How to Make Your Own Unusual Cocktail Coaster
How to Make Your Own Unusual Cocktail Coaster
By Sarah Martin
When it comes to choosing a cocktail coaster, your choices are virtually unlimited for ways of livening up a party. Unusual coasters will undoubtedly become the focus of conversation and bring about a few laughs depending on your choice.
How about glass coasters that have been treated with silicone? Such coasters are made from two layers of glass that are fused together. Once the glass has been annealed and cooled, then silicone feet are added to the bottom of the coasters to provide the protection that your furniture needs.
Your guests will surely delight in using a beaded cocktail coaster that you made yourself. If you have a talent for crafts, this is one area in which you can really shine. The best type of beads to use for this reason is seed beads called rocailles, which you buy in hanks.
You do need to make sure that all the beads you choose are about the same size so that you have an even coaster. Since they come in a wide variety of colors, you can customize your decor with these coasters.
In addition to beads, you will need to collect the following materials:
• cork for the backing
• waterproof glue that dries quickly
• pins to hold the beads in place
• small paintbrush
• felt in the color of your choice
• scissors
• pencil
• construction paper
Cut out the shape of beverage coaster you want to make by tracing the shape on the construction paper. Take off part of the string of beads - enough to completely cover this shape. It is easier to cover a circular shape in this way than any other, but you can use a square or rectangular shape as well.
Take care when you cut the string of beads that you tie a slipknot in the end to prevent the beads from all falling off. This refers to both the portion of the hank that you will be using and the portion that you want to use for another coaster.
Use the construction paper form to help you cut the felt. Place a thin layer of glue in the center of the felt circle and start gluing the beads in place by arranging them in circles from the middle to the outer edge.
Apply the glue with the small paintbrush or with a glue gun and then arrange the beads in place. When the glue is dry, turn the drink coaster over and coat the bottom with glue. Cut a piece of cork in the same shape and stick it to the bottom. If you want to provide a protective coating, you can apply a small amount of clear varnish to the beads.
This type of cocktail coaster is very absorbent. The liquid from the glass will drip through the beads into the felt and into the cork. The felt will allow the water to evaporate into the air, as will the cork. However, if you want to clean this type of coaster, you will have to wipe it clean with a damp cloth. The beads may come off the coaster if you put it in the dishwasher where the heat will melt the glue.
When you experiment with this craft, you can make a cocktail coaster for every color of the rainbow. Guests will surely want to know where you bought them and this could even be the start of a profitable home-based business when they place orders for coasters.
Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer that specializes in arts and crafts, home improvement, interior design, and entertainment. For a wide selection of cocktail coaster sets or for a monogrammed drink coaster, please visit http://www.thirstycoasters.com/.
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