How to Make Photo Drink Coasters

If you use coasters make them personalized with family photos or theme photos to fit your room décor. If you have a laminator these are especially easy to make. They take a little more patience to make with the sticky shelving liner, but that method works well, too. Make these for special parties like anniversaries, birthdays, retirement or graduation parties, and let the guests take their photo coasters home as a souvenir of the event.

Things You'll Need

• Photos
• Clear sticky shelving liner, or a laminator with clear laminating sheets
• Scissors
• Poster board
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Corner cutter (optional)
• White craft glue

Instructions

Prepare the Photos

1. Pick photos for your drink coasters. If you don’t want to use personal photos use themed ones like floral photos or travel shots, pictures of sporting events or scenic photos.

2. Cut the photos to an equal sided square. Use a pencil and ruler to make the cuts as squared, straight and clean as possible. Pick the best or most appropriate parts of the photos since you will be cutting some of the photo off.

3. Round the four corners either by hand or with a hand corner rounder available at many craft stores.

4. Cut the poster board the same way as the photo. It will be an additional support and backing for the coaster.

5. Glue the back of the photo to the poster board backing. Let the pieces dry before you go to the laminating steps.

Laminate the Photos

1. Cut two pieces of clear shelving liner ¼-inch to ½-inch wider than the photo and backing all the way around. Leave the clear shelving paper backing on while you cut. You will have a clear boarder that seals the photos inside. If the photos are not sealed completely they may get ruined by condensation or spillage from the glasses set on them, so the added border helps seal and protect the photos.

2. Remove the backing from the sticky shelving paper then carefully set the photo and backing on one piece of the shelving paper, sticky side against the backing. Put it on carefully so there aren’t bubbles and so the photo and backing are centered on the sticky clear covering.

3. Face the photo up and put the second piece of backing on carefully with the sticky side against the photo, matching the edges of the sticky clear shelving liner. If there is any mismatching, cut off any sticky parts hanging over or they will stick to the table or drink glasses. Press the pieces firmly together using the palm of your hand. For laminating, if you have that option, leave the same amount of lip to seal the photo around the edges as you do using the shelving paper method, ¼ to ½ inch.

4. Round the corners of the clear covering to match the rounded corners of the photo and backing. Leave the same 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of clear shelving paper overlap as on the straight edges so they match.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a set of 6 or 8 to give as a gift.