Hey there, if you’re here, chances are you’ve either dabbled in epoxy fridge magnets, are thinking about starting out, or maybe you’re like me—swamped with orders from small shops and craft lovers asking, “How do you get that glitter in epoxy magnets without it looking like a glitter bomb explosion?” Trust me, I’ve been there. Early on, I’d pour glitter in willy-nilly, only to end up with magnets that had glitter clumping in one corner, bare spots in another, and my whole workbench covered in sparkles that still show up in my kitchen sink a week later. Now, as someone who runs a small epoxy fridge magnet supply business (we ship to craft brands and individual makers across the country), I’ve nailed down a few tricks that keep glitter evenly dispersed, no mess, no frustration. Let me walk you through exactly how I do it. Epoxy Fridge Magnet
First, let’s talk about why even glitter matters in the first place. Your customers don’t want to buy a $5 magnet that looks like you dumped a glitter jar into a puddle of glue—they want something that’s shiny, consistent, and feels professional. I learned this the hard way last year when a local boutique sent back a whole batch of 200 magnets because half had glitter clumped on the edges. They said it looked “cheap” and couldn’t sell them. That stung, but it pushed me to test every method I could find, plus tweak them for mass production (since I’m not just making one-off magnets, I’m doing runs of 500 or more a week). So this isn’t just for hobbyists—these tricks work when you need consistent results every single time.
Let’s start with the basics: the right glitter and epoxy combo. A lot of people grab whatever glitter is cheap at the craft store, but that’s mistake number one. If you use super chunky glitter, it’s way harder to spread evenly, and it sinks or floats depending on the epoxy’s viscosity. For fridge magnets, I stick with ultra-fine to fine-grade polyester glitter. The ultra-fine gives that subtle, all-over shimmer, and the fine is a little more visible but still not chunky. I also avoid holographic glitter that’s too flaky—those bits don’t mix well and get stuck in your mixing tools. Pro tip? Buy glitter in bulk from a craft supply wholesaler (I use a local one that sells 1lb bags for half the cost of small craft store jars) and sift it through a fine mesh sieve first. That gets rid of any clumpy bits that would throw off your mix.
Now, epoxy itself. Not all epoxy is the same. I use a 1:1 ratio tabletop epoxy for magnets, not the pour-bar countertop kind. Countertop epoxy is too thick, so glitter doesn’t move through it evenly. Tabletop epoxy has the right viscosity—thin enough to mix well with glitter, but not so thin that the glitter sinks to the bottom before you pour. I also always pre-measure my epoxy first, never pour and guess. If you mix too much Part A or Part B, the viscosity gets off, and glitter will either float to the top or sink like a stone. For a standard 2×3 inch fridge magnet, I use 10ml total epoxy (5ml A, 5ml B)—that’s just enough to cover the magnet base without spilling over.
Okay, so you’ve got your glitter and epoxy sorted. Now the mixing part, which is where most people go wrong. A lot of makers dump glitter into mixed epoxy and stir like crazy, which creates air bubbles and clumps. Here’s my method: I add the glitter first to the Part A, not after mixing. Wait, hold on—don’t dump a big pile of glitter. I use a small, disposable plastic cup for mixing: pour in 5ml of Part A, then add exactly 0.5g of glitter (I use a tiny digital scale, it’s like $20 and totally worth it—no more guessing how much glitter to use). Stir the glitter and Part A together gently with a toothpick until it’s a smooth, uniform color—no clumps left, and every bit of Part A is coated in glitter. Then add the 5ml of Part B, and stir for only 10 seconds. That’s it—10 seconds, not 20, not 30. Stirring too long creates micro-bubbles, and the movement of the epoxy can make glitter clump. I also scrape the sides and bottom of the cup once while stirring, but that’s it. No more.
Wait, but what if you want more glitter? Some people want a little extra shimmer, not just the standard. I used to think adding more glitter would help, but no—too much glitter makes it clump, even if you mix right. If you want a heavier glitter load, stick to 0.75g of glitter for the same 10ml epoxy ratio. Any more than that, and the glitter particles start sticking to each other instead of staying suspended in the epoxy. It’s like mixing too much sand into concrete—it doesn’t spread evenly. That’s a key point I wish I’d learned earlier.
Now, pouring into the magnet molds. This is where the evenness really happens. Most people squeeze the epoxy mix into the mold in one big blob, then spread it with a toothpick. Don’t do that. Instead, pour the epoxy in a slow, steady stream around the edge of the mold, working your way in toward the center. That lets the glitter flow with the epoxy, so it distributes naturally as the mold fills up. If you pour too fast, the epoxy moves too much, and glitter gets pushed to one side. I also use small silicone molds (they’re reusable, and cheap—way better than plastic ones that stick) and I put the mold on a level surface. If the mold is tilted, all the glitter will sink to the lower side. I use a cheap laser level I got at the hardware store for $15—takes 2 seconds to check if the counter is level before I pour.
Another trick I picked up from a fellow maker at a craft fair last year: after you pour, gently tap the sides of the mold on the table. Not hard enough to spill, just a few light taps. That releases any tiny air bubbles, but more importantly, it makes the glitter particles shift just enough to spread evenly across the surface. I used to skip this, but when I started doing it, I noticed the clumps went away and the glitter was uniform. Just don’t over-tap—you don’t want to slosh epoxy out of the mold.
What about if you’re making layered magnets? A lot of people do a colored epoxy base, then a glitter top layer. That’s fine, but if you want the glitter to be even on the top layer, use the same mixing method for the glitter layer—0.5g glitter to 5ml epoxy. Pour that top layer slowly, same as before, and wait until the base layer is almost cured. I wait about 45 minutes after pouring the base layer to add the glitter top. If you add it too soon, the two layers mix, and if you add it too late, the top layer won’t adhere. That’s another mistake I made early on—adding the glitter layer too fast, and ending up with muddy colored epoxy where the base and top blended.
Now, let’s talk about mess control, because let’s be real—glitter gets everywhere, especially when you’re working with a lot of it. I cover my workbench with a plastic drop cloth (the thin, disposable kind from the dollar store works) and I wear nitrile gloves, not latex. Latex gloves get static, so glitter sticks to them and then to everything else. I also have a small container of water next to my work station—if I get glitter on my gloves, I dip them in water, and it stops the glitter from flying around. Another tip: when you’re done mixing, wipe your mixing cup with a paper towel immediately while it’s still wet. If you let epoxy glitter dry in the cup, it’s impossible to clean, and you’ll end up with old glitter getting into your next batch.
Wait, what about common mistakes I still see people making? Oh, right—using too much glitter. I can’t stress that enough. I had a customer send me a magnet last month that had glitter so thick it was like a glitter rock, and it didn’t stick to the fridge properly. That’s because there’s too many glitter particles, and the epoxy can’t fully cure around them. The glitter acts as a barrier, so the magnet’s backing won’t stick well either. I always tell my regular clients: less glitter is more. You get a better, more even shine without the clumps or adhesion issues.
Another mistake: stirring glitter into already-mixed epoxy. Once Part A and Part B are mixed, the epoxy starts to react, and it thickens quickly. If you add glitter at that point, it doesn’t mix uniformly—you get streaks of glitter in some areas and none in others. Always add the glitter to Part A first, before mixing with Part B. That way, the glitter is suspended in the resin before it’s activated, so it spreads evenly throughout the whole batch.
Now, if you’re just starting out, don’t go buying all the fancy tools at once. I started with a cheap digital scale, silicone molds, and that’s it. The only “extra” thing I really needed was the laser level, and that’s a one-time purchase. Once you get the ratio down—1 part A, 1 part B, 0.5g fine glitter per 5ml epoxy—you can adjust for different sizes of magnets. For a 3×4 inch magnet, that’s 15ml total epoxy, so 0.75g glitter. Easy peasy, no math headaches.
I test every batch I make for consistency. After the magnets cure (they take about 24 hours to fully harden, 1 hour to get touch-dry), I line them up and check for clumps or bare spots. If I find a bad one, I scrape it clean (once it’s fully cured) and re-pour—no big deal. But since I started using this method, I’ve had less than 2% of returns, which is way better than the 15% I was getting when I first started. That’s a game-changer for a small business.
At the end of the day, adding glitter to epoxy fridge magnets evenly isn’t rocket science—it’s all about the ratio, mixing technique, and paying attention to small details like level surfaces and mixing time. I’ve tested so many different methods, and this one works for every glitter type I use, every magnet size, and for both small hobby batches and bulk runs for my retail clients.
If you’re making epoxy fridge magnets and looking for consistent supplies, or if you’re a retailer wanting to stock our high-quality, evenly-glittered magnets, feel free to reach out to connect for bulk ordering or custom projects. We take pride in making magnets that look great, hold up well, and keep sparking joy—no glitter mess required for you or your customers.
Epoxy Resin Keychains References
- Craft and Hobby Association. (2022). Best Practices for Mixing Epoxy Resin with Additives. Craft Retailer’s Guide to Adhesive and Resin Techniques.
- Resin Obsession. (2021). Glitter in Epoxy: How to Avoid Clumps and Uneven Distribution. Resin Craft Tips and Troubleshooting.
- siliconeindustries.com. (2020). Silicone Molds for Epoxy Crafts: Maintaining Level Surfaces for Consistent Finishes.
- American Epoxy Association. (2023). Viscosity Ratios for Tabletop Epoxy: Matching Resin Type to Craft Applications.
Wenzhou Qumange Craft Co., Ltd.
With abundant experience, we are one of the most professional epoxy fridge magnet manufacturers in China. Welcome to wholesale bulk customized epoxy fridge magnet at competitive price from our factory. If you have any enquiry about pricelist and free sample, please feel free to email us.
Address: Room 802, Building A1, Yuehu Light Industrial Park, Taishun County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
E-mail: 13806616181@139.com
WebSite: https://www.qmgcraft.com/
