Deck the Halls with…Custom Coasters

 

The holidays are in full swing and you know what that means – parties, parties and more parties! If you’re like me, you’re probably feeling the stress as you try to fill all those final wishes and still create some amazing, personalized details for your holiday gatherings.

Well never fear! In my scouring of the Internet, I stumbled upon a great idea from Style Me Pretty – DIY coasters! It may sound like a daunting project at first, but it’s actually fairly simple and inexpensive. Plus, they’re totally customizable and practical for any event – from matching your party’s theme or colors, to replacing place cards for your guests by including their names or pictures in the design. These coasters even make a great last-minute stocking stuffer or gift for Aunt Hard-To-Buy-For and Uncle Has-It-All.
 
Here’s what you’ll need:
·         Square ceramic tiles – any size will work but I used the 4.25” x 4.25” version
·         Printed copies of your design in color or black & white (whatever you prefer) – I printed mine on cardstock using FedEx Office® Print Online
·         A roll of cork board to line the back of the tiles
·         Decoupage glue
·         Waterproof, acrylic sealer – comes in a paint can or a spray
·         Heavy duty glue
·         Small paintbrush

I started by creating a template with holiday designs that was about ¼” smaller than my tile size. You can usemine or make your own in a word processing or design program. I uploaded my template to FedEx Office® Print Online and made a few extra copies for any mistakes. You can also do this in one of our centers, but I thought it was easier to send it off ahead of time to pick up the next time I was passing my nearby location.
 
Once your design is printed and cut out, follow these steps to make the coasters:
1.     Use alcohol to clean any dust or smudges from the tile surface.
2.     Brush the tile with a generous amount of decoupage glue.
(Be sure you’re working on a nonstick, plastic-y surface. The decoupage glue will stick to newspaper, cardboard, etc.)
3.     Work quickly to center your design on the tile and begin pressing it into place. Start in the middle, smoothing out any air bubbles as you work toward the outside. Make sure the edges adhere firmly to prevent peeling or tearing. 
4.     Allow 15 minutes for the glue to dry, then apply a layer of decoupage glue on top of the paper. The brushstrokes will show, so be sure that they’re even and go in only one direction.
5.     Wait 20 minutes, then apply a second layer to the top. Your brushstrokes can be in the same direction as before or go the opposite way to create a pattern.
6.     Repeat this process as many times as you’d like, until you achieve the desired look. Once you’re happy, it’s time to seal the coaster. After allowing a full day for the decoupage glue to dry, brush or spray on the waterproof sealer according to the instructions. Be sure you’re in an open, ventilated area for this part!
7.     Once the sealant has dried, cut the cork backing to size. Use the heavy duty glue to attach it, again paying special attention to the product directions and being sure you’re in a space with lots of fresh air.
 
If the coasters are a gift, wait a few days before wrapping them to allow any chemical or adhesive smell to dissipate. You can tie your set of coasters up with ribbon or raffia, or create a customized gift tag using one or two of our other Out of Office ideas.
 
Do you have a special detail that you plan to include in your holiday parties this year? If so, share it with us below!
 
 
Related FedEx Office Solutions: FedEx Office® Print Online
 

Comments

Restaurant Solutions

Hi all,
 
Nice blog! Thanks for this wonderful post and hoping to post more of this.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

All comments are moderated. Comments will appear as soon as they are approved by the moderator. Anonymous comments will not be posted. In addition, we will not post comments if they are defamatory, spam, or off-topic. If you do submit a comment, you warrant that it is your own original work, that it is not defamatory or offensive and does not infringe any law.