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!
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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!
Found this page after making my tile coasters. I’ve used wrapping paper and to some, happened the same as Rhonda. I think I may have figured 2 reasons why, in my case:
– Didn’t seal well the tile’s sides;
– Didn’t use wrapping paper till the edges (left a white border around the paper square).
Other causes may have to due also with the sealer. Between coats, every time I saw something lifting I used more mod podge. Some people wrap the tile, gluing it to the back of the tile. I didn’t use spray sealer, I’ve used polyurethane sealer that I’ve spread with a foam brush – 4 coats. So, in my case, in 15 coasters, 2 are bad, but the rest, I’ve tested with a hot cup, and a wet cloth, and they’re ok.
Good luck!
I also had thought about using Polyurethane sealer… But ended up buying Clear acrylic sealer then a friend told me to read these comments…I’m to the point of dealing them and now scared to death about what to use to seal them…
The polyurethane would work best for me as it is cold now where I live and spraying outside isn’t going to work for me…But I have a can of fast drying polyurethane clear gloss here at the house read the back and it only talks about using on wood…just wanted to make sure you and I are talking about the same product? And if so how long did you let each coat dry and how many coats did you put on?
Also to others that might read this. I used a tip from a friend and just printed them off on my printer on regular paper… I did the off white tiles and did them in sepia and if I can get the sealer coat to work then they came out GREAT… Others have said that their would peel right off…not a problem on mine at all which I’m sure is because the photo paper is thicker. I did have to be careful not to put but thin layers of the mod podge on at a time so the ink didn’t get to wet but after the 2nd or third coat not as big of a worry… I think I have 5 very thin coats on mine… Sure hope I figure out what sealer to use. any info on the poly finish would be a GREAT help…
We made these this year for Christmas presents and they turned out great. Such a easy project but look like they took a ton of effort. Thanks for the idea. BTW I figured out the cost and it was around $0.67 each. Also a saving tip is price match at lowes. Homedepot had tiles for $0.14 and lowes price matched them plus so i ended up spending $0.13 per tile
Thanks for sharing! I love! love! love! this idea.
I see the successes but none of them indicate whether or not they tested the coasters. I’m wondering what went wrong for those who had cup imprints on their finished product.
This is such a perfect gift idea! Does Home Depot sell these same tiles too?
I followed the directions to the letter but found it was very easy to lift my photo off of the tile. If you grabbed a corner it came right up. Is there something else to use besides the Mod Podge to make sure it adheres to the tile??
I know this is almost a year old, but I made them and used spray adhesive to put the picture on then covered them w/2 coats of Modge Podge and then sprayed them w/sealer.
I have applied my photo- waited 12 hrs, then applied my 1st layer of Modge Podge, which I am leaving sit for 24 hours. Any tips on getting the Modge Podge applied evenly? I am using wallet sized photos.
Jaime–apply to the shiny side.
I made one just to wreck using the outdoor mod podge and no spray sealer. I did 3 coats of mod podge letting it dry several hours in between coats. I purposely placed water on the coaster and left it there until it dried–NO damage! Yay!
where did you find the outdoor modpodge?
Yeah, Thank you for sharing.
was wondering do you apply the picture to the rough edges? or do you just paint the rough side so it matches? Do you apply the picture and modge podge to the shiny side of the coasters?
I did a mini-version of this craft. I bought small tiles to make refrigerator magnets. (It was around $3 for about 30 of them. They came stuck together but were super easy to pull apart and snip off the extra foamy glue on a few of the edges.) I made some with photos and had my daughter color some with markers. I put an initial coat of mod podge on to provide a surface the marker would stick to. On some I put a second layer of mod podge, but the markers never dried enough, so it tended to smear the colors. (She is 3 so it actually made some of them a little better. So I did this with the ones she hadn’t used much color on and left the others as is.)
I sprayed all of them with 3 coats of the acrylic sealer. (I didn’t even wait too long between coats–about 30-45 minutes if that. They don’t have to seal the same as no wet drinks will be sitting on them.)
I bought a 2 packets of magnetic backing (the ones designed for wallet-sized pictures.) I was generous with the magnet and cut them to cover almost the whole tile. And wala–10 sets of 3 magnet-tiles for under $20. (I did not have to purchase the mod podge but I did purchase the acrylic sealer at full price.)