Gifts Kids Can Make: Mod Podge Coaster Craft

Today I’m going to show you how to make this easy Mod Podge Coaster Craft! This makes a great gift for any occasion, and you’re only limited by the papers you can find.

Mod Podge Coaster Craft

Supplies:

• MDF coaster blanks.
• Craft knife. Or scissors.
• Cutting surface. I use a glass mat.
• One large and one small paintbrush.
• Decorative paper. I used scrapbooking card stock.
• Mod Podge. I used the matte finish, but you can use whatever formula you prefer.
• Paint. I used a metallic craft paint for the coaster edges.
• Acrylic or polyurethane gloss finish. This is optional, but can be used if you want your coaster to have a shiny finish and be wipeable.

Start by tracing out your coaster onto your decorative paper. It’s better if the paper ends up slightly smaller than the coaster rather than larger.

Cut out your paper. If you want your coaster to be double sided, trace and cut two pieces per coaster. If you don’t want it to be double sided, I recommend painting the back to make it look finished. Paint the edges of your coaster with your color of choice, using two or three thin coats for good coverage. Let it dry completely.

Using your larger paintbrush (or a sponge brush) paint a medium layer of mod podge on your coaster. Lay your paper on top, lining up the edges. Then press it on, smoothing from the center out to the edges. Let it dry about 20 minutes. Then paint a thin layer of mod podge on the top of the paper and edges of your coaster. Wait 20 minutes in between layers, and put on 3-5 layers of mod podge. The thicker the paper, the more layers you’ll need to seal the edges and hold that paper down tight.

Don’t try to save time by doing a super thick layer. It will gloop up, not dry properly, and not be clear. Patience is key with mod podge. This part takes a while, but if you prep all your coasters ahead of time, you can do them all assembly line style. The top of the paint bottle makes a great place to rest the coaster while it dries so the edges don’t stick to your work surface.

Optional: If you want your coaster to have a super glossy or wipeable surface, paint on a medium layer of clear gloss acrylic or polyurethane to seal the mod podge.

You’re all finished! I recommend letting your coaster dry for 24 hours before setting any heavy or warm cups on it.

Don’t forget to be creative! You can find papers to match your decor, the season, a holiday, or a fun theme. I think llama coasters would be quite the conversation starter!