How to Make Ugly Sweater Resin Jewellery

Got any fun or unique Christmas traditions?

In my household, we kick off the holiday season with a tree-trimming party in early December. After decorating the tree, we feast on sweet treats, washing them down with Baileys on ice—sometimes literally over ice because we'll serve it in ice shot glasses. Why? Because it's scorching hot here in December! Each of us has our own special ornament to hang, turning our tree into a true family masterpiece full of a lifetime of memories.

Our latest holiday tradition is... the ugly sweater. Or at least, our version of it. But let's be real—when it’s practically a sauna outside, those cozy woolly sweaters aren’t exactly an option. 

So, we've improvised. 

Behold, the Downunder ugly sweater substitutes! 

Ugly Christmas PJs... Perfect for tearing into presents before breakfast on Christmas morning. 

Ugly shirts... Rocked unbuttoned over a white tee for that laid-back beachy vibe. Did I mention it's HOT here at Christmas?

Ugly Rashies... And boardies too! Definitely Dad-wear for the pool and beach. 

And then, ugly sweater jewellery! 

Now we're talking. Ugly sweater earrings, ugly sweater brooches, ugly sweater purse charms - you name it! Because even when it’s too hot to wear anything but a swimsuit, you can still join the festive fun with these quirky, cheerful accessories.

I tracked down an adorable ugly sweater sugar craft mould, which I've linked to in the supplies list. It's going to make your accessories next-level cute and gloriously gaudy! 

So, get ready to make a splash with your own ugly sweater accessories—because who says you can’t be both stylish and silly this Christmas?

This resin project is quite quick if you use a quick-curing polyurethane resin like I did. But if you prefer a slower, more relaxed pace, you can definitely use epoxy resin instead. If time's not an issue, and you decide to use an epoxy resin, you'll need to wait 24 hours to demould.

 

These are the supplies you need:

RESIN - choose one of these resins that cure in just 20-30 minutes:

• Smooth Cast 325 (transparent polyurethane resin), or Alumilite Amazing Casting resin or Smooth Cast 300 (white polyurethane resins that cure in around 20 minutes!)
• Ugly Sweater mould
• Alphabet nail art mould
• Opaque Resin PIGMENTS - Choose pigments over dyes because dyes won't give you enough depth of colour in white resin. And if you decide to use epoxy, they'll be see-through in the resin.
• Christmas nail art slices
• GS-Hypo Cement
• White Sharpie oil-based paint marker - fine or White liquid chalk pen (not as permanent!)

JEWELLERY FINDINGS:

Try some of these types of findings:

• Brooch pins 
• Glue-on pendant bail
• Earring wires
• Post back studs 
• Keyring clip 
• Jump rings (8mm or 10mm are best for this mould)

FOR ASSEMBLY:

• G-S Hypo Cement or 5-minute epoxy

TOOLS:

• Craft drill with a 2mm drill bit
• Jewellery pliers: chain nose, flat nose, round nose, side cutters

Using quick-curing resin - Urethane aka Polyurethane Resin

For a fast project, choose a quick-curing polyurethane resin. You can demould these in 20-30 minutes so you can get on with the fun part of decorating your ugly sweaters. But with such a short working time, you must work fast to fill your mould before the resin sets up.

Because it cures so quickly, you'll measure out Part A and Part B in separate cups so you can check that you have the same amount of each part before you combine them. Get down at eye level to check... don't just eyeball it.

And here's a tip that you'll thank me for... mix the colour into Part A. Doing it this way gives you an extra 20-30 seconds of working time, which is really helpful when you're working with quick-setting resin. Once the colour is mixed in thoroughly, add Part B and mix the two together.

And here's another expert tip: only ever add as much colour as you need to make the resin opaque. Adding more than that justs upsets the chemical balance so that the resin doesn't cure properly. Never exceed 10% of the total volume of the resin, but usually a lot less is needed.

1. Measure and mix your chosen resin according to the directions on the package. Mine is white and it's mixed in a 1:1 ratio. I added the colour to Part A before combining it with Part B. 
2. Fill the sweater mould with the resin, and if you have any left over, fill the mittens and beanie as well.
3. Watch the resin cure before your eyes! It will change from translucent to opaque right in front of your eyes!

More useful information about quick-curing resins:

1. You might get some fine bubbles on the back of your piece. Don't worry, you haven't done anything wrong; that's just the nature of polyurethane resin. You won't see bubbles in the resin because it cures opaque.
2. Avoid using polyurethane resin in humid weather. Moisture causes the resin to bubble more than usual. It also gets into the bottle every time you take the caps off. That will make the "A" side go off, so try to work in low humidity for the best results.

Decorating Your Ugly Sweaters

Once the resin has cured (that's just 20-30 minutes!), you can pop your pieces out and start decorating them. There's no end to the fun you can have here! Check out some of the ways I embellished them below.

Use the white marker to paint the ribbed neck, cuffs and hem. I also painted the zigzag to make it stand out. You may need to do a couple of coats to get solid coverage. 

For the embellishments, I used Christmas and winter-themed nail art slices and mini polymer clay figurines. You can go to town here... after all, they're meant to be UGLY. 

I've glued everything with a dab of G-S Hypo Cement. It has a superfine nozzle so you can apply the adhesive with precision on those tiny embellishments. If you prefer E6000, you can use a toothpick as the applicator. Or try 5-minute epoxy if you only have a couple of items to attach. It will stick fast and won't react with polymer clay or resin. But if you're using lots of embellishments, then go for the G-S Hypo Cement to give you more working time.

Now that you've got your sweaters, beanies, and mittens embellished, you can turn them into whatever jewellery or accessories you want. 

How about an ugly sweater brooch...

Or ugly sweater earrings - they are so attention-grabbing!

Or an ugly sweater purse dangle, filled with holiday-themed beads and trinkets.

I had so much fun making ugly sweater accessories that I just couldn't stop. I found some other fun ugly sweater moulds to work with...

How adorable are the snowmen on these Christmas sweater earrings! They are 3D so I filled the recess in the mould with sparkly white epoxy. And once that was cured, I filled the mould with metallic green.

I painted the snowman's features with acrylic markers and Sharpies, then added some polymer clay snowflakes and gold stars.

The letters under the snowman are made with a nail art mould. This is a great way to personalise your earrings. You can find the alphabet mould here.

The red penguin sweater earrings are also made with epoxy.

These are made in two layers. The first layer is a thin layer of clear resin. Pour just enough resin in the bottom of the mould so the polymer clay penguin and snowballs aren't touching the silicone surface. Using a thin layer will stop the embellishments from floating.

Leave the resin to cure. Then mix up some more resin and colour it opaque red. Pour the epoxy over the top to fill the mould.

Once the earrings are cured, follow the instructions above for assembling earrings.

How to Assemble Earrings

Step 1: Drill a hole in the neckline. I used a 2mm drill bit. Make sure you don't drill too close to the edge. 

Tip: Use a permanent marker to mark the centre of the neckline before drilling.

Step 2: Open a jump ring large enough to pass through the thickness of the sweater. That will be an 8mm or 10mm jump ring, depending on how close to the edge you have drilled. See how to open and close jump rings properly.

Step 3: Insert the jump ring through the resin sweater and hook on the earring wire, making sure it faces the back.

Step 4: Close the jump ring, aligning the two sides in the middle. And then make up the second earring the same way.

Attaching a Brooch Pin

You'll need a strong adhesive suitable for metal and plastic. I prefer 5-minute epoxy. Just mix it up (follow these instructions) and apply it to the flat part of the brooch pin. I placed mine vertically, but you can place it horizontally if you prefer. 

Tip: To avoid the brooch flopping forward when you're wearing it, you need to place the pin towards the top of the sweater.

Making a Purse Charm

Gather a selection of beads and charms that work with the colour of your sweater. I chose a variety of red, green and silver beads from my stash. 

They're all connected with jump rings to a length of silver chain. To get this effect, you need to stagger where you hook them onto the length of chain. I even added a second chain so that the dangle would be fuller and more substantial.

To make a purse charm you'll need to know how to open and close jump rings and how to make a simple loop.

So, no matter whether you’re celebrating Christmas in the depths of winter or the height of summer, I hope this project has inspired you to create your own fun, festive ugly sweater accessories with resin. They’re a brilliant way to play with colour, texture, and over-the-top Christmas details—without committing to an actual sweater! The silly season is the perfect excuse to let your creativity run wild, try something a little cheeky, and make pieces that spark smiles and conversations. So grab your resin, embrace the kitsch, and don’t be afraid to go gloriously overboard… because if there’s ever a time for crafty fun, it’s now 🎄✨

Love this Project? Then PIN IT!

Happy Resining!


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