Friday, December 14, 2012

Make a Pretty Hostess Gift from Upcycled Coasters

Do you always see sets of old coasters at the thrift store?  My local Goodwill has them all the time -- dated, and a bit worse for wear.  I decided to to grab some the other day to up-cycle into pretty hostess gifts.


This is such a simple project, you probably don't need instructions, but here is how I transformed a set of sad old eighties era coasters into a unique and personal gift.


Begin by cleaning and sanding your coasters. You need to rough up the glossy coating on the coaster surface.


Next, prime the coasters so the pattern won't show through your decorative paper.


Use a coaster as a template and cut out some decorative paper -- I used vintage book pages.


Decoupage your paper to the top of the coasters.


Gild the edges with some gold craft paint.   Here's a tip to achieve really rich looking gilding:  Always paint a layer of red paint under your gold paint or gilding -- your gold will have a richness and depth like you see on the edges of a fine old book, or an antique frame.


And there you have it!  A simple project to give your holiday hostess!