Southern Belle Charm: Custom Coasters

Level: 2 (Easy)

Okay so my roommate wanted some coasters for christmas, so instead of going and buying the expensive ones that would maybe somewhat match her room I decided to create my own and make them hers. I did a ton of research and finally decided on how to make them, so here is my experience so you can make your own.

Here is what you need:

Tile ( $0.16 a piece at Lowes)
Any paper good (all of mine were purchased at Hobby Lobby but you could also use pictures)
ModPodge
ModPodge Clear Acrylic Sealer (or Rust-olium Crystal Clear Enamel)
Paint Brush
Cork Board (Wal-mart) or felt pad
Sandpaper (100 grit is what I used) Optional
Scissors
Hot glue gun

Step 1:

Sand down the edges on the bottom. They are going to be slightly ruff as this is the part that is meant to go on the wall. I decided to sand it because small children will be around the ones I made for my family back home, but this step is completely optional.

Step 2:

Take your Paper goods and your tile and trace out how big you want your square to be. I made my paper squares slightly smaller so mine would have a white border. Cut out your squares and put a ~~good amount~~ VERY THIN layer of ModPodge on your tile and put your paper on the tile. As the paper is being laid, run your index finger across so you get out all the air bubbles. Let dry for 15 minutes.

Step 3:

If you plan to put letters on yours as I have done mine you will want to get them ready. Make your letters in a simple Word document, print, and cut out. The next layer you put on top of the paper will need to be very thin as well. It will be the same concept for the letters as it was for the tile and paper.

Step 4:

Put on three more layers after you put on the letters (only two more id you did not do the letters) letting each layer dry 15 minutes. It is very possible that it will bubble during the process of putting the layers on like in the picture below. ~~Scream, run around, and freak out that your coaster is now trash.~~ Keep calm if this does happen, after a few hours of letting it set, the bubbles will go away or be very small to the point only you being a perfectionist will even pay attention to :)

Step 5:

Set up outside with lots of news paper and line up all of your coasters. Take your Acrylic Sealer and spray on like spray paint, I put three layers on each of mine. Let dry for 10 minutes in between each layer, after the last layer let dry for 24 hrs. After I let my last layer dry for 10 minutes I picked mine up and put them on a table inside to let finish drying.

Step 6:

Lastly get your hot glue gun ready and cut out some of your cork board to put on the back of your new coasters. On the one below I put small pieces on as they were for me, but with the ones I gave as gifts I put a full pice on the back. Once you have the cork board on the back you are done.