Craft Your Own Elegant DIY Picture Coasters: A Creative Coloring Journey

Hello, fellow creatives! I’m Diana from Dreams Factory, delighted to share a brand new DIY project that promises both artistic expression and practical beauty. Today, we’re diving into the enchanting world of DIY Picture Coasters that you can personalize with your own coloring! This isn’t just a craft; it’s an experience that beautifully marries several of my favorite creative elements: the timeless appeal of painting and distressing, the calming joy of adult coloring pages, and a touch of opulent gold.

You might initially find this unique blend of techniques intriguing, perhaps even a little unconventional. However, as we embark on this creative journey together, you’ll quickly discover the immense versatility of this project. It’s designed to offer boundless opportunities for experimentation, enjoyment, and adding distinctive personal touches to your home decor. More than just crafting, it’s a wonderful way to relax, decompress, and truly unwind. Ready to explore this exciting venture?

The Inspiration Behind Your Next Favorite Craft

Ever wondered how creative ideas spark into being? This project’s origins trace back to my discovery of the captivating realm of adult coloring pages a few years ago. I still vividly recall the sheer delight and pleasant surprise I felt when I realized this simple activity offered such a profound sense of relaxation. Acquiring coloring books and a vibrant array of colored pencils quickly became a cherished ritual.

To this day, coloring remains one of my most favored ways to spend a quiet moment, helping me unplug from daily demands and recharge my creative batteries. It’s a mindful escape that allows for focus and artistic expression without pressure.

My quest for beautiful designs led me to The Graphics Fairy, where I first encountered these exquisite ornamental medallions. Their intricate patterns immediately struck me as reminiscent of ancient mandalas, making them absolutely perfect for coloring. I curated my absolute favorites and transformed them into two distinct printables for you to enjoy – a choice I made because deciding on just one proved impossible! You can easily download these below and print them on standard paper, self-adhesive sheets, or a sturdy cardstock, as I’ve done for this project.

—> Click HERE to Download the Full Size Printable PDF <—

While these beautiful medallions, often referred to as antique mandalas, are perfect simply as coloring pages, I envisioned elevating them to the next level. I imagined them not just as flat art, but as functional pieces with a sturdy wooden base. This concept offers multiple advantages:

It provides a firm support, making the coloring process more enjoyable and precise.
It allows you to transform your colored masterpieces into chic mini signs, perfectly integrated into your unique home decor style.
The finished creations serve as elegant and personalized coasters.
They become exceptionally thoughtful and amazing gifts for your cherished family and friends, showcasing your handmade talent.

Essential Supplies for Your DIY Picture Coasters

To embark on this delightful coaster crafting adventure, gather the following materials:

For Crafting the Coaster Bases:

Cardstock paper (for printing your medallions) or regular paper
Sharp scissors
Inkjet or laserjet printer
Hardboard (HDF – High Density Fiberboard), plywood, or any suitable scrap wood
An old CD (perfect for tracing circular shapes)
Jigsaw (for cutting wood, or ask for assistance if preferred)
White milk paint, acrylic paint, or chalk paint
Brown milk paint, acrylic paint, or chalk paint (for the distressed base)
Assorted paint brushes
120 or 180 grit sandpaper
Candle wax (a simple white candle works perfectly for distressing)
Mod Podge (matte finish recommended)

For Coloring Your Medallions (Suggestions for Creative Exploration):

Colored pencils
Fine-point grip pens
Metallic gel pens
Metallic markers
Mildliner highlighters
Gold acrylic paint

Optional Enhancements:

Matte finish spray (for protecting your finished coasters)
Cork sheets (for backing your coasters, providing grip and surface protection)

Crafting Your Coaster Bases: A Step-by-Step Guide

For this particular project, I opted for HDF (High Density Fiberboard) with a thickness of 0.3 cm (approximately 0.11 inches), easily sourced from my local hardware store. However, feel free to use plywood, any suitable scrap wood you might have on hand, or even repurpose old coasters by painting over them. To simplify the process and ensure perfectly circular bases, I utilized an old CD to trace four distinct shapes onto the HDF board. My helpful partner, Mr. Dreamy, then assisted with the precise cutting.

He expertly used a Makita top-handled jigsaw to cut out the HDF circles, while I took care of cutting out the medallion graphics I had printed on cardstock paper with my scissors. A perfect example of teamwork making the dream work!

With the printed images set aside, I moved on to the exciting phase of painting the wooden bases. My goal was to achieve a chic, vintage, and distressed look, so I employed my tried-and-true painting and distressing technique. Remember to always protect your work surface before you begin to keep things tidy.

First, I applied a base coat of brown acrylic paint to the edges of the HDF circles. This layer creates the illusion of aged wood peeking through the top coat. I allowed this first coat to dry completely. Any water-based paint will work for this step, so feel free to use what you have on hand.

Next, to prepare for distressing, gently rub some candle wax along the edges and any areas where you want the brown undercoat to show through. This simple white candle wax acts as a resist, preventing the top layer of paint from adhering too strongly, thus making distressing much easier later on.

Now, apply a coat of white acrylic paint over the entire wooden circle, including the waxed edges, and let it dry thoroughly. Depending on your paint and desired coverage, you might need to apply a second coat of white paint, as I did, to achieve a rich, opaque finish. Patience is key here; ensure each layer is completely dry before proceeding.

Once the white paint is fully dry, grab your sandpaper. Gently distress the edges to your personal preference, revealing hints of the brown undercoat beneath. You can go for a subtle, aged look or a more pronounced, rustic appeal – the choice is yours. After distressing, use a clean cloth to wipe away any dust or paint impurities from the surface.

Finally, apply a thin, even coat of Mod Podge to the back of your printed medallion paper. Carefully center and place each medallion onto its corresponding HDF circle. Using your fingers or an old credit card, gently smooth out any air bubbles, working from the center of the image outwards to the edges. Wipe away any excess Mod Podge that may seep out. Allow this layer of Mod Podge to dry completely, ensuring a secure bond. At this point, your coaster bases are beautifully prepared!

And just like that, the foundation for your new favorite DIY Coasters is complete!

Unleash Your Inner Artist: Coloring Your Medallion Coasters

Now comes the most exciting and rewarding part: bringing these beautiful medallions to life with color! This is where your creativity truly shines, where you can experiment freely, have fun with different hues and techniques, all while enjoying a wonderfully relaxing and decompressing artistic experience.

The beauty of this project lies in its open-ended nature when it comes to coloring. You’re invited to explore uncharted creative territory because:

You have the freedom to play with an endless spectrum of colors, from subtle pastels to vibrant jewel tones.
You can experiment with a vast array of coloring and writing utensils, and even different art mediums. Feel free to get truly adventurous! Think beyond traditional colored pencils – incorporate markers, fine pens, metallic gel pens, brushes, acrylic paints, watercolors, or even unconventional materials like coffee or tea stains for an antique effect. The only limit is your imagination!

Lately, I’ve developed a particular fondness for gold, so I incorporated various shades of this metallic hue, alongside a few complementary colors that I felt would enhance the overall aesthetic. My aim was to maintain a cohesive look with the DIY Antique Adult Coloring Medallions concept, transforming each into a truly unique piece of art.

For one particular antique mandala, I began by tracing and coloring some of the intricate details using a Faber Castell grip finepen in brown-gold and an Edding metallic gel pen in gold. Then, I used a Staedtler metallic marker (gold) to fill in the inner petals, adding a rich, shimmering base. To complete the look, I dry brushed Maimeri Polycolor acrylic paint in a beautiful, highly pigmented light gold here and there, creating stunning effects and subtle highlights. This paint is a personal favorite for its ability to deliver such luminous touches.

Moving onto the next medallion, I started with the same versatile acrylic gold paint as my initial layer, laying down a warm, inviting tone.

I then continued to build the layers with another beloved medium: liquid gold. This particular liquid gold offered a slightly different shade, allowing me to create beautiful, shimmering accents that added depth and dimension to the design.

For a different antique mandala, I decided to showcase the charm of colored pencils. What would a coloring project be without them, right? I selected a palette of lovely pastel colors, which lent a wonderfully vintage feel to the design. To maintain the overarching golden theme, I also incorporated touches of liquid gold for additional coloring and even dry brushed some of that light gold acrylic paint over the pastels, adding subtle interest and unifying the metallic elements.

Next up, colored markers! Specifically, I used the delightful Zebra Mildliners, which are fantastic for coloring due to their broad and fine tips. To soften the marker colors and integrate them with the golden aesthetic, I added more dry brushing with gold, creating those beautiful shimmering highlights that truly bring the design to life.

With each coaster, the entire collection begins to look rather incredible, don’t you agree? The blend of vintage aesthetics, intricate designs, and personalized color choices truly makes these pieces special.

As you can clearly see, there’s ample room for further experimentation and letting your creative spirit soar! Despite starting with the same foundational printables, each individual will undoubtedly create something truly unique and reflective of their personal style.

Display, Protect, and Gift Your Masterpieces

Once your DIY Picture Coasters are complete, you have myriad options for incorporating these chic medallions into your home decor. Display them as individual artistic accents or arrange them as a cohesive set. They look particularly stunning when paired with vintage books, adding an extra layer of charm and character to any shelf or coffee table. You can also transform them into large decorative labels or tags, perfect for adorning different sized boxes, adding a personalized and elegant touch to your storage solutions. Imagine them even hanging from your Christmas tree as unique, handmade ornaments, catching the festive lights!

If you intend to use your medallions as functional coasters, it’s absolutely crucial to protect your beautiful coloring work. I highly recommend applying one or two layers of a good quality acrylic matte spray, such as Krylon. Before spraying your finished coasters, always perform a quick test on a scrap piece of paper where you’ve used your various coloring mediums. This will ensure that the spray interacts well with your particular pencils, markers, or paints and doesn’t cause any smudging or discoloration. For added functionality and to protect your furniture, you might also consider adding some cork to the backs of your coasters.

Furthermore, these coasters offer an incredibly thoughtful and meaningful gifting opportunity. You can either gift the finished, colored coasters directly, or for an even more engaging present, create a “DIY kit.” Assemble the pre-made wooden bases, along with a selection of uncolored antique medallion printables, a set of quality colored pencils, perhaps some metallic pens, and even a few charming embellishments like dried flowers or natural twine. This thoughtful package encourages the recipient to unleash their own creativity and enjoy the relaxing process of coloring. Such a personalized kit makes the perfect gift for any occasion, be it a Birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or just because!

Embrace Creativity and Relaxation

With the cooler weather often keeping us indoors, I sincerely hope you find these DIY Picture Coasters to be an inspiring and engaging project. It’s an ideal way to spend your time, blending artistic expression with practical home decor.

Experimenting, having genuine fun, and finding relaxation while adding beautiful splashes of color into your life? These are invaluable aspects we truly need to embrace in our everyday routines!

You might also enjoy exploring my Vintage French CD Coaster Project HERE for more creative ideas!

Happy coloring and crafting!
Diana / Dreams Factory