DIY: Coasters

Mike and I decided to do a fully handmade Christmas this year (with one or two exceptions thrown in. Dads are hard to make for!) We were super excited to devote a handful of days to just getting crafty and baking away. I started on these coasters a couple of weeks ago (!!!) and only meant to make about 4 sets. I ended up making about 16! They're so simple and effortless that I couldn't help myself. It was fun to try different techniques to make them special, too. These are great inexpensive (yet thoughtful!) gifts for anyone you may know (or even to use in your home!). I made batches for practically everyone, and ew used our Instagram prints we've had lying around for our own set. Below I'll show you three fun ways to spruce up your own porcelain coasters, and give you a few more ideas! (It's really so simple that I don't need to do a step by step tutorial!)


What you'll need:
+ Four 4.25" x 4.25" porcelain tiles from hardware store
+ ModPodge
+ Foam brush
+ Paper or something for the "design"
+ Felt furniture backings

What you'll do: If you're using scrapbook paper or something of the sort, trim it into a 4"x4" square. (One piece of 12" scrapbook paper makes 9 (!!!) coasters!) Pour out some ModPodge and use your foam brush to brush a layer onto the top of the porcelain tile. Immediately place the design paper onto the fresh ModPodge. If you're using small pieces of paper for a collage, be careful not to tear them! The MP is sticky! Wait 20 minutes and allow it to dry. Come back and add another coat of MP over all 4 tiles, making sure to pay close attention to the edges. Allow this coat to dry for another half hour or so, and repeat two more times. After 3 coats of MP, you may turn over the coaster and add 4 felt backings to each one. This will help protect any surface it sits on. 

Voila! You now have a set of personalized coasters! Stack them up and tie them with a ribbon for a pretty presentation!

Tips and tricks: Use old movie stubs or anything that may be special between you and the recipient to make it more personal. Mike and I made a set with old date tickets and fortunes! You can also use baby pictures, pictures from growing up, or family portraits. If you have a new baby in the house then it could be sweet to use pictures of him/her to give to the baby's grandparents (or if you're on the outside then you can gift these to the parents of the baby!). If you decide to use small pieces, confetti, or anything with ink, pick up some transparencies at the office supply store and cut them into 4x4 square to place on top. This will help keep the coating even and nice. 

If you'd like to order your own Instagram prints (which are sized at 4x4!), use Mpix or download the Postal Pix app on your iPhone! 

These make great gifts because they're easy to make and cheap to put together. The tiles cost 16 cents a piece at Home Depot. 1 sheet of scrapbooking paper is enough for 2 full sets and is only 50 cents. The felt backings can be bought in sets of 25, 60, or 80 for only about $2.75. At the end of the day each set cost us roughly $1 to make (Instagram sets run about $2.50 or less!)

What would you put on your coasters if you made a set?! 

42 comments:

  1. This is BRILLIANT!!!
    I want to make some of these for our house and perhaps for birthday gifts!!
    Thank you so much for this super tutorial!!
    xoxox

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  2. This is such a sweet idea! We always have people coming over and everyone uses the coasters! It would be so nice to put some cute memories on display!

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  3. How creative! And simple - I need simple DIY projects, I have zero creative bones in my body!!

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  4. This is so cute! Such a great idea, I think I might even make some. They would look great around the house!

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  5. I love making coasters and wreaths. So fun. xo, rv

    http://aneclecticheap.blogspot.com/

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  6. That is so neat! I'll be saving this :)

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  7. This is such a cute idea!!! I am going to try this out on some birthday gifts. Thanks for the tutorial!!

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  8. Love this idea! What a great gift.

    http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com

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  9. Oh my, I am definitely going to try to make a set of these.

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  10. Thank you for sharing! These are so super cute!

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  11. Thanks for this! I'm new to Modge Podge and finding it very useful in mounting my fine art prints & art. The tile thing is fantastic!

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  12. LOVE this. My mom made some of these this year with my grandmothers favorite recipes!

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  13. These are amazing! I really want to make some now but I have absolutely no creativity! xx

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  14. What a great idea! I have to make these! ;D

    May you start 2012 with the best energy!

    Miki.

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  15. I would make ones that looked like the photobooth pictures or leaves... we have so many leaves from the wedding that I have been coming up with all sorts of ways to use them!

    Love & Lollies... Jessa

    Confessions of the Cupcake Countessa

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  16. this is one of the easiest and prettiest diy projects I've seen in a while! and you can make it so personal, lovely idea. wish you shared this before christmas, haha. on the otherhand, now I have something for next year, hah! have a lovely week :)

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  17. Oh these look wonderful! such a great idea :)

    I had a handmade Christmas this year too and i started to regret it, if i did it again for next year i think i would have to start now! hehe

    Dad's are hard to make for, i came up with a wooden bird house/feeder i made my dad, that sticks on the window by suckers so you can see the birds up close! My best idea ever!

    I like the idea of putting tickets in coasters, so personal :)

    Thanks for sharing

    Stacie xo

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  18. very nice blog! ;) want to follow each other?

    http://traveloguewithlove.blogspot.com/

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  19. these are so amazing! so affordable too! i want to start on my gifts for next year now lol! it's such a good idea to put good memories to use! :) cheers to a happy new year!!

    Lee Anne
    http://itsawant.wordpress.com/

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  20. What a fabulous idea! I will have to try this out.

    <3Honeysuckelle

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  21. How creative! Great idea! Very cute and simple.

    xo -S

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  22. fantastic DIY! This is the great.

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  23. Well, okay, I love this DIY, it's super cute, but I just had to comment and say that I'm in love with your cutting mat thing! It's awesome! :D

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  24. I love this idea! Especially with the ticket stubs and such. I have all the stubs from my boy and I's dates that are just sitting in a photo album.

    Also, I definitely printed my instagram pictures at CVS. I had saved them to my computer and then printed them like regular 4x6 prints. They're just a little shorter and turned out nicely!

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  25. Cute idea! And yes, Dads ARE hard to make for!

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  26. Oh yay! I love the ones with the movie tickets. I save mine and they're in a memory box but what a great way to display them!

    http://mountainmuse.tumblr.com/

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  27. How crazy!! I did the EXACT same thing as part of my Christmas gifts to family!
    I make handmade gifts every year and this was one of them :)

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  28. I sincerely love all of your DIY projects. You have inspired me to handmake my gifts this year!

    Adrienne
    What Lola Wants

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  29. I used comic book covers to make coasters for my boyfriend and he just about passed out when he saw them!

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  30. Ooh I'd love to do this with polaroids!

    Happy new year :)
    <3Meghan

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  31. Fantastic idea to use porcelain tiles! Do your cups stick to the coaster at all? We have really light coasters right now & when the cold water cups sweat, they stick to the coaster as you lift it up.

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  32. I am trying to make these coasters and our paper is bubbling up...any TIPS????

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  33. Seriously, so cute! I think I might need to do this! Thanks for posting! XO

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  34. This is such an awesome DIY, and perfect gift to give. Thanks for all of the tips and tricks.

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  35. my sister made these. so cute!

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  36. I just finished my own coasters after following this tutorial :) thanks!

    http://thatlumpybluesweater.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/little-diy.html

    Jen xx

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HEY! Thanks for dropping by. xo KB