DIY Tile Coasters
Create one-of-a-kind coasters using napkins and tile! This DIY project is quick and easy and looks great. In fact, they look just as good, if not better, than the pricey coasters you can find in gift shops and stores. And did I mention easy? All of the steps for creating these DIY tile coasters can be found below. They are a great way to add something special to your own space, and they make fantastic gifts.
We have a ski home in Vermont, but the one thing it was missing was coasters. And there are so many cute shops around us that have ski-themed coasters. But…looking at the price tags, I knew I could make something that looked just as good for a fraction of the cost. In fact, I immediately thought back to my wedding (nearly 20 years ago) where we made coasters for ourselves and our family using images from our special day. We had received some ski napkins as part of a housewarming basket, and I knew they would be perfect!
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supplies Needed
Steps to make the coasters
The two decisions you have to make are the tile and napkins you want to use. I’d recommend a stone tile (something porous). I found these marble tiles on Amazon for a great price. I do worry about how well something would stick to a shiny ceramic tile (it could work just fine, I’ve just never tried it).
For napkins, pick something that you love! This is where you can truly customize the project, and it can either be a single image or a pattern. You can use something you have on hand (like I did) or find something new.
Step 1: Cut your napkins
The first thing you need to do is cut your napkins. How you do this will depend on your design and whether you want to cover the entire coaster or just a portion of it. I decided to make my image a tiny bit smaller than the tile and round the corners. I liked the idea of having some white peeking around the edges.
Step 2: Adhere napkins to tile
Now it is time to adhere the napkins to the tile. After making sure the tile is clean and dust-free, apply a coat of Mod Podge directly to the tile. Then place the napkin on top and apply another coat of Mod Podge on top. With the Mod Podge still wet, I used my finger to gently smooth out the wrinkles (being very careful not to tear the napkin. If you make a mistake, simply wet the entire thing, scrub the napkin and Mod Podge off, let the tile dry, and try again with a new cutout.
Step 3: Distress the image
Even though I smoothed out the paper after applying the Mod Podge, there was still some wrinkling that happened while it was drying. It is fine to leave it this way, but I decided to use sandpaper and sand those wrinkles away. Make sure the Mod Podge is completely dry. This distressing gives the image a worn and vintage look, with some of the tile showing through the cracks. I just love this extra character, but it’s totally up to you whether you want to do this or not.
Step 4: Seal and protect
Becuase I sanded some of the existing Mod Podge away and simply to add some durability, I sealed them again using Mod Podge Spray Sealer. After all, they are coasters and will definitely get wet!
Finally, I added some little pieces of cork to the back side of the tile to prevent the tile from scratching your furniture surfaces. I did this simply by using a hole punch with cork Contact paper. You could also use felt and glue it to the bottom, or use small plastic protective dots.
Summary
And that’s it! These DIY tile coasters can be completed in an afternoon. They would make such great gifts that you can personalize for your friends and family. But you may love them so much you’ll want to keep some for yourself. I’d love to know if you try this project, and as always, post any questions in the comments and I’ll get them answered for you.