When any of my friends or family moves into a new home, my go-to housewarming gift tends to be a bottle of wine or coasters…or both. Coasters have become something of my signature statement and I have collected a huge assortment over the years.
Usually I buy my coasters, but the other day while browsing Martha’s site, I found the cutest craft project and found an idea for “Pressed Flower Coasters.” They are inventive and creative; the best part being you can sub the flowers for anything else you like! You can use any type of pressed flower, leaves or even pictures!
Tools and Materials
Glass squares (two for each coaster)
Pressed pansies, or other flowers or leaves
Tweezers
Non-water-based clear-drying craft glue
3 1/2-inch toothpick or small paintbrush
Binder clips
1/4-inch-wide silvered-copper-foil tape
Scissors
Pencil or ice pop stick
Pressed Pansy Coasters How-To
1. Have a glazier cut 1/8-inch-thick glass into 3 1/2-inch squares, and sand the edges. Craft stores like Michael’s also carry these, this can save you a trip to the glass store.
2. Wipe the panes carefully with glass cleaner and a paper towel. Be careful not to smudge the glass or trap any dust between panes while you work.
3. Handling the flowers carefully with tweezers, position them on one pane until you are satisfied with your arrangement. Using a tiny dab of glue on a toothpick or small paintbrush, adhere the flowers to the pane. Allow glue to dry before continuing.
4. Carefully place a second pane on top, sandwiching the flowers between the two panes and aligning the edges exactly.
5. To seal, hold the panes together with binder clips, moving the clips from one side to another as you tape. Place the end of the metal tape along an edge of the glass, and wrap the tape around the entire perimeter. Overlap the ends slightly, then snip the tape with scissors.
6. For a tight seal, rub the tape thoroughly until the edge is smooth, using the side of a pencil or ice pop stick as a burnishing tool.
7. If necessary, clean the coasters with a soft cloth or paper towels and glass cleaner. Do not submerge coasters in water; the tape does not produce a watertight seal.
If you are giving them as a gift, I suggest buying some raffia and pressed flowers to tie them up. This makes the presentation even more beautiful!
For more Spring craft ideas from Martha Stewart, please visit her site HERE.
-Jessica Brown
