I am totally that lady that’s a little bit crazy about making people use a coaster. I don’t care about wet cups on every surface of my house, just mostly when it comes to my coffee table. It was the first piece of real furniture that I bought when I graduated from college, and I saved up for a long time to buy it from an expensive modern home store in town. With it being the new year, Todd and I are aiming to be more intentional about making items last, rather than just constantly spending money replacing things. Plus, I just love this coffee table and I want to baby the wood top as much as I can so it will last as long as possible—that’s where coasters come in! Coasters are a fun (and usually inexpensive) DIY to make, and there’s a lot of tutorials out there for different types of looks. I’ve seen tons of variations on rope coasters, so I thought I should try a few with neon pops of color to match our living room and see if they are as easy as they’re advertised to be.
It’s kind of perfect that we’re working with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores on this project, because this month they’re focusing on finding DIY solutions for New Year’s resolutions!
Supplies:
–white felt
–1/4″ drawstring cord (you can buy it by the yard in the store)
–parachute cord
–large yarn needle (big enough for the neon cord to fit through)
–glue gun
–fabric scissors
-white electrical tape
Begin with a piece of drawstring cord that is about 48″ long. Wrap each end with electrical tape to keep the cord from fraying and trim the cord so only a 1/4″ of the taped cord still remains. Starting at one end, coil the rope in a circular pattern and use the hot glue gun to secure the coil as you go. Keep gluing and coiling until the whole cord is attached. Tuck the end of the cord under the edge of the coil out of sight. Glue the end in place on the bottom side of the rope coil.
Thread your yarn needle with the neon cord, and, starting from the bottom, begin to sew a series of two side by side stitches scattered throughout your coaster. You can make your stitches all the same length or vary them like I did (my stitches were either two or three rows of rope long). You can either knot your cord on the bottom of the coaster when you start and finish sewing or you can simply hot glue the ends in place. The bottom of your coaster will look like quite a mess when you’re done with this step, but that’s OK! The next step will hide all that.
Use the hot glue gun (or fabric glue) to glue the bottom of the coasters onto a piece of white felt. Place something heavy on them (like a big book) for a few minutes while the glue cools, and then trim the excess felt from around the edges. That’s it, you’re done!
You can use a thinner embroidery thread or multiple colors of cord for this project, but I really like the simplicity of the neon yellow and white. This project was surprisingly quick to complete (I was done before I knew it!), so it wouldn’t take much time at all to make a matching set of two or four for a coffee table or counter. You could also do a different color cord for each person in the house so everyone knows which one is theirs. I love how these turned out, and I think my coffee table is going to be happy with me too! xo. Laura
Credits // Author and Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
I love this idea! I’m going to make some here in Brazil!!
These coasters are so cute and fun! Loving the nautical look with neon pops.. I may just have to make a set of these myself 🙂
You always post lovely DIY craft projects and this one is no exception!
I think I may have to purchase a glue gun to give this a try!
Helen
♥
These are so lovely! I’m in the early stages of building a new house, and I want to do as much DIY as I can to add some colour (we’re having a very neutral/grey palette) and these look so easy! Definitely going on my list 🙂
Kate @ http://www.oddlittlevegan.com
Those are cute! Right now I have plenty of coasters, but next time I need some, this would be fun.
I’m also completely in love with your copper coffee cup. Where do you find all these awesome copper things?
I love how simple this DIY is!! I’m pretty sure I have everything I need for it already!
www.peonyandpeach.blogspot.com
I love the idea! Where did you get the coffee mug?
Such a cute idea!
Baanou
www.baanou.com
LOVE how you talked about making quality items last. We are ALL about that now! Beautiful job, they are easy AND cute! Hoping to make some scarlet and grey ones for my sister’s “Ohio State” themed room;)
Those are adorable.
We don’t use anything fancy, we just have standard high and low heat glue guns that you could find at any craft store like JoAnns. It doesn’t have to be fancy!
Laura 🙂
I don’t even know what it looks like, but I already love it x.
jeansandmacaroons.blogspot.com
Looks like a fantastic gift for every occasion!
Love, love, love this idea!
Awesome!!
Desperate to see your coffee table now! 🙂 x
Excellent idea, it look so cute and easy to make!
I’ve been trying to make very big coasters but I used sewing and it didn’t turn out straight. Never thought I could a use glue gun! Great idea overall! thank you Laura!
Love love love these!!!
xo
http://www.iolablog.com/
love it!!!
http://www.modeography.com/