Smarty Summer Craft #3

Coastal Coasters
Created by Guest Blogger Marybeth Barrett

Materials:
Four Ceramic Tile Coasters – 4”x4” in a neutral, light tone
Decoupage Glue – I use Mod Podge
Decorative Paper
16 small felt or cork pads
Scissors
220-grit sandpaper
Cleaner (Like 409 or something)
Paper Towels
Sponge paint brush
Wax paper or newspaper to protect your work surface area
A damp cloth or sponge for messy hands

Description:
• Protect your work surface area.
• Grab four ceramic tile coasters. These can be found out Home Improvement stores or your local Habitat Restore. (Liberty Salvage downtown has some too!)
• Select your decorative paper and make sure it is large enough to cover all four coasters. The paper can be scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, color copies of artwork or photos, wallpaper, etc. **NOTE: Make sure the design on your paper does not run prior to adhering. You can do a test on a small scrap by applying glue to see if it runs or not.
• Place a tile face down on the paper and trace around it. Repeat three more times. Make sure you have traced around a pretty part of the paper design.
• Trim the paper just inside your trace lines with scissors or a paper cutter. There is a small ledge on most coasters so trimming inside the line will make it fit better.
• Using the sandpaper, sand and roughen up the topside of each coaster. I find this gives it a little more “tooth” so the glue and paper adhere better.
• Clean the tiles with 409 or other cleaner to remove dust and dirt.
• Let dry.
• Use your sponge paint brush to apply the glue to the back of the paper AND the topside of your ceramic tile.
• Once the paper is applied to the tile, immediately cover the top of the paper with a layer of Mod Podge.
• Remove any air bubbles with your fingers or brush. Repeat the process 3 more times for each coaster.
• Let dry.
• Follow up with at least 2 more coats of Mod Podge to protect the paper. Smarty Tip: I alternate my brush stroke direction from layer to layer.
• Let dry completely for at least a day before using!
• Add four cork or felt pads to the bottom corners of each coaster to protect your furniture.

Display, use, show and tell!

**Smarty Tip- if your decorative paper of choice smudges, there is a way around it. Use Krylon Preserve It Spray according to directions. It protects and seals the paper and keeps it from running. I love, love, love this stuff!!!

Posted by Triad Smarty Pants at 5:03 AM