I’ve been feeling a little blue about my family living room recently; It’s starting to feel bland. When I say bland, what I mean to say is that it’s boring me. I need to change things up around the house. So, I thought I could start by adding a dash of new color to my coffee table in the form of these cool DIY coasters made using old cd’s.
I’ve been needing some new, bright colored coasters for while. So I did some research and thought I’d make my own this time! I’ve done some decoupage in the past, and this technique for making cool and interesting DIY coasters is similar, but this time instead of decoupage paper we’ll be using lovely fabric.
Introduction
I just love how these turned out, and they were surprisingly easy to make! The customization that comes with making your own is just fabulous. It’s also a great way to recycle your old CDs and discs. Everything is going digital these days, anyway!
Because you can customize these with whatever gorgeous patterned fabric you’re into, these can make absolutely wonderful diy gifts! Whether you prefer deep, rich tones or bright and cheery pastels, there will be a fabric to cover you.
You might even have some fabric laying around that would be perfect to use, saving you even more money. I always save my extras so I can route through my craft boxes before starting a new craft.
The possibilities for textures, colors, patterns and more are endless! So let’s take a look at exactly what we’ll need to whip up these great accessories for just about any home.
What You Need To Make DIY Coasters
- Mod Podge Glue
- 1 Paintbrush and 1 soft or foam glue brush
- Clear acrylic paint varnish (sealant)
- Old CD/DVD discs (one for each coaster)
- White Acrylic Paint
- Fabric
- Felt (stick it felt sheets are great for this)
- Scrap of White card
How To Make Your Own Coasters
Step 1. Using the DVD disc as a template. Draw around them onto the fabric and the felt. Use the small, central part of the disc to mark out a circle on the card then cut them out and set aside. Obviously, if you are making more than one coaster it makes sense to draw and cut them all out at this point.
Step 2. Run your fingertips over the discs to see which has the smoothest central side, it’s usually the one with the writing on. This smooth side will be the top part of the coaster. The first time I made these I didn’t bother to check and ended up with a noticeable rim showing up near the middle of the finished coaster.
Once you’ve detected the smoothest side, you’ll need to give it a couple of coats of white acrylic paint to cover up any writing or designs. It also gives a nice bright and neutral background for the material to sit on. You’ll also need to give the sides/edges a couple of coats too. Painted disc pic
Step 3. When the paint is completely dry. Stick the fabric to the disc with a layer of mod podge glue. I’m using matt but gloss, sparkly or decoupage are all suitable.
Step 4. Once the fabric is stuck and dry, coat the fabric and the edges of the disc with another layer of mod podge. Leave to dry (this shouldn’t take much more than 30 mins).
If needed, trim any overlapping fabric with a pair of sharp scissors.
Step 5. Turn the disc over and glue the small cardboard disk into the hole in the center of the disc. Use a glass or cup to balance the disk so that you can turn it over again and give the fabric a couple more coats of mod podge, allowing it to dry in-between coats.
After the final coat of glue, set aside and leave to harden for a few hours or even better leave overnight.
Step 6. To make sure your DIY coasters are heat and waterproof they will need to be sprayed with a protective clear acrylic paint varnish (sealant). Although it takes a little longer due to the sealant having to dry between coats I prefer to do this with two thin coats rather than one thick one. It just gives it a smoother, more even coating.
This stuff smells really strong so make sure you’re in a well-ventilated room.
Step 7. Finally, when your DIY coasters are completely dry, it’s time to add the felt backing. If you are using stick it felt, peel half of the backing away from the felt and stick it to the back of the coaster, once you have the first half in place, remove the rest of the backing and cover the remaining half.
If you are using normal felt, stick it to the back of the coaster with the mod podge glue and leave to dry. If the felt is over visible/overlapping the coaster, trim down with a pair of sharp scissors.
Final Thoughts
So there we have it, beautiful DIY coasters that will protect any surface from watermarks and burns. They really do look great on the coffee table with a lovely cup of hot chocolate or whatever beverage you’re into right now. The steps we’ve taken above means that these not only look great but are 100% waterproof, so don’t worry if you spill.
I just love how they look, and how you can customize them with whatever fabric you want. DIY coasters are also a great addition to your office, bedroom, kitchen and just about anywhere someone might want a drink.
I generally found this how to quite easy to get on with. There’s nothing about it that’s particularly hard, and it would be a great craft to try with your kids. The only thing that I feel like I need to work on is getting a more rounded edge. You can do this by just taking more time with your scissors, making sure you’re not rushing. The more of these you make the better you’ll get.
These make wonderful homemade gifts or even a great craft products to sell. Anyone who cares about the environment will love how you’ve recycled the discs to make these DIY coasters. Everyone else won’t care, because they just look so darn good!
Let me know how you get on in the comments section below. I’ll answer any of your questions, but I also love to know how much fun you’ve had making these wonderful homemade things. Any suggestions (especially with how to get straighter edges) are also much appreciated.
Awesome craft idea and so fun! Your instructions were clear and easy to follow. Thank you!