Discover the joy of making your own coasters with this step-by-step DIY tutorial. In just a few simple steps, you’ll learn how to create stunning stenciled felt coasters that are not only beautiful but also practical. These coasters are perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your home decor and make great gifts for your loved ones. So, get your crafting supplies ready, and let’s get started!
I recently realized that my new home was running out of disposable paper coasters. So, I decided to create some quick and easy DIY coasters that are washable and reusable. I used 2mm thick synthetic felt and stenciled some elegant French Victorian designs onto them. You can choose a design that suits your own personal theme. These coasters are beautiful and practical, making them a perfect addition to any home.
These DIY coasters are highly absorbent and can easily soak up any condensation that drips from the glass. The felt material, being thick and having insulating properties, can protect your table from heat to some extent when you place hot drinks on it.
It is sturdy and maintains its shape even after washing. However, it is advisable to avoid brushing it, as the paint will come off.
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Materials For DIY Felt Coasters
Felt
Prepare a 2mm thick of stiff synthetic felt, I bought mine in a size of 12″ x 12″ and I can make 9 pcs. of felt coasters. I cut them into 4″ circles for a classic shape of coasters. If you have heavy-duty die-cutting machines like a Sizzix, you may cut the coasters in various shapes as long as it is big enough to hold your glass or cup. Be cautious, a normal die cut meant for paper won’t be able to cut this felt.
If you don’t have this type of felt, you may use a normal craft felt as an alternative. Layer a few pieces of them and stitch them up to form a thick and stable coaster, then follow the tutorial on how to stencil on felt.
Stencils
I used pre-cut plastic stencils from Martha Stewart, Eyelet Lace and Scroll. You may design your own stencil or choose different designs of precut stencils to add variations to your creativity.
Paint
To make DIY stencil felt coasters, all you need is good-quality acrylic paints from Martha Stewart. These paints offer excellent coverage, apply easily, and allow you to create new shades by mixing different colors. It also dries quickly, and once it’s dry, the coaster is ready to use. These coasters are not only beautiful but also durable and perfect for everyday use.
As an option, you may add a fabric medium to the acrylic paint to provide better flexibility to the paint. However, since felt is not stretchy, adding a fabric medium is not really necessary.
Brush and Other Tools
Next, you will need a foam brush to apply the paint through stenciling to the felt.
Other supplies you will need are a color palette plate for the paint, some old newspapers to cover your tabletop, and a damp cloth to clean up the stencils.
[Update 2024: It’s been 11 years since I made these DIY coasters and time really flies! What’s surprising is that they are still in great shape and the stencils have been really well preserved even though I’ve washed them countless times. It’s amazing how durable they turned out to be.]
I had a lot of fun making these felt coasters, and I hope you do too.
Here are more coaster tutorials that you can make:
What’s Next:
- Begin creating and posting your finished handmade project on Facebook and/or Instagram. Make sure to tag us @craftpassion so we can see your work.
- Save it to your Pinterest board for a future crafting project list.
- Share with your DIY groups for a craft-along event.
- Share it with your DIY groups to organize a crafting event together.
How To Make Coasters With Felt
This is a quick and easy DIY coasters with stencil method you can make for your home. Bring the prints on to zest up your drinking pleasure while protecting your table from water or heat damage!
Enjoy making them!
Materials
- Synthetic Felt, 2mm thickness, Grey, 12″ x 12″
- Pre-cut plastic stencils (I used Martha Stewart 32258 Medium Stencil, Eyelet Lace and Martha Stewart 32268 Adhesive Stencil, Scrolls)
- Foam brush (I used Martha Stewart 32243 Foam Pouncers, Set of 6) or stencil brush
- Acrylic paints (I used Jet Stream 32121 and Purple Martin 32119)
- Fabric Medium (optional, I didn’t use)
- 4″ round card (you can draw it with compass)
Tools
- Scissors
- Pen
- Adhesive tape
- Kitchen Towel or Paper to cover your working table and for cleaning up
Instructions
- Gather materials and tools as listed above.
- If you are using other stencils, make sure the diameter of your felt coasters is slightly bigger than the stencil pattern, unless you want to have partial stencil design.
- Trace 4″ diameter circles onto the 2mm thick synthetic felt.
- Cut out the circle felt and place it at the back of the stencil.
Holding them to the light to check if the alignment is correct.
- Tape them down to secure the position.
- If you can’t make up your mind which color to use, sample the colors on the felt and pick the most appealing to you.
I chose to use Martha Stewart’s Acrylic Pearl paint in Jet Stream 32121 and Purple Martin 32119. I like the pearl paint that gives the sheen look that shimmering with a little blink.
- Dab the paint with the foam pouncer, don’t over saturate the foam but just wet enough to do the stenciling.
If you would like to add fabric medium, add it to the paint and stir well before dabbing the paint on the foam pouncer.
- Pounce it vertically on the stencil repeated and move-on slowly. Replenish the paint if necessary.
- Try to cover all the cavities but don’t over paint. Overpaint will cause smearing and it looks messy.
- Flip to the back, carefully take out the adhesive tape and remove the felt from the stencil.
- Border completed. Set aside and do the other pieces.
Wash stencil if needed especially when the accumulated paint on the stencil is too thick.
It is safe to touch the stenciled acrylic paint after about 10 minutes, though not thoroughly dry it is safe to work on the surface.
- Place the centerpiece stencil on the center of the felt coasters. This stencil has an adhesive backing, so it will stick on nicely, otherwise, use adhesive tape to secure it in place.
- Repeat the stenciling process on the centerpiece.
- Let the stenciled felt coasters dry overnight before using it.
- You can also stencil the felt before cutting it out. This will give you asymmetrical and random print, just to make things more fun and interesting.
- Align the stencil carefully in a correct spacing to get a symmetrical print pattern, otherwise, just stencil randomly.
- The look of my whole piece of felt after stenciling with a symmetrical pattern.
- I did another centerpiece stenciling after cut out the stenciled printed felt.
Notes
Get the full article at https://www.craftpassion.com/stenciled-felt-coasters/
Recommended Products
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flic-flac 28pcs Thick 2mm 12 x 12 inches (30cm x 30cm) Solid Felt Fabric Sheet Assorted Color Felt Pack DIY Craft Squares Nonwoven -
Martha Stewart Crafts Medium Stencils (8.75 by 9.75-Inch), 32258 Eyelet Lace (13 Designs) -
Martha Stewart Crafts Adhesive Stencils (5.75 by 7.75-Inch), 32268 13 Scrolls 13 Designs -
Martha Stewart Crafts Martha Stewart Foam 6 Pack Pouncer -
Martha Stewart Crafts 32802 Stencil Brushes (Set Of 3) -
Martha Stewart Crafts Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Pearl Craft Purple Martin, 2 oz Paint, 2 Fl Oz
Laurel
Wednesday 18th of April 2018
Just found your site. Loving all the different crafts. Question: Can I use wool felt instead of synthetic?
Craft Passion
Wednesday 18th of April 2018
As long as it holds the shape and gives you the thickness, wool felt can be used.
Chrissy Corrado
Sunday 30th of November 2014
These are wonderful! I had just a few questions: What is fabric medium and what does it do to the paint if you add it in? Also, when you remove the stencil in the middle of the coaster with the adhesive backing, will it make the felt all fuzzy? Thank you!
Craft Passion
Monday 1st of December 2014
Fabric medium is a kind of liquid to mix into the acrylic paint to make it more flexible so that the paint won't crack. The adhesive is not strong so it is ok to stick to the felt.
Rory
Wednesday 16th of October 2013
Those look great! and I love simple they are to make, Thanks for sharing!
Renata Ascenso
Tuesday 8th of October 2013
Quero lhe convidar a conhecer meu blog: feitoamaocommuitocarinho.blogspot.com.br É um blog novo, ainda não tenho muita experiência. Espero que goste. Bjs... Rê Ascenso!!!
Translation (by Google): I want to invite you to know my blog: feitoamaocommuitocarinho.blogspot.com.br It is a new blog, do not have much experience. Hope you enjoy. Bjs ... Rê Ascended!!
Anne
Monday 7th of October 2013
wonderful coasters, thank you so much for sharing! I will give it a go, they will do nicely as holiday gifts.
Craft Passion
Tuesday 8th of October 2013
Thank you, Anne. You are absolutely right, they are great as holiday gifts. You can also stencil them in holiday theme too, by pattern and by color theme. Have fun with the creations!!!