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In this post: Easy to make, these DIY Photo Coasters will keep your favorite photos nearby and totally display-worthy! Sorta like old-school photo albums, only more useful!
Want to make your own picture coasters so you can keep fun memories close by and have them be useful too?!
Sometimes I miss photo albums. I miss sitting down and flipping through the memories held in the faces and events that are captured in old photographs. I miss the feel of holding a real picture in my hands. Sometimes looking at photos all lit up on a screen just isn’t the same as studying a tangible photo. Do you know what I mean?
Months ago I printed a dozen or so photos from my Instagram feed and then promptly forgot about them. Yesterday while cleaning up the disaster that will become my office/studio in the basement I came across them again, this time deciding that I’d actually make some DIY photo coasters.
(I was inspired by A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book for this project.)
DIY Photo Coasters
I think when I initially ordered the prints (12 for $6 from Snapstagram or 24 for $12 from Printstagram), I was going to make a little gallery wall. But we are quickly running out of wall real estate in the backsplit so I nixed that idea. Just this morning (nothing like last minute!) I realized I had all the necessary supplies to make my own DIY photo coasters instead.
Supplies
- cork
- photo prints
- laminate sheets (sticky clear vinyl type)
- Mod Podge
- ruler
- utility knife
- pencil
Instructions
1. Using one of your prints trimmed to the size and shape you like (mine were 4″x4″), trace squares onto cork tiles. Trim each square using scissors or an exacto knife and a ruler. If you use a knife be sure to protect your table surface with a glass cutting board or a self-healing mat. Set aside.
2. Also using one of your prints trimmed to size, trace squares onto back of vinyl book protector. This is the stuff libraries used to use to protect paperback books. (Do they still do that?) Trim each square of vinyl to size. You could also you laminating sheets.
3. Peel backing off of one vinyl square and adhere to front of one photo. If your photos are glossy you should be able to reposition vinyl if necessary. This will protect your photos from spills. Repeat for all photos.
4. Using a brush, apply Mod Podge/glue to a square of cork. Then affix photo to cork. Repeat for each photo and let dry.
Make Your Own Coasters - DIY Photo Coasters Tutorial
Materials
- cork
- photo prints
- laminate sheets (sticky clear vinyl type)
- Mod Podge
Tools
- ruler
- utility knife
- pencil
Instructions
- Using one of your prints trimmed to the size and shape you like (mine were 4″x4″), trace squares onto cork tiles. Trim each square using scissors or an exacto knife and a ruler. If you use a knife be sure to protect your table surface with a glass cutting board or a self-healing mat. Set aside.
- Also using one of your prints trimmed to size, trace squares onto back of vinyl book protector. This is the stuff libraries used to use to protect paperback books. (Do they still do that?) Trim each square of vinyl to size. You could also you laminating sheets.
- Peel backing off of one vinyl square and adhere to front of one photo. If your photos are glossy you should be able to reposition vinyl if necessary. This will protect your photos from spills. Repeat for all photos.
- Using a brush, apply Mod Podge/glue to a square of cork. Then affix photo to cork. Repeat for each photo and let dry.
Do you miss photo albums too? Have you ever made picture coasters? Have you found other creative ways to display your photographs?
I miss albums! I was showing our kids our wedding album the other day. Ha! Ha! I LOVE these. Such a sweet idea. Maybe I’ll do them with beach images of our family. x
Beach pics would look so great!!!
What a great idea!! They came out so beautifully đŸ™‚ you have a beautiful family
Seems everyone likes to bring me back cork coasters of the tropical flora and critters of their holiday destination and i was going to purge them to the Salvation Army over winter. Then I got the idea to recycle these myself with modge podging pics of my horses overtop instead. Thanks for the inspiration to get back to this rainy day project. Hardest thing seems just picking out the pics! Great idea on the library bk vinyl cover Where did u buy that?
Great idea to reuse other cork coasters! I actually found the book vinyl in a roll at the dollar store. Michael’s or even etsy may have some too.
Great idea! I, too, miss photo albums, and you are right, there is never enough wall space to display all the pictures I would like to display. This is a great and useful idea. Good gift idea, too.
Thistlewoodfarms.com has a great picture wreath project. I haven’t made one (yet), but it’s another good way to get a lot of pictures displayed in a small area. Mommymoment.ca has a picture lampshade idea that is cute, as well.
I’ve been “lurking” for awhile–you have a great blog. I appreciate how you have a “normal” house and have done so many attractive things to it–my house is modest in size and it’s inspirational to find someone who has done what I am trying to do–making a modest house live large!
It would be a fun gift – Father’s Day is coming! I have see KariAnne’s wreath but not MommyMoment’s lampshade. I’ll have to check it out. Thank you for the compliment – our house is about 1300 square feet and we try to make the most of it. đŸ™‚
What a perfect idea for my IG photos — thank you!! I liked the idea of “wallpapering” the side of our fridge with them; however, we use that as more of an organization center. This project is clever and practical! I’m also thinking that it could be used for Father’s Day here as well. Thanks for posting!!
It would be a perfect project for Father’s day!
Hello….where can you buy vinyl book protector paper? Thanks!
I bought mine at the dollar store! (Dollarama)
I love this idea and can’t wait to make these. Would love to capture all the places we have been on coasters!
When you use a hot beverage on the finished coaster, does it leave a “melted mark” circle? I used a paint sealer on mine instead of the clear plastic, and it isn’t very durable…I am very disappointed. Perhaps you can help?
Nope, never had the circle issue.
Hi My photos aren’t really sticking, I left them overnight to dry then in the morning I checked them and they lifted pretty easy. Any tips? Thanks
Hmm. Did you try putting the Mod Podge on both the cork and the photo back?
After a summer of interning at the acquisitions & processing department of my university library, I can assure you that we still use laminate to protect our paperbacks đŸ™‚
I knew there had to be some good crafty uses for it – I will have to try this some time soon!
I’ve seen so many tutorials for photo coasters, but never one using vinyl or laminating sheets as a topcoat. Very clever!
I tried a few of these last night. I used photos printed on regular photo paper and the mod podge caused the colors to bleed. Were your photos printed on photo paper? Do you think that will make a difference? I just saw Wal-Mart prints 4×4 photos, so I am having some printed to pick up tomorrow and give a try. Thanks for the info.!
I used actual photo prints, yes!
Hello! Just wondering how these have held up? I have found another tutorial that uses an epoxy & tiles but I like this one too! Looking for something durable.
They’ve held up great!!!
I am interested in making my own cork roll coasters as wedding favors. I plan to personalize them with a stamp of the date, initials and a thanks you. My question would be if you have any tips for making them more durable/ less flexible.
Is there some kind of coat in I should cover it with after I stamp them or layer the bottom with something?
Um, you could try gluing them to inexpensive tiles? Or double the layers?
Hi. I really like this idea! Here in Oregon, many of the stores have their own 1 hour or immediate printing of photos. These are usually quite inexpensive options, (a mere 20cents or so per photo, no limits or minimum quantities )and you get them in an hour or much less! (I can get them started if 1 hour, and shop until they are done).
This beats the 12/$6 price!
So you only applied one layer of ModPodge, one time between the photo and the cork? Did you have to apply anything to the top of the plastic sheet protector? I found the “clear contact paper” I have at home is a little hazy looking and won’t want that look. but I can see from your photos, yours don’t have that hazy look. any thoughts?
Yes, that is correct. I only applied ModPodge between photo and cork. The clear contact paper I found was not hazy or colored. Maybe look for some that is clearer?