Monday 27 February 2012

Mod-Podge Coasters and Magnets

Here's a fun, cheap, and easy craft, inspired by Pinterest! This is a popular craft on Pinterest, and I just had to try it out! Thankfully, it turned out just as well as the Pinterest version, which is good news! (See my board "Pinterest vs. Reality")


Magnets

What you need:
- clear glass pebbles
- mod podge
- scrapbook paper
- foam brush
- scissors
- pencil
- magnets
- hot glue gun

Directions:
Trace the glass pebbles (I found them at a dollar store) onto the back of scrapbook paper of your choice, and cut it out (it doesn't hurt to cut it a little smaller than the pebbles).



Brush some mod podge onto the flat side of the pebble, and place the paper circle on top (pretty side down). Brush some more mod podge on top, and allow to dry.



When it has dried, hot glue your magnets onto the back of the paper (test it on the fridge to make sure you're gluing the right side down). You did it!



Variations:
I tried doing one with just white paper and I wrote a message on it with ball-point pen, which looked neat because it magnified a little. You could also use newsprint, pictures, or whatever patterned paper you would like, the options are endless! :)

Pinterest vs Reality (mine on bottom)


Coasters

What you need:
- small square white bathroom tiles
- mod podge
- scrapbook paper
- foam brush
- scissors
- pencil
- felt
- hot glue or tacky glue
- clear acrylic spray (optional)
- ribbon (optional)

Directions:
I bought the tiles from Home Depot in the bathroom tile section. I can't remember how much they cost, but it was inexpensive, probably around 30c each. Trace or measure the scrapbook paper so that it is the same size as the tiles, and cut it out.



Brush mod podge onto the top (smooth edge) of the tiles.


 Place the scrapbook paper on top and press it down. Brush more mod podge on top of the paper, and make sure the edges stick. Even though it dries clear, You can still see the streaks, so I brushed across it in straight lines so it looked better. Let it dry (takes a while!) 



 When it is dry, spray clear acrylic spray on top to seal. (This is optional, I have seen it done by spraying the top instead of the top coat of mod podge. I did both, but one or the other would be fine). Cut out the felt the same size as the tiles.


Use hot glue or tacky glue to stick the felt onto the bottom of the tiles. Let it dry.



To package them, I made sets of 4 that matched/co-ordinated, stacked them on top of each other, and tied them up with a pretty ribbon. I gave a set to my mother-in-law-to-be, and she still hasn't unwrapped it because she thinks it looks so nice with the bow!



This craft makes a great gift (watch out wedding showers), and is fairly inexpensive to make. The only catch is that it takes a while because you have to let everything dry. I made 30 coasters/magnets, and it took me a good evening. I would recommend making a bunch at a time while you have all the stuff out.


Variations:
I have seen this craft done on Pinterest using photos- it would definitely work if you printed them onto normal printer paper/cardstock, but I don't know how well it would work with photo paper. You could also cut out shapes and layer them onto the tile with mod podge in between as well, or like the magnets, write a special message/drawing onto normal paper as a special keepsake.

Pinterest vs Reality (Mine on bottom)