Are you wondering how to make Photo Coasters at home? They’re actually so easy to make!
Be sure to check out these sweet Gifts in a Jar, too!
How to Make Photo Coasters
I’ve got another fun, easy & thrifty project to share with you ~ How to Make Photo Coasters. Grab the Mod Podge, it’s time to do a little crafting!
These easy DIY Photo Coasters start with a simple tile, and transform into sweet keepsakes that make great thrifty gifts!
Make some for yourself, and make some extras to give as a Frugal Gift Idea!
So what are you waiting for? It’s time for another frugally Fun Craft project!
Making your own personalized photo coasters is the perfect excuse to get some of those cute photos off of your phone. Plus, this easy craft isn’t very expensive.
So what exactly do you need to get started?
Keep reading…
Related: Fun Crafts To Do that Anyone Can Enjoy! (huge list)
What is Needed to Make Coasters?
Here’s what you’ll need to round up to make your own fabulous DIY photo coasters at home…
- Small Foam Paint Brushes
- Ceramic Tiles (I found these at Lowe’s for 16 cents each!)
- Mod Podge (I used ‘Glossy’)
- 4×6 Photos (I had mine printed ‘Matte’ style)
- Waterproof Acrylic Sealer Spray
- Note: if you are using different brands of products, the results may vary.
- White Acrylic Craft Paint
- Felt, Fleece or Cork scraps for backing + Hot Glue to attach the backing
How to Make Photo Coasters with Mod Podge
Here’s what you’ll do…
1. Paint the rough, unfinished side edges of the coasters. Now, be sure not to rush the project. Give it plenty of time.
I made these over the course of several days, and allowed each coat to dry completely for many hours before applying the next coat.
2. Once the tile has dried, grab your photos. Trim each photo into a square shape, to fit the your tile.
*Note: Black and white photos are also fun to use on this craft!
How Do You Transfer Pictures To Coasters?
3. Apply Mod Podge to the back of the photo with a sponge applicator.
4. Then press down onto tile. Allow to dry completely. (note: make sure each coat dries completely before applying the next coat.)
5. Once dry, apply a layer of Mod Podge with a sponge applicator to the top of the photo. Use even left-to-right strokes. (as always with Mod Podge, lines will show)
6. Allow to dry completely.
7. Repeat with 2 more layers of Mod Podge (allowing each layer to dry completely before applying the next).
How Do You Make Photo Coasters Waterproof?
8. Once the coasters have had 3 layers of Mod Podge applied, and have dried completely, take them on outside.
It’s time to spray with Acrylic Sealer! This is what you will seal the coasters with.
9. Lay coasters on wax paper. Or something else you don’t mind getting sprayed with some over-spray.
10. The Acrylic Sealer is an important step. It will seal the project. This will ensure the coaster is waterproof, and can handle wet glasses sitting on the coasters.
You’ll want a strong coat of sealer on each coaster. I applied a total of 5 coats of sealer, allowing each to dry completely overnight before applying the next coat.
11. Now it’s time to add some backing to the coasters.
I used felt on some, some fleece scraps on some, or you could even use some squares of cork material…
12. Apply the backing with a hot glue g*n, and allow to dry completely.
You did it ~ aren’t these too cute??
Now its’ time to choose. Do you save some for yourself, or give some as Thrifty Gifts? Or should you do both?
Then promise me, whatever you do… don’t forget to make one of the dog! 😉
Once the coasters are completely dry, it’s time to stack up a set. Then grab some ribbon for a bow.
Voila!
Now you’ve got an extra-cute and thrifty homemade gift to give to someone special!
A BIG thanks to frugal friend Joli for sharing this fun project idea with us!
RELATED: Grandma Gift Ideas
Photo Coaster Reviews
What Your Frugal Friends are Saying About This Photo Coasters Project…
Maria writes: “Awesome! Gave them to my mother-in-law for her birthday, she loved them! Super cute & very inexpensive!”
Rachel writes: “I had my son decorate 2 tiles and then used pics for the other 2 and gave them as teacher gifts at the end of the year. They were a big hit!”
Eric writes: “Turned out great! Super easy and fun to make.”
Anita writes: “Made them as Baby shower favors!”
Lindsey writes: “Absolutely my favorite Diy project by far”
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So have you tried this tutorial for How to Make Photo Coasters yet?
Leave a comment & share!
Love these! I wonder if you could use a larger tile and make a trivet? I guess it’s worth a try. Thanks Heidi!
I love this idea. I’m going to definitely be making some of these for holiday gifts.
I’m super excited about this idea!!! I will totally be doing this for Xmas.
I love this idea. I think I am going to try this for grandma gifts for Christmas. I have done this before with a large tile, but had the kids handprint in paint and wrote their names with a paint pen.
love this idea! i’m making a wall “plaque” with the same idea in mind for my in-laws. i’m getting pics of all the grandkids and using the same technique to put it on some scrap wood from a broken bookshelf to hang on the wall. 🙂 now i think i’ll make the plaque and some coasters. 😉
Hey Marie,
I just wondered what you ended up using to attach the tiles to the wood and if it held up good? I am doing this same idea as we speak for a bridal shower gift:)
thanks!
GREAT idea(s)!! Thanks so much for sharing, and for the extra tips in the comments! Love being able to get new ideas from other crafters!
I was searcing for an easy gift to make for this holiday…I have found the perfect gift right here!! Thanks so much….off to Michael’s and Lowes!!
I love this idea! We don’t have very much money and would make a great gift for the holidays.
Go to the dollar General store and buy some dominoes for $3 for the tin box. It has I believe 24 of them in it. Print out some neat family photos or any other designs that your family members would like in a 1″ by 2″ size. You can size them in Microsoft word. Just print them on white card stock, or the tissue paper. I have a inkjet printer and people go out and spend a small fortune on stuff to stop the ink from bleeding. I simply use elmers glue. Just put a coat under the image, glue it on, then put several smooth coats of it on top. I usually use a fine side of a nail file and sand the edges of the photos to round the edges on the corners and smooth the sides. You can then put the diamond glaze on it, spray them, or put some really neat stuff I found at Michaels called Americana triple thick brush on glaze. It puts a great shine on them. I buy those adhesive magnets at Walmart, stick on one and you have great frig. magnets for Christmas gifts. Give them a set of 4.???
What kind of paper did u use for the photos
I have made these before, but I printed out the photo on tissue paper from my own printer. Just trim the tissue paper to fit an 8×11 sheet of paper and tape it together lightly at the top before you put it in your printer. It worked really well and made the photo look like it was printed right on the tile. Then I embellished with stamps. It was a great look at you even save the cost of photo printing! Thanks for the great project!
did you mod podge the tissue paper onto the tiles then? did it look a little more textured.. am very interested in doing these for a shower gift for a bride …..
I did use mod podge to put them on and then covered them with another coat when they were dry. You do have to be more careful since the tissue tears easily when wet. The textured look ended up being really cool. You do have to be careful what photo you choose, not all of them look good when printed on tissue.
Hi there,
I have been trying to make these on tissue paper, I’ve taped the tissue paper to a regular sheet of paper. My printer keeps destroying the tissue paper in the feed. Do you have a special printer or tissue paper?
Thank you,
you need to attach the tissue paper to something a little more rigid, like say, card stock.
I always use printer paper for my photos on tiles. Works great with everything. You might have to adjust the color and/or contrast when you print the photo out. I find that the photos come out a bit darker when I print on regular paper. I also use Mod Podge Glossy spray to seal, using about 5 coats. When spray is applied, the photo tends to come out a bit darker that’s why I adjust the color first. Works great for me.
Hi, I just wanted to put my two cents in! LOL To use tissue paper for tile or dominoes, go buy some of the temporary hold spray for patterns to stick to fabric. Just spray some on a piece of cardstock and press your tissue on there. Make sure you cut it around the edge of the card stock though. It will re-stick over and over many times with just one spray, great stuff! Peels off easy too.
I do something similar with stamps. Instead of painting the tile, pick one with an interesting texture and stamp whatever you want on the tile. I did initials for Christmas two years ago and it went over so well it’s kind of my go-to gift now. You just spray a sealant over the tile when the paint dries.
I love the picture idea and will definitely add it to my rotation.
Kelly, I love this idea. I’m thinking of making these as gifts for my wedding party using a stamp in the theme of our wedding. What kind of paint did you use for the stamp? What kind of surface should the coaster have? What kind of sealant do you need, and is that the only spray you need to use on the tile?
Thanks so much!
I actually used a stamp. Just find an archival, permanent ink and a foam stamp. I used the foam because not only was the stamp less expensive, it also gets in the little nooks and crannies in the marble tiles better.
You can either use a craft sealant from Hobby Lobby or somewhere like that, or you can just get the Krylon sealer. It’s lots cheaper and works just as well. The only thing you need to be sure to do is get a matte sealer. For whatever reason the shiny ones don’t work and the ink will come off. The matte sealer keeps it on nicely, and it complements the texture of the tile better anyway (I think, at least.)
Great! Thanks!
Can you post a picture? This sounds like a great gift but I’m a visual person!!