The whole idea for this project came from a family member. An aunt of ours absolutely loves Nerds candy. Her birthday was coming up soon and we thought it would be neat to cast some Nerds in resin and make a few coasters. It's a really simple process and doesn't take much time at all, except the curing time. Maybe this can spark an idea for someone else. I suppose it would work with just about any candy.

What you'll need

Epoxy resin (we use Famowood Glaze Coat) - you can see more about that in our other -ibles or on our website.
Coaster Mold (or a DIY mold)
Nerds (or whatever candy you choose)
Hair Dryer, Heat Gun or Lighter (used for popping bubbles)
Patience (waiting on resin to cure)

Make sure you check out the video, it shows a bit more of each step than the images do. Please enjoy and if you make it or something like it, we'd love to see it.

Step 1: Mixing the Resin

The resin we use is Famowood Glaze Coat. Most any resin will do, but for the sake of our steps we'll only explain the Famowood process. It is a two-part resin that gets mixed in a 1:1 ratio; part A and part B. The mix time is six minutes. Stirring slowly and consistently often produces the best results.

Step 2: Adding the Nerds

Adding the Nerds, or whatever candy you choose, is as simple as it sounds. Just pour them in. The only thing to keep in mind is that you want there to be less Nerds than resin. We left the Nerd sit probably about 1/4 of an inch or so below the surface of the resin. You'll want to mix the Nerds in fairly well and somewhat slowly. The goal is to try and get most of the air bubbles to the top. Once you feel you've gotten it mixed well, you can pass a blow dryer (set on low) over the top of the resin. This will pop the air bubbles that move to the surface. You can also use a heat gun, lighter or torch. Just be careful and don't go crazy with the heat. You'll see them pop and know when enough is enough.

Step 3: Pouring the Nerds and Resin Mixture

You'll need a mold for this step. You can either create one yourself (check online for resources) or you can purchase a mold online. We recommend a silicone mold rather than a plastic one. Releasing the casting from a silicone mold is much, much easier. Using a plastic mold will require mold release and probably a bit more effort to remove it once it's cured.

Pouring the mixture is also extremely easy. Pour slowly and work the mixture around in the mold as needed. Let it settle for a few seconds and then repeat the bubble popping process. Some times it's a good idea to check the casting once more in about 10 minutes and hit it with heat again.

Once you are satisfied with how it is looking, let it set to cure for about 12 hours or more. This will ultimately depend on the type of resin you decided to use. When in doubt just check the instructions that come with your resin.

Step 4: Releasing the Coaster From the Mold

If you used a silicone mold you'll have no problem removing the coaster. If you used a DIY mold or a plastic type mold, you may have to work at it a bit.

Step 5: All Done!

Once you've removed it, inspect for air bubble and clarity. If you did everything correctly it should be free of air bubbles or at least they should be minimal. Often times it is very difficult to get all of the bubbles.

So, that's all there is to it. We hope you enjoyed this DIY project and the video that goes along with it. If you have any questions or comments please let us know, we'd be more than happy to help you out. Thanks for checking out this Instructable.