Sleigh bells are ringing, Christmas carols are blaring, and the neighborhood looks like the Griswold’s moved in.
It is indeed the holiday season.
I’m in gift-making mode and just finished something for our future daughter-in-law, not for Christmas but for her birthday, which is also this month.
She is a bibliophile and clocked over 100 books this year alone. I thought it only fitting to make her miniature replicas of her last 180 reads and fill an ornament along with gift cards for… wait for it, more books!
Today, I’m working on another gift, this one with a Halloween vibe.
I’m grabbing some ready-made coasters and some fabric from my spooky stash to craft a last-minute, one-of-a-kind gift that would be perfect for any Halloween fanatic.
So, let’s get started.
For this project, we will need:
Coasters with an inset center – I grabbed these from Target, but Amazon also has a great selection.
Halloween print fabric
Mod Podge Hard Coat
Paint brush or foam applicator
Parchment or wax paper
Ink pen
Scissors
Before you get started, it’s essential to consider the color of your fabric and coaster.
The coasters I’m using are black, so a fabric with a white or light-colored background will allow the coaster to show through.
To remedy any color issues, you can paint the entire coaster or the inset area with a color better suited to your fabric.
It’s considered a best practice to wash your fabric prior to using it to avoid any shrinkage and remove sizing. For a project of this size, I’m living on the edge and skipping this step, but you do you.
Ensure the fabric is free of wrinkles and creases, and lay it face down onto a piece of parchment paper.
Cover the fabric with a layer of Mod Podge and allow it to dry.
While the fabric is drying, measure your coaster’s interior or inset section. Mine is approximately 3.75 inches in diameter.
Next, make a template from that measurement. You can make your template from copy paper or a clear plastic flexible chopping mat. I like the clear option as it allows me to see the fabric through the template.
Once the fabric is dry, remove it from the parchment paper and place your template onto the section of the fabric you want displayed on your coaster.
Trace the template onto your fabric and cut it out.
Next, apply a thin layer of the Mod Podge onto the inset area of your coaster and the back side of the fabric spreading it beyond the edges.
Lay the fabric in the inset of your coaster and, working from the center out, burnish it into the coaster using any tool with a straight edge.
Your ghoulishly good gift is now ready for its final destination.
These fit perfectly into a bewitching basket with a book, bookmark, mug, and a gift card to a favorite creepy coffee spot.
And who is this gift for? It’s for me.
I’ve been dying to make these Halloween coasters, so I figured, why not give myself a little something?
I hope you are treating yourself this holiday season.
Until next time – stay spooky.
