own resin adventures. Happy creating! 💀✨

Dragon Resin Collection | What I have been working on

Works in Progress Resin Dragons

Step into my creative world and you’ll find a colourful menagerie of dragons emerging from resin, each one hand-crafted with love, patience, and a touch of magic. This latest photo captures several pieces from my ongoing collection, all made using silicone molds, layered pigments, mica powders, and alcohol inks.

The star of the image is the large multi-colored dragon hatching egg. Its dramatic gradient shifts from deep ocean blues and teals at the base to fiery magentas, golds, and shimmering metallics at the top. Creating this piece required a careful, multi-stage pour that took considerable time and precision to avoid bubbles and achieve the flowing colour transitions. A detailed baby dragon is already visible, wings spread, eagerly breaking free from its glittering shell.

Beside it sits a charming purple-and-blue baby dragon figurine with bright yellow eyes and silver horns, looking curious and ready for adventure. Smaller dragon eggs in golden tones with silver dragons embossed on the surface, a pink floral geode-style piece, and various blue resin molds and cabochons complete the scene.

None of these pieces are finished yet. They still need final detailing—additional painting to bring out scales and textures, a protective resin top coat, varnish, or high-gloss finish to make the colours truly pop and the surfaces glass-like. The process is as rewarding as the final result, turning raw resin into miniature fantasy worlds.

These dragons represent hours of experimentation with colour blending, layering techniques, and problem-solving when pours don’t go exactly as planned. They’re destined for my website, Thoughtstoyou.com, where I share my handmade resin art, jewellery, and fantasy-inspired creations.

If you love dragons, fantasy, or the satisfying journey of watching art come to life, keep an eye on the site. More finished pieces will be appearing soon, each one unique and full of character.

What do you think—should I name the big hatching dragon? Suggestions welcome!  

 

The White Wolf ResinCrete Candle Holder

A Mystical Guardian for Your Sacred Space

Meet my latest creation — a striking white wolf ResinCrete candle holder that brings wild, ethereal beauty straight from the forest into your home. This detailed wolf head sculpture isn’t just decorative; it’s fully functional, designed to cradle a standard pillar candle (approximately 1–1.5 inches / 25–38 mm in diameter). Light it up, and the soft glow will illuminate those piercing eyes and flowing mane, creating an enchanting, almost spiritual ambiance.

Crafted with my go-to ResinCrete mix (10:3 ratio — 100 g ResinCrete to 30 g water, never exceeding 200 g to 60 g for a single pour), this piece captures incredible fine detail: every strand of fur, the elegant swirl on the forehead, the alert ears, and that proud, knowing expression. ResinCrete sets fast, so I had everything prepped — mold, tools, and the included styrofoam filler — before mixing even began. The filler is crucial here because this mold pours upside down. It keeps the candle cavity perfectly shaped and clean during the pour and cure.

Once cured and demolded, I gave him a black nose and added a subtle silvery shimmer to the eyes for that mystical “glow” effect. I’m planning to keep the rest mostly white, with just light washes of grey in the deeper fur textures to enhance dimension while preserving that clean, icy white wolf aesthetic. The raw white ResinCrete has such a beautiful, stone-like quality on its own — it feels ancient and timeless.

Why This Wolf Feels Special

Wolves have long symbolized intuition, loyalty, and connection to the wild spirit. This candle holder version turns that symbolism into something practical and beautiful. Place it on your altar, bedside table, mantle, or meditation space. When the candle is lit, the light dances across the sculpted fur and reflects softly in those metallic eyes, making the whole piece come alive.

It pairs wonderfully with the other ResinCrete fantasy pieces I’ve been creating lately — the mystical cat masks, ornate face masks, and playful dragon sculptures. Together they build a cohesive collection of mythical decor that appeals to fantasy lovers, pagan/witchy aesthetics, and anyone who appreciates handmade, one-of-a-kind art.

Tips from My ResinCrete Journey

Fast set time means preparation is everything. Have your mold level, filler inserted properly, and all tools within reach. 
The included styrofoam spacer in the mold kit made this pour much easier than it could have been — highly recommended to use it exactly as instructed. 
ResinCrete takes acrylic paint beautifully. A little goes a long way for subtle highlights like the nose and eyes. I’m keeping this one mostly natural white to let the sculptural details shine. 
 
This white wolf candle holder is still in progress — I may add a few more delicate grey tones or even a touch of metallic dry-brushing later — but I already love how he’s turning out. He feels like a guardian spirit watching over the creative chaos of my workspace.

Would you display a white wolf like this with a lit candle, or do you prefer your candle holders purely sculptural? Are you team “keep it mostly white” or would you go bolder with full fantasy colouring? Let me know in the comments!

More ResinCrete pieces (including painted versions and new molds) are coming soon. If you’re into handmade candle holders, wolf decor, ResinCrete crafts, fantasy home accents, stay tuned to thoughtstoyou.com — I’ll be sharing the full process, painting steps, and shop updates.

Thanks for following along on this creative journey. Your encouragement keeps the molds pouring and the ideas flowing! 

Magdelene 
thoughtstoyou.com 
Handcrafted with heart, one fast-setting batch at a time.

My First Resin Skull: A Glowing Blue Beauty!

I’m thrilled with how this turned out! This translucent blue skull was cast in epoxy resin using a simple skull mold and my homemade “sinker white” pigment. The result has beautiful swirling marbled effects, deep blue tones with lighter highlights, and a glossy, almost gem-like finish. Not too bad for a home experiment, right? The swirling patterns come from the way the white pigment interacts with the coloured resin during the pour and cure. It creates organic, smoky, veined effects that make each piece unique.Quick Rundown: How to Make a Coloured Epoxy Resin Skull with Sinker White

Materials you’ll need: Epoxy resin (deep pour or casting resin works best for thicker pieces like skulls) 
Silicone skull mold 
Mica powder or alcohol ink in your desired colour (I used blue tones here) 
Homemade or store-bought sinker white (a heavier white pigment designed to sink through the resin) 
Mixing cups, stir sticks, gloves, and a well-ventilated workspace 
Optional: heat gun or torch to pop bubbles 
 
Basic Steps:

Prepare your workspace and mix the epoxy resin according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually 1:1 or 2:1 ratio by volume). 
Divide the mixed resin into separate cups if you want multiple colours or effects. 
Add your colour (mica powder or ink) to one portion and stir thoroughly until evenly distributed. For the blue effect, I tinted the main batch a vibrant translucent blue. 
Make or add your sinker white: This is a heavier white pigment that sinks slowly through the resin instead of staying suspended. You can make a homemade version by mixing a small amount of white pigment powder (or white alcohol ink) with a bit of resin or alcohol until it has a thick, heavy consistency. A little goes a long way! 
Pour the coloured resin into the mold first, filling most of it. Then drizzle or drop small amounts of the sinker white mixture in strategic spots (or swirl it in gently). The white will sink and create beautiful tendrils, blooms, and marbled veins as it moves through the blue resin. 
Tap the mold gently or use a heat gun to remove air bubbles. 

Let it cure fully (usually 24–72 hours depending on your resin and temperature). 
Demold carefully and admire your one-of-a-kind skull! You can sand or polish the surface if needed for extra shine. 
 
Tips for success:Work in thin layers or all at once depending on your mold depth. 
The more sinker white you use and the way you drop it, the more dramatic the swirls become. 
Always follow safety precautions — wear gloves, work in a ventilated area, and protect your surfaces. 
 
This technique is forgiving and endlessly customizable. You can create everything from ghostly whites to vibrant jewel tones. I’m already planning my next colour combo!

What do you think — would you try making one? Drop a comment or tag me if you give it a go!