25 Jan DIY Wood Slice Coasters

When you craft for your love of canines, you tend to keep your peepers on the lookout for anything with pups on it that can be used in your next project. During a recent trip to TJMaxx, we found these adorable napkins for Valentine’s Day with cute Corgis all over them. One look and we knew they’d pair perfectly with some wood slices we had tucked away in our craft stash. 

So how do you turn wood slices and napkins into custom coasters? Decoupage! It’s a big fancy word – and can sound intimidating to newbies. But really, all it is is a few layers of Mod Podge on top and some self-sticking cork on the bottom – and you’ve got yourself the easiest DIY wood slice coasters you’ve ever made! Perfect for the pup lovers in your life.

You’ll need…

• Natural wood slices, 3 – 4 inches in diameter
• Dog-themed paper napkins
• Mod Podge and a brush
• Sanding block
• Sheet of self-adhesive cork
• Pen
• Scissors

1. Pull your napkin apart so you’re left with one or two plys of tissue. One ply will give you a more transparent look (you’ll see the wood grain more) and 2 ply will be a bit more opaque.
2. Locate the part of the napkin you want on your wood slice, then trace around it and cut it out.
3. Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the wood slice.
4. Place the napkin onto the wood slice while the Mod Podge is still wet.
5. Press down on the napkin very gently to remove any air bubbles. You can also tap your finger gently up and down across the surface to shrink the size of the wrinkles. Be careful, because rubbing across the surface to remove them can cause the delicate tissue to tear.
   (You’ll likely end up with some tiny wrinkles. It’s perfectly ok! Embrace their character ‘cuz there’s no getting rid of them completely. )
6. Let everything dry and sand the edges with medium to fine sandpaper or a sanding block to remove any excess tissue.
7. Add two more layers of Mod Podge, letting everything fully dry in between each coat.
8. Flip the cork over so the paper side is facing up. Place your coaster onto the cork with the napkin side up. Then trace around the wood slice and cut out your piece of cork.
9. Remove paper backing and adhere cork to the back of the coaster.

These DIY Doggie Napkin Decoupage Wood Coasters are so quick and simple – you can quickly whip up a set or two in no time at all. And with so many fun napkin designs available, you could create a custom set for everyone you know. A set of 6 would be perfect for neighbor gifts, hostess gifts, housewarming gifts, Mother’s day, birthdays, etc. The possibilities are endless! 

Note: Use your coasters for room-temp or cold drinks only. It’s possible hot drinks may melt the Mod Podge and cause it to turn sticky.

Interested in more dog-inspired crafts? Sign up for our newsletter and never miss a thing!