I have a very bad habit of filling up water glasses and leaving them all around the house, kind of like that little girl from the movie, Signs. I also have a bad habit of never using coasters. I guess it's a sign that I am becoming adult when that pesky water ring left behind starts to get me. That, or my OCD compulsion to clean when in the procrastination kind of mood. Let's go with becoming adult though, makes me sound more domestic.
Here is a simple tutorial for DIY tile coasters at my prefered price range, cheap. Make mosaic tile coasters without having to individual lay tile or use tile spacers.
Supplies are pretty minimal.
- A "sheet" of moasic tile. I found this one at the local hardware store. Basically, it is tile on a mesh backing.
- Scissors
- Glue. Make sure to use something strong, like E6000 or something similar.
- Square plywood (any number of pieces and cut to whatever dimension you desire). I used 4"x4" squares as sheet of tile was 12"x12." You can also choose to paint edges if want a finished look.
- Tile grout + tool to spread grout
- Sponge
- Bucket of water
- Small cork and felt pads to place on the back and prevent scratching your furniture.
First, cut the tile to match the dimensions of the pieces of wood. Then, spread an even layer of glue on the wood and press down. Do this for all the pieces and let dry overnight to make sure the tile is secure.
Now the fun (and messy) part. Mix up the grout and let it set for about 10 minutes or so before applying. Never use grout before? Here is a handy how-to for you first timers. Make sure to apply the grout evenly, and fill in all the cracks. Let set for 20 to 30 mintues.
Take your sponge and ring it out so not sopping wet. Wipe off the excess grout until the tile is clean.
Oooh, how shiny and pretty!
Take those cork or felt pads and apply to each corner of the square. You can move around the coaster on a table top or other surface without worrying about scratching.
And voila! You know have some handy tiled coasters. These could be a great housewarming gift or if you are like me, place them in every room in your house so you no longer have an excuse for water rings on your furniture.
