When I think about "growing up" I think about things like buying laundry soap in bulk, waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, reading the newspaper, and using coasters for your drinks. Sick. Am I growing up?
For some god forsaken reason, I've been obsessed with coasters lately. Partly because they're super practical and mostly because they can be soooo cuteeeee. But some of my favorite sets can be anywhere from $24 to $98! I'm not saying it isn't worth investing in a few, but buying a ton of coasters can really add up fast.
So.. why not make some? And make some for only $5, at that? You can personalize these how ever you want -- acrylic paint (like the DIY I did below), a collage of photos and magazine cut-outs with some modge podge, all over glitter spray paint.. you name it! Leaving them plain and natural is also such a cool look.
For a tutorial, keep reading!
If you don't have most of the other materials needed for this DIY, this is probably one of the most expensive steps of the whole process.. and it only costs 25 cents per sample. Yep. For real. You can pick up these hardwood floor samples at your local Lowes, Menards, Home Depot.. anywhere that sells flooring. I got mine at Lowes Hardware, and they were actually only a quarter each. They come in a plethora of colors and finishes, so get creative!
Before you do anything to them, make sure the top of the wood is clean (so anything you paint on them will stick).
For my coasters, I decided to paint some fun geometric designs in gold acrylic. If you don't already have any fun paint on hand, they only cost $1.50 from Joann Fabric or Michael's Crafts. You also need a simple paint brush -- I just used a plain ol' sponge applicator.
Squeeze out a little bit of paint and soak the tip of your brush to coat it.
Grab a sample and find the two raw edges (where the samples were cut from the big plank of flooring).
Paint the edges with the paint (color of your choice, of course).
Then, using blue painter's tape, map out the designs you want for the coasters on the sample pieces. I did each coaster a different style, but you could do all of them the same, or two and two, etc.
Once everything is laid out, go over the edges of the tape with your nail (or any flat surface) and push down so there are no air bubbles.
Now the fun part. Paint away!
If your paint isn't opaque and you want it to be a little less see-through, you can cover the coasters with a few coats of paint. Just make sure to let them dry a little bit in between each layer, so it doesn't glob up on you.
While the paint is drying, grab some adhesive cork backing. I got this stack of 15 sheets at Joann's for only $3.50! If you can't find any sticky kind, plain cork will work -- just make sure to have some super glue to adhere the cork to the bottom of the coasters! (I'd recommend stocking up on cork board and cork adhesive if you want to get into DIYs. They come in handy more than you'd think!)
Take one sheet of cork, and cut out four even pieces to cover the bottoms of the coasters. This prevents the wood from scratching your tabletop surface, as well as keeps the coaster secure and firmly in place while a drink is on top.
Peel off the protective backing from the cork to expose the adhesive..
..and stick it firmly onto the bottom of the wood sample.
Lay the coasters out to dry, CAREFULLY peel away the blue painter's tape, and tada! I stress carefully because if you peel too quickly, you risk ripping away some of the paint edges as well, and you won't be left with a clean line. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, because it would be a little worn and rustic looking.. but probably something to avoid right off the bat.
I recommend spraying them with a clear sealant or painting them with a clear top coat so the acrylic paint is protected from condensation and spills, and doesn't bubble or scratch with use.
Now you have a set of adorable, practical, and unique coasters.. which could cost you as little as $5 to make! These also make adorable gifts, especially if you use someone's favorite colors, or even monogram them with their initials. Just stack all four coasters together, find a pretty ribbon, tie them up with a bow, add a gift tag, and you're good to go!
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