Nothing says, "You were on my mind," like surprising your loved ones with a handmade gift that shows you created it with thoughtful effort. While you could use any labels for your DIY coasters, nothing says, "Thank you for being a friend," like a set of marbled 'Golden Girls' coasters. The minute we saw these Golden Girls Hot Sauces from Always Fits, we knew they would make the perfect coaster for the Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, or Sophia in your life.
Videos by Wide Open Country
These tile coasters are so easy to make at home, we've laid out all of the steps in this DIY how-to so you can make your own with your favorite labels or just stick to the marbled nail polish effect. Let's get started on this great idea for a gift, no matter the holiday or occasion. It's perfect for the kids to help with, too, because there's no hot glue or spray paint involved. Here are the things you'll need for your coaster project.
What You'll Need to Craft Drink Coasters
Editor's Note: Click the links to find our suggested choices on Amazon. You can also find these at your local craft store.
- Your favorite labels, preferably removed from glass bottles (We'll cover how to remove them in just a minute).
- 2 sheets of parchment paper
- Latex gloves, or equivalent if allergic (These are great to keep around the house for food prep!)
- Bowl or container you don't mind staining with nail polish (It happens...)
- Ceramic tile coasters
- Nail polish in different colors of choice
- Foam paint brushes
- Mod Podge in Matte or Gloss Finish (We prefer matte, but if you like the shinier look, go for Gloss!)
- Pre-cut felt squares sized to your coasters
- Matte acrylic sealer spray
- Optional: Toothpick
- Optional: Scrapbook paper
Wait, does the hot sauce taste good?
Before we jump into the DIY, let's get the obvious question out of the way: Are the 'Golden Girls' hot sauces worth buying? The answer is, without a doubt, yes. Both the jalapeño and habanero styles are bright, flavorful, and pack a seriously spicy punch.
These are not wimpy hot sauces, y'all. In fact, my boyfriend who is a hot sauce connoisseur loves these hot sauces so much, he asked me to order more so we don't run out. I think that says it all.
Find them on Always Fits for a great deal right now.
Step 1: Remove the labels.
The first step in this quick DIY is to remove the labels. The easiest way I've found, after countless attempts, is to simply fill your sink with just enough hot water to fully submerge the glass bottle.
Soak the bottle in increments of 20 seconds at a time. You don't want the label's colors to run, something that's hard to anticipate until you actually start soaking. The label will be ready to peel away when you can lift the corner slowly and cleanly away from the bottle. Take your time because one wrong move could tear the label!
If you're dealing with a stubborn label, slide the corner of a razor blade or X-ACTO knife under the label and begin to work it away from there. These Golden Girls hot sauce labels came away cleanly after only 20 seconds of soaking. How satisfying that video above?
Once you peel the label away, carefully flatten it on a piece of parchment paper and lay the other piece of parchment paper on top. If you are using scrapbook paper, place the label on the scrapbook paper instead and cover only the top with parchment paper. Cover with a book or a heavier, flat item so that the label doesn't curl away from the paper. You can choose to let the labels dry overnight or you can wait about 15 minutes to begin the rest of the project.
Step 2: Marble the coasters.
Fill a bowl with warm water. The bowl should be large enough to dip the entire coaster into. It will be stained with nail polish when all is said and done, so be sure it's a bowl you don't mind reserving for crafts. You'll want to wear gloves or if you don't mind having blue-stained fingers like me, you can skip those. Grab a toothpick for a more intricate marble design, or skip it for a bubblier appearance.
Uncap your nail color options before you drizzle them into the water, and set your tiles next to you for easy reach. You can begin with as many colors as you wish, but I always find that three is a good number. When you're ready to dip, simply drizzle nail polish into the water at random, alternating colors as you please. Moving quickly, you can create a marbled effect by swirling a toothpick through the colors.
When you've reached the desired effect in the bowl, dip the face of the coaster directly into the water. Hold it flat as you do it for about five seconds, and turn it toward one side or the other to pull it out. Ta-da!
To remove the colors, run a toothpick through the nail polish and it will come away with the toothpick. Grab a new toothpick, uncap more nail polish colors, and repeat with the your remaining coasters, using whatever colors you please. In the above video, we used pastel purple, turquoise, green, deep purple, bright red, and a light pink. The coasters will dry quickly, about five to 10 minutes.
Step 3: Apply felt bottom.
In my opinion, a felt bottom is necessary for coasters so they don't scratch up your desk or coffee table. It also protects the ceramic bottom from chipping. Grab your pre-cut felt squares, or cut your own to fit the raised bottom on the coaster if you have larger sheets. Grab your Mod Podge and foam brush, and apply liberally to the felt square. Press the felt onto the coaster and flip over so it dries in place with the weight of the coaster on top.
They'll dry quickly so when you're complete with all of your coasters, you can move onto the next step.
Step 4: Cut out labels and apply to coaster.
I don't recommend placing the labels directly on the coaster when it's time to apply, which is why we placed the drying labels on either parchment paper or scrapbook paper. In the past, my labels have curled up from the coaster over time, which isn't a great look. Cut the label from the parchment paper or scrapbook paper background.
You can choose to leave a border, like we did with parchment paper or let your scrapbook paper peek out for a pretty option. If you'd prefer to go borderless, simply cut out the entire label. We reinforced our labels with another layer of parchment paper underneath.
Grab your Mod Podge and foam brush. Place the label on the coaster and much like you did with the felt bottom, apply Mod Podge liberally over the entire coaster, label and all. There's no need to Mod Podge the bottom of the label's parchment or scrapbook backing.
Don't be scared! Mod Podge goes on as a solid, but will dry clear. Whether you chose matte or glossy, it will appear opaque as you spread it over the coaster. Trust the process, y'all!
Repeat this process with the remaining coasters and let them dry, which will take about 30 minutes or so. You'll know they're ready to move onto the next step when they're completely clear and the Mod Podge is no longer opaque.
Step 5: Seal those coasters.
Grab a few old magazines or newspapers and your acrylic sealant spray. This step protects the marbled design and the label, while ensuring that your coaster truly is waterproof and doesn't hold stains. Spray liberally over the coaster and repeat. Allow to dry for about 10 to 20 minutes.
Can you believe it's as easy as that? You're ready to use your coasters! If you're packaging up for a gift, I recommend drying overnight before stacking and tying with a pretty ribbon just to be sure that the surface isn't tacky or sticky. There's no wrong time of year to make these DIY projects because when it comes to gift ideas, nothing beats handmade home decor.
Substitutions, Tips, and Tricks
- Turn these coasters into photo coasters by printing your favorite photos on matte or glossy paper, depending on the sheen you prefer. Swap in the photos for the label step, and continue with the DIY as normal.
- For more unique craft ideas, Fake cork coasters by applying a corkboard bottom to the ceramic tile using Mod Podge. You can also skip the marbling effect and create chalkboard ombre coasters by painting the top with chalkboard paint.
- Turn this beautiful mess of a DIY into a kid-friendly project by letting the kiddos drizzle nail polish into the bowl. Parents can dip the coasters in, or slap some gloves on those little hands and let them do the work! Talk about a great gift for Mother's Day.
This post was originally published on January 17, 2019.
