How to Make a Rubber-Stamped Coaster

Rubber-stamped coasters are a creative way to add a personalized touch to décor. Rubber-stamped coasters can be made in any design and any color to match a room or theme, depending on your choice of background paper and ink colors. This is a project for older kids and adults. Younger children can make the rubber-stamped part and with adult supervision, they can cut and put the pieces together or use precut pieces.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Poster board paper or card stock
• Clear sticky shelving paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors or paper cutter
• Rubber stamps
• Rubber stamp ink pads

1. Use a ruler and measure 4 by 4 inches on card stock or poster board. Then draw the lines lightly on the back side of the paper with the pencil. If you have a paper cutter, you can use the cutting guides instead to make the cuts instantly without having to measure each piece of paper. Then cut out the pieces of heavy card stock or poster paper. Cut at least six per matching set.

2. Press the rubber stamp on the ink pad.. Then press the design on the front of the piece of paper or card stock. Don't press too hard, or the ink and image will smear. Repeat with as many rubber-stamped images as you want on the coaster.

3. Cut two pieces of clear sticky shelving paper. Make them 1/4 inch larger than the piece of paper on all sides. The extra edge will seal the paper inner piece.

4. Put down one piece of sticky clear shelf paper, with the smooth side on the work surface and the sticky side facing up so it isn't sticking to the work surface. Center the piece of rubber-stamped paper in the center of the sticky lining paper with the rubber-stamped picture facing up toward you. Then press it in place.

5. Put the top piece of sticky shelving paper on top of the picture, sticky side against the picture, and press it into place.

Tips & Warnings

• After you press the rubber stamp into the ink pad, "huff" on the inked image before you stamp it with your mouth open--like you do to make a foggy window or clean eyeglasses. This is a rubber stamper's trick to make the image come out more clearly each time. Trim the corners rounded after the stamped picture is sealed between the sheets of sticky shelving paper for a more finished look.