DIY first communion favours in plaster: ideas, step-by-step tutorial and quantities

TL;DR: For DIY first communion favours, plaster is the simplest choice: with Aqua Resin and a few silicone moulds you can make porcelain-effect white angels, butterflies, scented charms and initials with touches of gold. If the celebration is in May or June, plan the work in batches from February or March.

Introduction

Making DIY first communion favours turns a traditional gift into a personal keepsake, but the questions are always the same: which design to choose, how to get pieces that are all identical and how to fit the work around school, catechism classes and the party. The first communion comes in spring and has a clear visual language: white, gold, soft colours and simple symbols such as the angel, the butterfly, the flower or the initial of the child's name. Plaster cast in silicone moulds is perfectly suited to it: every piece comes out smooth and bright white and can be finished with gold details. In this guide you will find six first communion favour ideas, the 6-step tutorial, how to work out quantities and timings, and the mistakes to avoid. If you have already made favours for a younger sibling, you will recognise many of the techniques from our guide to DIY baptism favours.

Contents

• Key points
• DIY first communion favour ideas
• 6-step tutorial
• Quantities and timings: how to plan
• Common mistakes
• Recommended products
• FAQ
• Make your first communion favours

Key points

• The material: Aqua Resin is not an epoxy resin: it is a premium alpha plaster, non-toxic and water-based. In silicone moulds it gives a smooth, porcelain-effect finish.
• The recipe: 100 g of powder poured into 30 g of cold water, demould after 30 minutes and fully dry within 24 hours.
• The style: white as the base, gold for the details (Aqua Metal applied with a brush, or gold leaf) and no more than one or two soft colours.
• The timeline: for a communion in May or June, the right time to start is February or March.

DIY first communion favour ideas

For a first communion, bright, clean designs work best: they speak of celebration without looking childish, and the child, aged 7 or 8, often wants a say. Here are the six ideas our team recommends most often, for boys and girls alike.

1. White and gold 3D angel

The guardian angel is a symbol that works for both communion and christening. With the 3D Angel mould you get a three-dimensional figurine measuring 9 × 11.7 cm, 7.4 cm thick, which already looks like porcelain in pure white. A thin line of gold along the edge of the wings makes it more festive, and it is perfect for both a boy and a girl.

2. Butterfly, candle or decoration

The butterfly stands for growth and transformation, a meaning that suits the first communion well. The Double Butterfly mould is designed for decorative candles: you can use it for a wax candle to light during the meal, or cast plaster in it to make a decoration to place on the packaging. In plaster it looks lovely in blush pink or pale lilac, with the antennae touched with gold.

3. Scented flower charms

The scented plaster charm is the drawer favour par excellence. The Domed Flower Keyring mould gives a flower measuring 5.1 × 5.2 cm with the hole for the ribbon already in place. Dissolve a few drops of fragrance in the water for the mix, wait until it is completely dry and leave the flower unsealed: no Aqua Shield, otherwise the fragrance can no longer be absorbed.

4. Jewellery box for a girl

For a girl, a little jewellery box is a gift that stays on the bedside table for years, perhaps holding her first necklace with its medal. With the Jewellery Box mould you cast the box in white plaster or a soft shade and finish it with a gold edge. It needs a little more care when demoulding, but the result is very refined.

5. Angel wings trinket dish

If you are looking for a useful favour, the wings are the grown-up version of the little angel. The Angel Wings mould creates a small trinket dish for rings, earrings or keys. It is perfect for grandparents and godparents, and pairs well with a smaller idea for the rest of the guests.

6. The child's initial

The initial is the most personal idea and is very popular with boys too, who often find angels and flowers too delicate. With the Alphabet mould you cast the letter of the child's name, paint only the front in gold and tie it to the bag of sugared almonds.

Pro tip: for the gold details we use Aqua Metal with a brush on the piece once it is dry, never in the mix. If you prefer a more textured effect, apply small flakes of gold leaf to the edges: it is a decorative effect that instantly adds a precious touch.

6-step tutorial

Whichever idea you choose, the process is the same. This is the method we follow in our workshop when we make favours in batches.

1. Weigh and mix

Put 30 g of cold water in a bowl and, if you want a soft colour, first dissolve a touch of Aqua Pigment in it; for scented charms, add the fragrance at this stage too. Then pour 100 g of Aqua Resin into the water and stir gently until the mix is fluid and free of lumps.

2. Fill the moulds

Pour the mix into the silicone moulds up to the rim and tap the work surface a few times to get rid of the bubbles. No release agent is needed.

3. Demould after 30 minutes

After 30 minutes, flex the sides of the mould and ease the piece out calmly. Rinse the silicone with plain water and it is ready for the next pour.

4. Leave to dry for 24 hours

Lay the pieces on a tray, well spaced out, and leave them to dry: within 24 hours they are completely dry and ready to decorate.

5. Add the gold details

Go over edges, wings or initials with gold Aqua Metal applied with a brush, or apply a few flakes of gold leaf as a decorative effect. On unscented pieces you can protect everything with Aqua Shield, brushed on or by dipping, bearing in mind that it leaves a glossy finish and may slightly alter the colour.

6. Finish the packaging

Fill a white tulle bag with an odd number of sugared almonds, close it with a white or gold ribbon and tie it to the favour. Add a small tag with the child's name and the date of the first communion.

Quantities and timings: how to plan

The number of favours is based on the invitations, not on the number of places at the table: you usually make one per family, plus a small reserve for last-minute surprises and pieces that do not turn out well.

What determines the timing is the number of moulds you have. Each mould frees up one piece every 30 minutes, so it produces two favours an hour. With four identical moulds you reach eight pieces an hour: 40 favours take about five hours of casting, easy to split over two weekend afternoons. With the Alphabet mould each pour gives the whole set of letters, so repeating the same initial takes several rounds.

As first communions are concentrated in May and June, we suggest this timeline:

• February: choosing the idea together with the child, buying the moulds and colour tests.
• March: casting the batches, one colour at a time, and drying on trays.
• Three weeks before the celebration: gold details, tags and packaging with the sugared almonds.

Involving the child is part of the gift: under adult supervision, they can pour and paint their own favours.

Common mistakes

• Leaving it until the last few weeks. With May and June packed with commitments, starting late leaves no time to remake faulty pieces.
• Reversing the order of the ingredients. Water poured onto the powder creates lumps: the powder always goes into the cold water.
• Demoulding too early. Wait the full 30 minutes, especially with thin shapes such as wings and butterflies.
• Stirring Aqua Metal into the mix. The metallic colour is only applied with a brush; to colour the mix itself, use Aqua Pigment.
• Sealing scented charms. Aqua Shield stops the fragrance from being absorbed and the flower loses its scent.
• Overdoing the gold. A few gold details enhance the white; covering the whole piece makes it look heavy.

Recommended products

As well as Aqua Resin, these are the moulds and finishes we choose for a first communion:

• 3D Angel mould — the white and gold figurine that suits everyone
• Double Butterfly mould — for a candle or a plaster decoration
• Domed Flower Keyring mould — the base for scented charms
• Angel Wings mould — the trinket dish for grandparents and godparents
• Aqua Metal — the gold to brush onto the details

FAQ

How do you make DIY first communion favours?

Pour Aqua Resin, mixed at 100 g of powder to 30 g of cold water, into themed silicone moulds such as an angel, a butterfly, a flower or an initial. Demould after 30 minutes, leave to dry for 24 hours and finish with gold details, sugared almonds and a tag.

Which colours should you choose for first communion favours?

White is the symbolic colour of communion and is enough on its own to create an elegant look. You can pair it with gold for the details and with one or two soft shades, such as blush pink, powder blue or sage, achieved with Aqua Pigment in the mix.

When should you start making communion favours?

First communions are mostly celebrated in May, sometimes in June, so it is best to start in February or March. That gives you time to test the colours, cast in batches, leave each piece to dry for 24 hours and package everything without rushing.

Can the first communion child help make them?

Yes. Aqua Resin is non-toxic, water-based and free from solvents, odours and catalysts, and it is suitable for children aged 5 and over under adult supervision. A child of 7 or 8 making their first communion can mix, pour and decorate their own favours together with a parent.

Can I protect scented plaster charms with Aqua Shield?

No. Aqua Shield blocks the absorption of the fragrance, so it should never be used on scented charms. Leave them unsealed and, when the scent fades, simply add a few drops of fragrance.

Make your first communion favours

Choose the design together with the child, do a first test pour and in a few afternoons you will have handmade white and gold favours for all your guests. For confirmation, you will find dedicated ideas in a separate article. All the shapes are collected in the Aqua Resin moulds and accessories collection.
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