One of a Kind Coasters

You've probably seen this idea on the internet 20 times.  So have I.  I purchased the 4x4 ceramic tiles at the home improvement store months ago, but just this week did I take the time to make them into coasters.  Now I'm SOLD on this idea!  Sooooo cute and easy!!

I used 4 kinds of paper/pictures to make them.  Here's how it went:  You'll need ceramic tiles, Mod Podge, a small foam brush, felt, and some spray-on polyurethane.  

I took this candid photo of my inlaws holding hands at a recent family wedding.  I looked up during prayer, and there this beautiful scene was right in front of me.  Risking the thought that it wasn't super appropriate to take a photo during prayer (grin) I am so glad I took it.  I printed this on my home printer on copy paper and it worked beautifully.

LOVE this one too.  A hymn from a vintage hymn book over which I printed a neat tree that I think I found at marthastewart.com.  So precious and looks great on our piano.

This one came from a vintage book of maps I found at a garage sale for 25 cents.  My husband and I dream of a European trip sometime in the next 5 years.  This is a sweet visual reminder of that.  The colors of a map come out so beautifully in this project.

And this one is a page from a vintage children's school book.  I love the turquoise and black...two colors I use pops of throughout my home.  I think this coaster will be a favorite during the winter.  Cozy.

Here are the instructions:
1.  paint a medium coat of Mod Podge over the top of the tile
2.  lay the picture you have chosen and precut to size over the Mod Podged surface and gentlly smooth it down.
3.  Mod Podge over the top of the picture.  Let dry for 15 minutes.
4.  Apply a second coat of Mod Podge over the picture.  It will dry clear and hard.
5.  When dry, take outside and set on newspaper.  Apply several thin coats of spray polyurethane.
6.  Let dry 2 hours and spray again.  I did this about 3-4 times throughout the day.  This will help protect the finish from a sweating glass.
7.  Cut a piece of felt and glue onto the back to protect your table tops from scratching.
8.  Enjoy!  Give as gifts!  Make more!

This was such a fun project.  Very useful too.  I'm planning to make some as Christmas gifts using pictures that will be meaningful to the recipients.  I think my grown kids all need one of their grandparents holding hands after 45+ years of marriage.  Perhaps a neat set of their other grandparents married 53 years and of us married for 28 years. A testimony to the blessings of working through marriage through the rough patches for the joy of growing old together and sharing a life history of so many years.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Donna

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