Tile Coaster Tutorial
April 7th, 2010
So my good friend Emily just moved into her completely redone house a few weeks ago, and she asked me to make her some unique coasters. I love the look of these from Target, but $15? Get real.
UPDATE! For a more detailed tutorial, visit this post :)
For this tutorial, you’ll need a set of tiles – I got a handful from Home Depot for $0.20 a piece, some scraps of scrapbooking paper or any kind of paper really, some mod podge, clear acrylic spray, and felt pads for the bottom.
First, cut and measure you paper to the fit your tile. The tiles I purchased were 4.25″ x 4.25″ so I cut my paper to 4″ squares.
Next, clean and dry your tiles – they are much easier to work with if you clean them off thoroughly. After you have dried them off, apply a thin coat of mod podge to your tiles, place your decorative paper on top and smooth out all bubbles. Allow this to dry for about 15 minutes, then apply 2 – 3 more coats allowing each coat to dry adequately.
After you’ve applied your mod podge top coats, take your tiles out to a well ventilated area and apply two coats of your acrylic spray (I sprayed mine outside in the grass). The acrylic needs only a few minutes between coats to dry, then stick your felt pads on the bottom – one to each corner. And if all goes well, you’ll come up with something like this!
Cute right! And best of all CHEAP! They are a great housewarming party, or hostess gift. And they take very little time and effort – my kind of craft!
Today I’m going to finish up Emily’s – so excited to see how they look in her new house!
And, I’ve got a few big projects that I am STILL working on, and I CAN’T wait to show you all! So stay tuned!
This post was featured on Handmade Matters & The Rubber Punkin!
Hi Jami! Yes, you can use pictures! I would recommend using pictures printed from Walmart or CVS versus printing at home. I’d be afraid that the colors will bleed if you use pics printed from home.
Awesome! Thanks!!! This method makes them water proof right? It won’t matter if its used with hot or cold.
I got these as a personalized wedding gift with our names and wedding date on them. LOVED IT! I decided to make my own set for another couple. Thanks for the tutorial!
Jami – Yes! Please send pictures when you’re finished!! jordan@blueprintcrafts.com
Kelly – they sounds fabulous! Please send me pics and I’ll share them on my facebook wall! jordan@blueprintcrafts.com
Since they have the clear acrylic sprayed over them, I’m wondering if they would work as a tile backsplash. You know, mostly plain tiles with some of the ‘spruced up’ tiles here and there randomly.
These are such a great idea! I’ve made quite a few and keep having the same problem – when I’ve let them dry for several days, I stack the sets in order to tie them with a ribbon or whatever to give as gifts. When I do that, the imprint of the felt is seen on the tile below, as if the clear acrylic spray hasn’t dried all the way. I’ve even waited two weeks and still the same issue! Help!!!
Maria – I have pondered trying this before! I’ve been using my coasters for about 2 years now with hot and cold beverages and they have ‘stood the test of time’! So I would imagine that they would work wonderfully as a backsplash! If you do end up using them for such a project, please email me pics so I can share them on my fb wall!
Holly – that must be frustrating! Have you checked my latest tutorial? You can find it here: (http://blueprintcrafts.com/2012/05/weekend-project-tile-coaster-tutorial/). I made these coasters and stacked and tied them together with ribbon only a few days later and there was no sticking or felt transfer! I hope this helps :)
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How long did it take for the clear acrylic spray to dry and not leave marks when you placed a cup or stacked the coasters?
Roger – mine were ready within a day. Hope yours turned out well!
Hey there, love this project. I have been trying to make these to sell at a craft fair. Dang!!!! Each time i add mod podge to top of tile, the paper gets all bubbly. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cathy – did you remember to apply a coat of Mod Podge before applying the paper? It might also help if you use a hair dryer to help the mod podge set between coats!
how do you apply the felt
Misty – I bought self adhesive felt pads. The kind that you use for furniture legs. Just peel and stick! If you would like to share your coasters, email pics to me at jordan@blueprintcrafts.com and I’ll post them to my facebook wall! Thanks for stopping by :)
Cute tutorial! ! I love the possibilities that come with this idea.
Thanks, Jess! Glad you stopped by :)
I just made some using pages from an old children’s book now I have curious George coasters. Super cute thanks
Katie – that sounds awesome! Would love to share pics on my FB page!! Email me at jordan@blueprintcrafts.com :)
The easiest way to really clean tiles is with kitchen paper towel and methylated spirits. The high alcohol content in the methylated spirits cleans, disinfects and dries quickly all in the one wipe!
I made these for my daughter for her birthday, but I used a monogram instead of scrapbook paper. I looked through my fonts on my computer, found a beautiful “E”, then printed it with black ink onto white paper, then applied it to a white tile. To give as a gift, I tied them with pretty black ribbon. She loved them. I’m making more for Christmas!! Someone told me that using a napkin instead of scrapbook paper works well…much thinner. I’m going to look for cute Christmas napkins. I just thought of something, if you’re willing to start in January, but find napkins for every season and make a set of napkins for valentines day, easter, st pats day, 4th of July, etc.) Wouldn’t that be a wonderful bridal shower gift? Oh my, the possibilities are endless!!
Cheri – you have such great ideas!
What type of pictures would you use? I noticed you recommended not printing them off of your own printer and going to like a Walgreens. But would you use a regular glossy print? I’m so excited about this project! Any advice appreciated!
There is indoor/outdoor Modge Podge. I used it on a wood endtable I decopodged with tissue paper about 10 years ago. Table still looks perfect. This could eliminate the spray step that people are having trouble with. The trouble they are having may have to do with humidity oe temperature when they spray the product. Minwax also has a finish that is water proof that could be brushed on. I plan to use the indoor outdoor Modge Podge. Thanks for the great idea, I am planning a trivit that coordinated as well from a larger tile.
Danielle – I would recommend using a regular glossy print! Good luck :)
Terry – let me know how the indoor/outdoor mod podge holds up to heat! Interested to see if it works :)
great tutorial, but just a quick question! Isn’t modge podge enough of a waterproof agent that you could do with out the acrylic paint?
Lael – no it isnt! It wouldn’t withstand water or heat!
I made these last week and they turned out great! Thanks for the tutorial!
Jamison – would love to see them! Email me a pic and I’ll be happy to post to my facebook wall :) jordan@blueprintcrafts.com
I found a picture online that I want to print and use as a design for a coaster. Will regular printer paper and ink bleed with the application of the modge podge? or do you need a thicker print of paper? Thanks for your help!
Definitely don’t print at home with an inkjet printer – it will bleed! I recommend getting it printed at walmart or your local pharmacy!
I have used pictures that i printed off my home printer with excellent results!! I learned how to do this from another site and have made a ton of them. So much fun, that i buy tiles by the boxload! have fun!!
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Hi, I loved your ideal of the coasters and made some, Thank you , they turned out great, I am wondering how do you think they would work as hot plates? I have some bigger tiles left over from a tile job and thought of hot plates as well. Do you think if you put a hot pan it would work with the sealers? Thanks for your help.
Hi Karry! I would use an enamel or polyurethane to seal it. This method definitely will not work with hot plates. It’s only for hot mugs :)
Did you use Matte or Glossy Mod Podge? Also is there a recommend Acrylic Spray?
Chey – I use glossy, and I recommend using Rustoleum Clear Acrylic spray!
I’ve made these with mod podge and then used the acrylic spray…but, I’m having issues with them still being sticky after days worth of drying time. Help!
Tasha – I recommend using a hair dryer between each coat of mod podge and spray – eliminates the stick!
Can we use wrapping paper on the tiles, or would it be too thin? Would be FUN to pick out wrapping paper to use :)
My wife and I just made these for Christmas presents, they are great! One tip that I discovered, if you buy some plain old sandpaper and sand the edges and the corners, it gives them a much smoother feel than the rough feel of that ceramic (safer too!). Plus you get the rounded corners which just look way ‘warmer’ than the 90 angle corners.
Michael – what a great idea! Thanks for sharing :)
Amber – absolutely! And a great way to switch up your home decor for the holidays!
You should use Vellum paper and print at home with an inkjet printer in order to use photos then the modpodge will not mess up the photo or let it run but you use black and white photo and it looks as if the photo is on the tile or I have also put it on vases or glass and made a candle with the photo on it!
Can you give me an about total amount of money spent to complete this project. I am trying to come up with a project for my classroom students to do that is somewhat cheap to enter into a silent auction. Thought these would sell good :)
The tiles are $0.16 each I believe, spray is $7, and mod podge is $5 (i think). But the spray and the mod podge can be used to make around 20 sets (rough guess) if not more.