Delightful Diys: Coasters

Posted on January 24, 2012

DIY coasters with scrapbooking paper. Read how to do it too!

After reading a tutorial for DIY coasters on eHow, I had to try it myself. Good news! Not only are they super-duper easy to make, but they’re also strangely therapeutic and relaxing. What’s more, they are a great way to express yourself artistically. I chose some simple scrap-book paper, but can you image using music-sheet paper, sewing patterns or even your own artwork? Sky’s the limit!

You will need…

  • ModPodge (or some type of glue that dries clear). Find it in any craft store.
  • Foam brushs. It’s best to have several brushes, or you will have to wash it between coats of glue.
  • Ceramic tiles. Find them in any home supplies stores, such as Minards or Lowes.
  • Paper or fabric. Anything is good, so long as it’s paper-thin!
  • Felt. Any fabric will work really, but felt is very soft and works well to protect your table.
  • Scissors. Or your teeth, but I prefer scissors.
  1. Cut your felt into small circles or squares, enough for each tile and roughly 1″-2″ smaller than the tile itself. Don’t worry about making them perfect, as they aren’t viewable. Use your brush and glue the felt to the bottom side of the tile, using short-shuffling strokes. Let that sit for 10 minutes.
  2. With long, even strokes of your brush, glue the top site of the tile with a thin layer of the ModPodge. Cover the whole top.
  3. Work fast. Lay your fabric or paper carefully onto the center. You can’t really move it once it’s down, so envision the placement as you lay the paper/fabric. Use your fingers to press the paper down, and lightly run your finger-tips all over it until the bubbles are worked out.
  4. Use your brush again to add a new layer of ModPoge. Let it sit before you do any more layers, and I recommend at least 3-5 coats.

And WA-LA, pretty coasters! I plan on making a bunch of these for my family this Christmas, a little stack of four per family member with a gauzy ribbon tied around them in a pretty bow. Also, the coats seem dry when they actually take a couple weeks to fully cure. If you want to use them/gift them right way, just spray some sealant over them (which you can also find at craft stores).