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DIY: Drink Coasters from Tiles + Paper


A few weeks ago I partnered with one of my favorite photographers, Melody Melikian, for a craft photoshoot! This gal has some serious talent when it comes to capturing emotion, colors and those special candid moments in her pictures. We organized a little outdoors craft workshop where we made coasters, drank lemonade and enjoyed crafting out in the wilderness for a change. We had a blast and I love how the pictures turned out! Check out more photos and my Q&A on Melody’s photo blog.


These drink coasters are one of my all-time favorites, because they include the 3 ingredients to what I call the perfect DIY project: they're cheap, practical and fun to make. So next time you’re at the hardware store, just pick up some plain ceramic tiles for a few cents and transform them into stylish coasters with your favorite decorative paper. I also love that this project is 100% customizable, because you can mix & match with any paper you'd like.

Plus they make great gifts, favors, or even a fun project for a "girls night in" party. Follow the tutorial below to make your own set!


Materials:
4 x 4 inch tiles (I bought these from Home Depot for $0.16 each)
• Decorative scrapbook paper (thicker cardstock won't work as well)
Mod Podge or any other decoupage medium
• Waterproof clear sealer spray (I like Krylon Clear Glaze)
• Felt
• Scissors
• Brush
• Pen or Sharpie
• Tacky glue 
Optional: Paper trimmer or x-acto knife with a ruler to help cut straight lines


Steps:
• Choose a design for your coasters. You could cover the entire tile with one piece of paper or layer on different pieces on top of each other.
• Cut out your scrapbook paper. If you would like to cover the entire tile, place the tile on top of the paper and trace, but cut it slightly smaller than the tile to ensure the edges won’t hang over. If you're not comfortable cutting freehand, use a paper trimmer or an x-acto knife with a ruler to get those straight lines.
• Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the tile and another layer on the back of the scrapbook paper.
• Place the paper over the tile and gently smooth out the paper with your fingers to remove any air bubbles. Make sure to get the corners!
• Let dry for a few minutes, but keep an eye on it and smooth out any air bubbles that may arise.

(continued below)



• Brush on an even coat of Mod Podge on top of the paper. It will dry clear so do not be afraid to layer on a generous amount. Again, keep an eye on it and gently rub out any air bubbles before it dries. Let dry for about 10 minutes then add another coat to ensure the paper is secured to the tile.
• Once it has completely dried, spray the tile with a craft sealer to make it water-resistant, following the manufacturer's directions on the bottle. Although the sealer should dry in a few minutes, avoid stacking the coasters for at least 24-48 hours to avoid them sticking to each other.
• To keep the tile form scratching your table, cut a piece of felt to the size of the tile and attach it to the bottom with tacky glue.



Enjoy your handmade coasters! Follow along on Facebook and Twitter to see all my new DIY projects.





17 comments:

  1. Anonymous6/19/2013

    Super idea, really pretty!

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  2. really nice.
    I linked to your tutorial on my blog - thanks for sharing!


    ♥, doro von Hand zu Hand

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  3. These look fantastic! How does the Mod Podge hold up when it gets wet?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Lauren! The waterproof craft sealer will protect against water damage. I've been using my coasters for months and they're holding up just fine. However, I'm not sure I would soak them in water.

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    2. Anonymous11/22/2013

      It holds up well except I did notice the picture started to rub off a bit. You think it doesn't have enough Mod Podge on it or sealer? Or both?

      Delete
  4. Great idea! I love this DIY tutorial. The tile coasters look great.
    Christine @ Bondera

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  5. These are so great! Will definitely be trying this out. Lovely photos too :) xo

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  6. Anonymous7/02/2013

    love the DIY!!! I'm planning to do ones with permanent markers :)

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  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Anonymous7/31/2013

    i purchase krylon make it last clear sealer im pretty sure it is not waterproof i made a mistake when i bought it do you think it will still hold up?

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    Replies
    1. I have not used it, but I think that should be fine. I would just use a semi-damp cloth to wash the top of the coaster if needed. Good luck!

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  9. I have been using Mod Podge as suggested. It is so thick, I use a brush to smooth it over and end up with brush strokes. I called someone for help and they recommended that I add a little water to the Mod Podge so that it would be self-leveling. I have tried about 12 different tiles trying to get the right amount of water/paste combination. I am not getting a flat surface. Please help.

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    Replies
    1. I would try a very thin layer of Mod Podge. I've never tried mixing water. After you place your paper on the tile, make sure you are smoothing it out with your fingers between each layer of glue. Also, it should dry clear so it's odd that the brush stokes are there. Let me know how it goes!

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    2. Anonymous5/10/2014

      Might try wheat paste, must let it dry completely then spray with a good waterproof sealer, let each coat dry till you have a decent layer for protection.

      Delete
  10. I had this idea for years and never got round to it bar a disaster once with the wrong glue. Now I have some great Spanish and English superman comic coasters!

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  11. Anonymous8/26/2014

    I love your idea and gonna try it later on this week thanks for this wonderfull items *-*

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  12. I love making coasters. Picked up just a few the other day to make some quick Christmas gifts

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