Simple, but cute coasters
No painting skill necessary (well, ok, some painting - but no real skill) - like seriously simple project.
Skills needed/learned with tutorial below - ironing, basic painting, using a spray can - seriously
Difficulty level? Beginner - absolutely beginner, child-friendly for about half of the project.
I started making coasters a year ago and have gotten seriously addicted to making them. They are so simple and easy and fun to make.
Equipment needed: a printer (if printing), Iron, sponge paint brush, parchment paper and something to protect your work surface (painter tarp would probably be ideal - I just use old cardboard)
Time spent - maybe 20 minutes top per set completed - you can complete multiple sets in that time. However, there is a lot of 'drying' or 'curing' time where you need to let the project sit somewhere between steps.
Materials used (affiliate links included)
LESSON LEARNED - 2" tiles is just a little too small.
Substitution allowed - I have also used 4" tiles (like for tiling a shower wall). If you can get access to them inexpensively - go for it. Though they do come out a little heavier.
not needed if using an actual tile. I use them to 'bulk' up the wood tiles I've been using lately - best part is they hide mistakes if I get too much glue on any one tile, or if I pull up some of the cardboard I used to paint on - easily hide mistakes.
* Paper napkins OR fabric OR simple copy paper with images printed out from the internet (do not use licensed or copywritten images if you plan on selling them. Search facebook for mod podge napkins to find sellers that will part with just a couple of napkins per pattern. Most resellers are pricing them around $.75 per napkin which can be enough for four coasters.
LESSON LEARNED - size of motif and napkin matter. Some napkins are just too big for a coaster
LESSON LEARNED - most paper napkins have multiple layers (think 2-ply, though some have 3). ONLY use the top layer. Otherwise the bottom layers will stick and tear and the top layer will peal off... and it creates a mess. Fortunately, as long as it hasn't gotten sealed yet, you can pretty much sand/wash everything off and start over, but you may not be able to recover the napkin and have to use another piece.
* Aerosol Hairspray - used to 'fix' the images if printed using an inkjet printer; any brand works; and very little used
* White spray paint or acrylic paint - enough to coat the tiles in two light coats
* Mod podge - enough to coat the tiles in two light coats
LESSON LEARNED: if you get addicted, buy the bulk bottles
SECOND LESSON LEARNED: Mod podge comes in a spray - does NOT work well for this type of project
* Engine, high heat sealant - enough to coat the tiles in two light coats
LESSON LEARNED: This stinks to no end. Harsh chemical smell. There are other alternatives, however, most of the other options are much more expensive. I've done about 3 dozen coasters and still have half a can left. But you have to do it in an area where you don't fumigate yourself.
LESSON LEARNED - edges of coasters look nicer if there is a little bit of 'wrapping' around the edges of the tile - see steps 4 & 8 below.
TUTORIAL:
1. If you are printing your images, you need to spray the paper lightly with hairspray and allow to dry. Otherwise when you go to apply your image the ink will run. Only needed for printed images. Napkins and fabrics do not need this step.
2. Paint two light coats of white on the tiles (even if they are white). Allow the paint to dry thoroughly between coats and after second coat.
3. Using a brush, apply two light coats of mod podge on the tiles and allow it to dry thoroughly between coats and after second coat. Yes, seriously, no image yet, just two coats of mod podge you allow to dry.
LESSON LEARNED mod podge will ruin the brush if not really thoroughly rinsed. Up to the individual if you would rather spend the time rinsing them or buying CHEAP brushes and tossing them out every few projects.
4. Position the fabric, napkin or image over the coaster in the exact location you want it to be on - if you want to trim it down, leave a quarter inch or more on all four sides. ONLY use the top layer of paper napkins
5. Create your stack - tile, image, and parchment paper on top (protects your iron)
6. Set hot iron on top of the parchment paper for ten seconds (don't MOVE iron, this can cause image shifting). Make sure to hit all edges well. Once each tile is cool enough you can test to make sure that the item is fully secured to the tile. The hot iron is going to melt your layers of modpodge which will fix your image to your tile.
7. Once cool, if you have excess fabric or paper, cut the corners off before gluing excess paper to the back side of the tile
9. Apply the cork backing to hide the back of the tile (if you are using one)
I'm sure you could get a thin cork sheet for cheaper and glue it on, but buying it to the right size and having the adhesive already in place makes this step take about ten seconds - so that's what I've been doing.Could you make money???
Probably - while mod podge allows for great creations and allows you to get a quality result with little effort - more and more crafters are learning about how easy it is and not everyone will be ready to pay for it. So, it depends on if there are a lot of your customers aware of the ease of making them.
For the coasters I have made, I have only spent about $3.50 per set of four. In 20 minutes (and a month + several days) drying/curing time - I can easily make 3 sets of coasters. I'm sure you could probably make 10 sets of coasters in an hour if so inclined.
You could save money buy buying things in bulk - the glue, the sponge brushes, the tiles, etc. Tiles could be found at surplus stores. Technically you could even cut your own wooden tiles from thin sheets, but then you also have to sand and the time it would take might not be worth the savings.
Giving yourself a base rate of $15/hour and buying in bulk, you could easily make 10 sets of coasters for $3 each. Even if you were to sell them for $6/set you would be able to make a good profit and some sets could sell for as much as $10/set.
Creativity is really your best bet for finding buyers. I like to make seasonal coasters or ones with fun motifs. My dark background, rainbow star fabric has a little glitter in it. I bought some silver and gold paint pens and have painted the edges of some of my other coasters. I haven't delved into adding additional 'flare' with paint on top of the coasters, because I just don't have that skill set. If you do something like that, try it out on a sample before applying the sealant to make sure it cures like it should.
Other suggestions: Wrapping paper, card stock, even items clipped from a greeting card.
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