How to Make Beer Coasters & Mats

Make coasters and mats to place under beer bottles and mugs.

Beer mats and coasters have a practical use, yet are popular among collectors as well. Designed to protect surfaces from wet rings left by mugs and bottles, coasters and mats are made with a wide range of materials from paper to glass and more. While coasters and mats are not exclusive to beer drinkers, what sets them apart are the designs, phrases and logos that refer to beer products and companies. Make your own beer coasters and mats to use or display.

Things You'll Need

• Recycled plastic place mats
• 1/4 inch thick cork pieces
• Absorbent paper mats
• Paper beer logo printed coasters
• Beer logo napkins
• Metal beer bottlecaps
• Beer labels
• Clear CD cases
• Stiff sponge pieces
• Glue
• Water
• Paint brush
• Scissors
• Pencil
• 4-inch round or square paper template

Instructions

Basic Coasters

1. Choose from a recycled plastic place mat, a sheet of crafting cork or an absorbent oil-resistant paper sheet. Find cork at craft or home improvement stores. Purchase absorbent paper from auto stores.

2. Make a paper template for round or square coasters. Trace a piece of paper from a 4-inch square notepad or a 4-inch diameter circle from a kitchen bowl or mug. Cut out the paper templates.

3. Trace the circle or square template onto your chosen material for coasts or mats. Cut the shapes out. Make as many coaster shapes as you wish to decorate and use or display.

4. Remove the label from a beer bottle, being careful not to tear the label. Cut the label to fit over all or part of the coaster shapes. Cut logos or beer bottle pictures from paper napkins to fit on coasters, if you wish to use those instead of beer labels.

5. Glue the beer pictures onto the plastic placemat, cork or paper coasters. Let the glue dry. Dilute some glue with water. Brush the diluted glue over the beer pictures to keep them from sticking to a wet beer bottle or mug bottom.

CD Cases

1. Remove the lining from a clear plastic CD case. Glue two squares of stiff sponge to the inside bottom of the CD case to reinforce the case so it will hold a heavy bottle or mug of beer.

2. Cut a beer label to fit inside the CD case. Cut a beer logo from a napkin or paper coaster to fit as desired inside the CD case if you use one of these in place of a beer label.

3. Spread glue around the edges of the logo or picture you wish to put inside the CD case. Press the picture against the inside of the case on the side that will serve as the top of the coaster. Be sure the picture faces outward and is visible from the top outside of the CD case.

4. Glue bottlecaps against the inside top of the CD case coaster instead of a paper label or logo, if desired. Fill the CD lid with bottlecaps, or create a design with fewer caps.

5. Place glue along the inside of the case at the side edges. Close the CD case to use as a coaster.

References

• Free Kids Crafts: Bottle Cap Coasters
• Beer Masters: Corkboard Coasters