Tile Coasters: DIY

I currently have many projects on the mind, all including tiles. So while at Lowes today, I bought a box of 100 tiles, which usually retail for 10 cents each! I have a few parties this month that I need to provide presents and hostess gifts for and I figured coasters would be perfect!

What you need:

• Four tiles (4.5in x 4.5 in)
• Paper cut to 4in x 4in
• Mod Podge
• Foam Brush
• Piece of Cardboard
• Felt squares
• Hot Glue Gun

I found this adorable paper at the Artisan Center today while browsing the Cherry Creek Sidewalk Sale. I small roll of it was only 50 cents! Using my paper cutter, I cut four 4 in by 4in squares.

First, clean the surface of the tile to ensure the best placement of the paper without bumps. Add an initial layer of Mod Podge.

Second, center the paper in the middle of the tile and smooth onto the surface. To ensure there are no air bubbles, I ran a piece of cardboard over the surface. However, air bubbles and dog hair were inevitable.

In the case of dog hair, remove carefully with tweezers before adding another layer of Mod Podge to seal and glaze the paper. Allow to dry.

Once the Mod Podge has dried, flip the tile over and attach four squares of felt to the bottom of the tile with a hot glue gun.

Wrap with a bow for a perfect gift!

Cost: $0.70!! Time: 40 minutes, including drying time

Rainy Days: More Crayon Art

I've really been wanting to create this piece I am continually seeing on Pinterest. However being the depressive romantic I am (according to my mother, anyway), I settled on a mixture of blues, greys, dark purples, and a few blacks, to rain down on a couple under an umbrella.

Here's what you need:

• Canvas (mine's 12in by 16 in)
• Crayola crayons
• Card stock
• Scissors
• Hot Glue Gun and Sticks
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush
• Newspaper
• Hair Dryer

First, I needed the perfect silhouette of a couple under an umbrella. A harder feat than expected, but thanks to Google it was found. I cut out the picture on top of a piece of purple card stock, creating a silhouette. I Mod Podged the silhouette to the canvas, and allowed it to dry.

As the silhouette dried, I complied the pattern I wanted for my crayons with the points facing toward the bottom of the canvas. Once I decided on the placement of the crayons, I hot glued them into place. I used multi-temperature glue sticks so they wouldn't melt later with the blow drier.

 In order to create the umbrella effect, I had to make shield over the umbrella so that the crayon will melt "off" the umbrella. The tape didn't actually hold the shield too well and I ended up holding it in place for the most part.

Now to the melting side of the project. Be sure to protect any surfaces you will be working on. The actual melting took longer than I expected, but went a lot faster once started. It took about two minutes to get the ball rolling. I discovered that with regular Crayola crayons it was best to hold the hair dryer at a forty-five degree angle, half way down the crayon.

Since the shield wasn't the best, I used an Exacto knife to scrape off the crayon from the silhouette. All done!

"Painting" with Crayons

I was in the mood to do some crafting today. Influenced by the idea of melting crayons, I turned them into "paint".

Finished product

Here's what you need:

• Crayons
• Canvas (mine's 5in x 5in)
• Hot Glue gun
• Paper
• Unsharpened pencil

First, Lay your paper to cover your surface area from any damage. Second, remove the paper your crayons being careful not to break them in the process.

Third, insert the crayons into the hot glue gun. Since my crayons were a bit thicker than the opening in my hot glue gun, I found it helpful to use an unsharpened pencil to help push the crayons through the hot glue gun. However, as I pushed the crayons through the colors squirted out faster than anticipated.

Color by color (from darkest to brightest), I added layers of "paint" to the canvas. I am pleased with the result that I got, however I hope with more practice I could be able to make more definite patterns.

Since my hot glue gun had a smaller opening than my crayon's circumference, I waited until the wax melted before attempting the clean it. It's much easier and less painful to pick off dry wax, than hot!