DIY Coaster Tutorial With Tiles
Create your own customized coasters using ceramic tiles that fit the style of your décor. This DIY project is one way to use leftover tiles from a remodeling project. If you don’t have leftover tiles, purchase 4-inch ceramic squares from any home improvement store, or find mosaic tiles in a variety of shapes and sizes at craft stores. Craft artists can create their own clay tiles from polymer clay using rubber stamps and a stylus to make impressions in the soft clay. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Cork sheets
- Ruler
- Marker
- Scissors
- 4-inch square ceramic tiles
- One-part epoxy adhesive
- Mosaic ceramic tiles
- Clear silicone or colored caulking
Instructions
-
Single Tile Coasters
-
1
Measure and mark a 4-inch square section on one side of a cork sheet. Mark one 4-inch cork square for every tile coaster you plan to make.
-
2
Cut the 4-inch cork squares with scissors. Dry fit the cork squares to the back side of a 4-inch square tile. Trim the edges of the cork square so that it does not extend beyond the edges of the ceramic tile.
-
-
3
Apply one-part epoxy adhesive to the underside of the ceramic tile. Press a cork square onto the back side of the tile. Hold the cork in place on the tile for at least 30 seconds. Leave the tile and the cork undisturbed for 24 hours.
Mosaic Tile Coasters
-
4
Cut a square or circle of cork equal to the desired size of the coaster. Dry fit mosaic ceramic tiles onto one side of the cork cutout. The outside edges of the tiles should extend slightly beyond the outside edges of the cork. Arrange the tiles so that they fit close together, or leave a small space between them if you prefer a grouted mosaic look. Remove the tiles in order.
-
5
Spread one-part epoxy adhesive onto one side of the cork cutout. Press the mosaic tiles onto the glued side of the cork, working from the center outward. Apply pressure to the tiles for at least 30 seconds.
-
6
Leave the tiles undisturbed on the cork for 24 hours. Apply a line of clear silicone or colored caulking between the tiles, if you prefer a grouted tile look for your coaster. Spread the silicone or caulking so that it does not extend above the tops of the tiles.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
To make clay tiles, roll out a 1/3-inch thick slab of clay, cut the shape of the tile and make an impression in the top with a rubber stamp. Harden the clay according to the manufacturer’s directions, then glue cork to the back side.
