What Do I Need to Start Resin Art (2026): 6 Things, About $23

Buy the KISREL 18OZ Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginner, Resin Kit with Molds and Supplies if you want to try resin art this weekend. The checked listing was $22.49 and includes 18 ounces of two-part epoxy, six silicone mold kits, glitter, cellophane, dried flowers, gold foil, measuring cups, stir sticks, droppers, gloves, and instructions. That is enough for a first small casting without buying a gallon of resin or a drawer full of pigments.

Resin art for beginners gets messy when the supply list starts with a pressure pot, a heat gun, and twelve kinds of colorant. I would start with one small mold and learn the mix first. Epoxy is less forgiving than watercolor, but the basic routine is simple: measure equal parts, mix slowly, add one or two decorations, pour, then leave it alone while it cures.

The six things you actually need

1. Two-part epoxy resin: KISREL 18OZ Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginner, Resin Kit with Molds and Supplies contains 9 ounces of resin and 9 ounces of hardener. The two bottles are mixed at a 1:1 volume ratio. Start with a small batch rather than trying to use all 18 ounces. A little resin goes farther than you expect in a shallow mold.
2. Reusable silicone molds: KISREL 18OZ Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginner, Resin Kit with Molds and Supplies includes six silicone mold kits. Pick one simple shape for the first pour. Flat coaster or tray molds make it easier to see whether you measured and mixed well, while deep or complicated shapes can hide bubbles and soft spots.
3. Color supplies: KISREL 18OZ Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginner, Resin Kit with Molds and Supplies includes a 12-color glitter set, 12-color cellophane, and three colors of gold foil paper. Use one color family on the first piece. Adding every color at once is how a clear pour becomes brown confetti.
4. Dried flowers and other inclusions: KISREL 18OZ Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginner, Resin Kit with Molds and Supplies includes 12 dried flowers for decoration. Place a small flower with a dropper or stick, then keep it below the surface. Large pieces can float, trap air, or reach the mold edge, so save the biggest flowers for a later project.
5. Measuring and mixing tools: KISREL 18OZ Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginner, Resin Kit with Molds and Supplies supplies measuring cups, stir sticks, and plastic droppers. Scrape the cup sides and bottom while mixing, then keep stirring for the time in the instructions. The boring part is the part that prevents a sticky patch in the finished piece.
6. Gloves and a beginner guide: KISREL 18OZ Epoxy Resin Kit for Beginner, Resin Kit with Molds and Supplies includes gloves and detailed instructions. Follow the kit's label for ventilation, protective gear, and cleanup because epoxy formulas differ. The included gloves and a cardboard table cover are the starting point; keep the workspace away from food, children, and pets.

Those six things are parts of one kit, not six separate purchases. The kit does not replace the safety directions on its label. A conservative home setup keeps the mold and mixing tools permanently out of food use and waits for the full manufacturer-listed cure time before regular handling.

Start this weekend

Cover a flat table, put on the gloves, and choose one mold. Mix a small amount of resin and hardener in equal volumes. Add a little glitter or one dried flower, pour slowly, and use the included instructions for cure time. Do not keep poking the surface every ten minutes. That is how fingerprints become part of the design.

The cheap path is the same kit used sparingly. You do not need a special resin table, a craft room, or a $50 pigment collection. Cardboard from a delivery box protects the table, and a disposable cup can hold the mixed resin if the instructions allow it. Do not borrow food measuring cups, silicone ice trays, or kitchen spatulas and return them to the drawer. Resin belongs in a dedicated setup.

What to skip

• A gallon of resin. It costs more, takes up space, and gives a first mistake a much larger audience.
• UV resin for a first coaster or tray. It is useful for tiny pieces, but a small epoxy kit is the more useful starting point here.
• A pressure pot and professional vacuum setup. Learn the mix and the cure before buying equipment for bubble control.
• A giant mica collection. Use the included color supplies first. Buy a single pigment only when you can name the project it will improve.
• Kitchen tools and food molds. Even a well-cleaned tool should not go back to food preparation after resin work.

The total

The KISREL kit was $22.49 on the checked listing. The resin, molds, colors, dried flowers, measuring tools, and gloves are included, so the math is $22.49 + $0 + $0 + $0 + $0 + $0 = $22.49, or about $23. If you already have cardboard for a table cover, the first pour still costs about $23. That is enough information to decide whether you like the process before buying larger quantities.

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