Monogram Coasters
It’s rained here a lot lately, so I’ve been trying to catch up on a few inside projects that I have been putting on the back burner this summer. One of those projects was to make a set of monogram coasters for the living room.
A few years ago, I discovered that you could take natural stone tiles, a stamp and some paint and make some really cool coasters. They were so easy and fun to make that I couldn’t make just one set for me. Oh no, I made a set for everybody on my Christmas list.
Fast forward a few years, all of my beautiful hand made coasters have disappeared or have been broken. The hunt for great looking, hard working coasters was on!
I found several sets that looked awesome, but none of those were made of a material that was absorbent. Call me crazy, but I like my coasters to work, not just look good. I decided that the only way I was going to get exactly what I wanted was to just make a set for myself!
Here is what you will need to make a set of coasters:
- Natural stone tiles. I got mine at Home Depot. The tiles were $3.97 for 9 of them.
2. Acrylic paint in the color of your choice and multipurpose sealer. I add a couple of drops of the sealer to my paint for a couple of reasons. The sealer helps the paint adhere to the tile and by adding the sealer to the paint, I am only sealing my design – not the entire tile. This allows the rest of the coaster to absorb moisture.
3. A design of your choice. In the past I used a stamp to transfer my design onto the tile. This time, I printed off our monogram then, using my handy light box, traced the design onto tracing paper.
4. Tracing paper makes it easier for you to place your design onto the tile. Once the design is lined up, gently slide carbon paper between your tile and your design. Trace over your design pattern with a pen or pencil.
Once your design is traced onto the tile. It’s time to paint.
I mixed the multipurpose sealer into the paint, then took my time and painted my design my design onto the tile. As you can see, the tile has bumps, large “pores” and is uneven. Your paint lines won’t be perfect. That’s okay. At a distance you really can’t tell.
Here’s my finished paint design. If you look really close you can see that it isn’t perfect. Surprisingly, I’m okay with that.
I waited a day or two before using them to be sure that they were totally dry, then put them on the living room coffee table, ready for use. However, I kept looking at them and kept thinking that even though they were pretty, they just didn’t feel finished.
That night, or morning, at 2:00 a.m. I came wide awake and knew exactly what they needed. Gold dots! I’m not sure WHY I can’t be like a normal person and have these light bulb moments in the middle of the day.
5. My favorite gold paint, Martha Stewarts Metallic Gold, is perfect for making the gold circles. The gold dots provided the glam that my monogram coasters needed.
An easy way to paint circles? Use the eraser on the end of a new pencil. Just dip the eraser in paint, then firmly press the eraser down onto the surface you are painting.
6. The finishing touch for the coaster is to add “feet” or bumpers to the bottom of the coaster. The bumpers help protect your furniture from getting scratched. It is crucial to make sure that the bottom of your tile is totally free from dust or the bumpers will not stick. I usually get a damp cloth and wipe down the entire coaster a few hours before I paint them. These bumpers are $2.98 for a package of 16.
The bumpers are easy to apply, just peel and stick a bumper to all four corners.
The gold dots really put the finishing touch on the monogram coasters for me.
The good thing about making your own coasters is that you get to choose the style that best fits your home. I’m seriously thinking about making some for every holiday.
Plus,with paint, tile, and bumpers I think that each coaster cost less than $1.50! At that price they could almost be disposable.
My monogram coasters are finished and not only are they cute, my furniture is safe from both hot and cold beverages. It’s a win/win!