If you're anything like me you'll have some old CDs or DVDs hanging around that you're not sure what to do with- like the free ones you get with newspapers that you never get round to listening to. Sound familiar?
Well here's an idea of how you can up-cycle them into something useful- make them into a new set of coasters! Combine these with that tester pot of paint that's languishing at the back of the garage and those doilies you found at a boot fair that you'd forgotten you had and it makes for quite a thrifty make!
1) You will need
Old CDs or DVDs, paint tester pot, PVA glue, heavy cotton lace doilies or trimmings, plain cotton fabric (I used the cotton fabric from a lace edged cloth but you could use Calico, an old shirt or sheet, etc), felt to match your chosen colour scheme, paintbrush, fabric scissors
2) Glue the felt to your CDs
Apply PVA glue to one side of each of your CDs and stick onto the felt. Leave to dry
3) Cut away excess felt
4) Repeat step 3 on the other side of your CDs, this time using your plain cotton fabric.
Leave to dry and then cut away the excess fabric
5) Apply a layer of PVA to the cotton side of your CDs
6) Lay your heavy lace onto the glued side of your CDs and leave to dry
It's much easier if you leave each layer to dry completely before moving onto the next step, and less messy too!
7) When dry, cut away the excess lace
You could use a regular thin lace for this, but I find the heavier lace and crocheted cotton doilies are more effective as the paint really highlights their texture
8) Paint your coasters
You could choose to leave the coasters unpainted at this stage as they still look pretty left like this, or you could paint them using your tester pot. Give each coaster one coat of paint and allow to dry
You could try this on a larger scale- I'd like to cover a wooden tray or cork place mats and mix and match with different colours
9) Use your new set of coasters as a good excuse to have tea and cake!
I'll be posting the recipe for my white chocolate, rosewater and pistachio cup cakes that you can see here on Wednesday!
Happy making!