Turn Disposable Coasters into Forever Coasters

Turn disposable bar coasters into customized, reusable coasters in just a few simple steps!

Last time I was out at the bar, someone was handing out free, cardboard coasters to promote a TV show premiere. Do you know the sort that I mean? They’re thick cardboard, and after resting your beer on them for the evening, they’re pretty much kaput. I’m not sure why, but I grabbed four of these puppies and stashed them in my purse.

Of course, I’m not a fan of disposables, so when I discovered those coasters in my bag the next morning, I decided to turn them from a one-use promo item into something reusable and cute! Here’s what you need to turn disposable coasters into a forever coaster:

2 cardboard coasters
book or magazine that you’re OK cutting up
pencil
glue stick
mod podge
spray varnish (I know, this isn’t the most eco-friendly supply, but you need to seal your coasters so that they last! If anyone has a greener option, please share. I’d love to use something more eco-friendly next time.)

Once you’ve got all of your supplies together, you’re ready to go! Here’s how to assemble your coasters:

To get started, flip through your book or magazine and choose the image that you want on the front of your coaster. Trace your coaster’s shape onto the page, and carefully cut it out.
Now, you’re going to do some layering. Glue two of your cardboard coasters together with the glue stick and glue your cut out page on top. Once everything is glued, stack some books on top of your coasters and leave them to dry for about an hour.
Grab your mod podge, and use a paint brush to get a nice, even coat. You want to make sure you coat the sides, too, to protect those layers. Once the top is dry, paint mod podge onto the bottom of your coasters too.
Once that’s all dry, head outside. Turn your coasters upside down and spray them with a thin coat of the varnish. Let it dry for about an hour, then flip and spray the fronts. You’ll want to let everything dry overnight before you set your frosty beverage on top.

Have you guys seen any other crafty uses for those cardboard coasters? I’d love to swap more ideas in the comments!