Cutoff Coaster Reupholstery

I had these coasters lying in a drawer for a while. Just sitting there. Minding their own business. Forgotten in their quiet solitude.

They were leftovers from my first apartment.
They were very inexpensive.
They were quickly overthrown from their reign as the living room coasters when we ordered a set of circuit board coasters.

So the bamboo-and-cork coasters just sat there, unwanted.

Until today...

 

Here's how to make your own cutoff coasters, if you happen to stumble across a coaster set like this lurking deep in one of your kitchen drawers:

 

You will need old coasters, the left over pant leg from a pair of denim cutoff shorts (but any heavy fabric remnant would probably do... plaid flannel, anyone?), a pair of scissors, a sharpie, mod podge, and Q-tips.

Step 1: Remove cork. Peel carefully to try to get a piece as whole as possible. You really only need one whole one to use a stencil.

 

Step 2: Use the whole piece of cork as a stencil and trace the outline of the cork on the leg of the jeans. Then, cut it out.

Step 3: Dry fit the fabric to make sure it isn't too big. (I got a little excited about my first one, skipped this step, and now have one that is a little too big and sticks up on the sides. Rats.) Trim as necessary.

Step 3: Use a Q-tip to apply mod podge to the inset circle on the coaster. I tried to make an even coat of mod podge that went all the way to the edges.

Step 4: Carefully adhere the fabric to the coaster, smoothing out any bubbles or wrinkles that form as you do so. Smooth all over to make sure it sticks evenly and you don't end up coming partially unglued.

Step 5: Repeat until all your coasters are reupholstered. Heh.

It's just a simple, silly little project, but have fun with it. It's a small way to breath life into something that was otherwise forgotten.