Photo crafts are some of my favorite projects, and these photo drink coasters did not disappoint. They’d make a great gift too! Make this winter craft and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa while you’re at it!
Hi, Laura here, back from Left on Peninsula Road. Who likes making handmade gifts? I sure do, but I often find myself short on time so simple projects have the most appeal. Making my own photo beverage coasters has been on my list of things to try for awhile now. So, when my recent winter Instagram photo was “popular” with my friends, and I still needed some last-minute gifts, and the weather outside was frightful…well what’s a gal to do but get craftin’?
To make these tile coasters, start by choosing a photo (or set of photos). Look for photos that can be cropped to a square. I chose that favorite winter scene I just mentioned, because it would look great all winter long. You might even know someone who has a gorgeous new basement remodel who might enjoy a new set of coasters. (Pretty sure these would come in handy when those teens camp out near the diy mason jar candy bar🙂 But, shhh…don’t tell Landee and ruin the surprise!)
Like my winter photo? Get your copy here.
If you’d like a more Christmas-y look, grab a copy of my “merry” wreath print and reduce it to fit your coasters.
Supplies Needed for this Winter Craft: Decoupaged Drink Coasters
- Printed Photos (trimmed to 4″ square with or without border)
- Decoupage Medium (I used Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge)
- Soft bristle brush
- Ceramic Tiles (approx 4″ square)
- Rubber bumpers for corners (felt or cork works too)
How to Make Your DIY Winter Photo Coasters
I started by printing some test photos. Don’t forget to Always craft with copies not your originals! I wasn’t getting the look I wanted when I printed my photos on regular paper using a laser printer (my go-to method when using decoupage medium–see my decoupaged jewelry dish project). So the search was on to find the winning paper and printer combination. I tested a few prints (okay, maybe more than a few) by brushing a coat of decoupage medium on them and letting them dry. My final coasters were made using prints from an Epson PictureMate 4×6 photo printer and Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge). I noticed a slight darkening of the images in my final project, so I opted to increase the exposure of my photo slightly before printing.
Once you’ve got your final photos printed, trim them to fit your tiles. I left a white border around my images.
Brush a coat of decoupage medium on the tile and place a photo in the center. Smooth out from center. (Some instructions suggest putting a coat of the glue on the back of the photo too, before placing it. Refer to directions on your decoupage medium.) Let dry before adding additional coats.
Add several thin coats of decoupage medium over the photos. Let dry in between coats. (Don’t rush this step. Trust me.)
Add rubber bumpers or felt to the bottom of your finished coasters to avoid scratching surfaces.
Tie up a set of photo coasters with twine or ribbon or pack them in a pretty box to give as a gift.
You might even know someone who has a gorgeous new basement remodel who might enjoy a new set of coasters. (Pretty sure these would come in handy when those teens camp out near the mason jar candy bar🙂 But, shhh…don’t tell Landee and ruin the surprise!)
Need a larger gift. Pair with some hot cocoa mix and a pretty mug or perhaps a selection of tea or coffee.
Box up an extra set or two and tie with pretty bows to keep on hand for last-minute gifts.
I hope you enjoyed this winter craft project as much as I (and I hope Landee) did.
Happy crafting!
Need to seal them to keep them from getting ruined don’t they?