(Inside this post: Make DIY tile coasters for under $1 each using napkins or photos. This easy, budget-friendly tutorial shows how to create custom coasters at home.)
When my husband and I got married, my sister-in-law gifted my husband a large tile with our engagement photo on it. It was homemade and sat beautifully in our entry way on an easel for many years. The Christmas prior, that same sister-in-law gifted us a matching photo coaster to go with it. All these years later, making these DIY tile coasters continues to be one of my favorite inexpensive gifts and also an easy crowd-pleasing craft.
Whether you create your coasters with napkins for seasonal decor or personalize them with a favorite photo for gifts, this is an easy and customizable project. Not only that, they are budget friendly, coming in at just $1 each to make! If you’re looking for a practical, budget-friendly DIY craft that’s perfect for gifting or decorating your home, we’ve got all of the steps below!
Supplies You’ll Need
Before diving into the steps, here’s what you will need to create your tile coasters. I’ve listed enough supplies to make a complete set of four coasters.
- 4×4 white ceramic tiles (4)
- Decorative or printed 2-ply napkins (4–6)
- Dishwasher-afe mod podge
- Cork coasters (4)
- E6000 adhesive
- Foam brush
- Tools: scissors + emery board
Budget-Friendly Ways to Switch Up Supplies
Wait! Before you head to the store, pause to take inventory of what you already have on hand or swap for a more budget-friendly craft. Here are a few things to consider:
- Use what you have at home. You probably already have a paintbrush, nail file, and super glue to use in place of a foam brush, emery board, and mod podge. This craft doesn’t require extremely specific tools. Use what you have!
- Avoid “crafting tiles.” Skip the craft store and even the Dollar Tree, and head over to your local home improvement store for the cheapest tiles. I paid 11 cents per tile compared to $1.25 at Dollar Tree!
- Consider alternative backing. Do you have felt or spare fabric lying around? Those make great alternative backings for your DIY tile coasters.
- Skip the napkins. Looking to personalize or avoid paying $4–$6 for napkins? Simply print out your photo on thicker computer paper at home.
Use a mod podge variation. I used dishwasher-safe mod podge, which is more expensive but holds up better against a good washing. Although I probably won’t put these in the dishwasher due to the glue on the cork, the durability factor mattered enough for me to spend the extra dollars. Just know, you can totally use regular mod podge, which runs about $5 less!
Before You Begin: Tips to Make DIY Tile Coasters
As with every craft, there are a few things to be aware of as you start to create your coasters. The biggest ones are:
- You need 2-ply napkins! Be sure to choose napkins that you can peel apart. If you skip this step, your napkin will be too thick and will not properly adhere to the tile.
- Apply thin and even coats of glue. Every coat of glue needs to be THIN. If you apply too much glue, it will saturate the napkin, causing holes. Be mindful of how you are applying the glue as well. Work in a grid pattern so the final sheen is neat and even.
- Tap, don’t rub. When applying the napkin, be sure to tap it into place slowly to remove air bubbles. Do not rub. Because we are dismantling the napkin, it will be easy to rip if you are not careful when applying the napkin to the glued coaster. This project requires light fingers! I’ve definitely had this happen, so if you run into the same dilemma, just wipe the tile clean and try again with a new napkin. This is the benefit of purchasing more than four napkins — to allow room for error!
Step-by-Step Tutorial: How to Make DIY Tile Coasters
Now, it’s time to jump into the craft! Watch the video below for a full step-by-step tutorial or follow along with the photos.
1. Prepare your tile.
Wipe down your tile with warm water to remove any dust and allow it to dry completely.
2. Separate napkin layers and cut to size.
Take one napkin, and carefully peel away a single ply. You want to be left with the patterned portion of the napkin. Cut the napkin down to size, leaving ½-inch margins. Set aside.
3. Apply one coat of glue.
Using your foam (or similar) brush, apply a very thin layer of mod podge to the tile, working in even brush strokes.
4. Tap and smooth the napkin into place.
Gently place your napkin on the tile and tap it into place. I like to start at one end of the tile and slowly move to the other end of the tile, smoothing gently as I go.
5. Apply glue to the tile edges.
Turn the tile on its side and apply another thin layer of glue. Press the napkin down to cover all edges of the tiles. On the corner, simply fold the edges in like you would wrap a present, then seal with a thin layer of glue. This creates a neat edge seam.
6. Let dry for 30 minutes.
Set the tile down and allow it to air dry for roughly 30 minutes or until the glue has dried completely.
7. File the tile edges.
Turn the tile over. Using an emery board, gently file away the excess napkin from the bottom edge.
8. Apply a second coat of glue to the napkin and edges.
Now, apply another thin layer of glue to the front and sides of the tile. Allow to dry for roughly 30 minutes.
9. Repeat step 8 three more times.
Continue applying the layers of glue to completely seal the napkin to the front and edges of the tile.
10. Apply coaster backing.
Once all layers of glue have dried, it’s time to apply the coaster backing. Using an adhesive like super glue or E6000, apply a line of glue to the perimeter of your cork backing, then press firmly to the back of the coaster. Allow to dry completely.
Cost Breakdown: How These Coasters Can Cost Less Than $1 Each
If you were to go to the store and gather all of the supplies, the coaster definitely costs more than $1 each! However, because we are not using every ounce of each supply that we purchased, the overall cost of this craft goes way down. Besides the tiles and cork backing, one package of napkins and one bottle of glue can make several sets of coasters, eliminating the need to purchase more supplies.
Here is the exact cost breakdown that makes this a budget-friendly way to make your own coasters:
What I paid at the store:
- Tiles (4): $0.11 each
- Mod podge: $8.99
- Napkins: $3.99
- Cork backing (6 pack) $1.99
- E6000 adhesive: $3.99
- Foam brush and nail file: $0 because I had them at home.
Total spent at checkout: $19.40 plus tax
Now if you stopped there and divided that by four coasters, it would look like they cost $4.77 each. But, we didn’t use all of the supplies! Breaking down the cost further…
What was actually used:
-
- Tiles: $0.44 (used all 4)
- Napkins: about $0.80 (used 4 from the pack)
- Cork backing: $1.33 (used 4 of 6)
- Mod podge: $1.00 worth used (estimate)
- E6000: $0.40 worth used (estimate)
Actual estimated project total: $3.97
That means each coaster costs about $0.99 per coaster or just $1 each! Talk about budget friendly compared to store-bought sets of coasters. Plus, this doesn’t account for any supply swaps you may make or supplies you may already have on hand.
How to Customize Your DIY Tile Coasters with Photos
To personalize your coasters into a meaningful gift, simply repeat the above process but use a printed photo in place of the napkin.
Steps to prepare your photo:
1. Print a 4×4 photo on computer paper at home.
2. Cut to size for the front of the tile. You will not have any excess to file away or glue to the edges. I like to rip the edges of my photo for an irregular border, but that is a personal design choice!
Ready to Make Your Own DIY Tile Coasters?
Whether using napkins or photos, creating seasonal decor for your home, or gifting to a friend, the possibilities are endless with this budget-friendly craft! Share below what coasters you will be making!
