This post was first published in May 2016.
Something I’ve struggled to find is decent coasters for mugs or glasses (without spending a fortune). There are lots of standard options out there, but it’s good to have some pieces in your house that are not standard, pieces that say something about you. These cute DIY cement coasters are practical and rustic, but have a touch of glam. They’re easy to make and you can get creative with your own painted designs. Go on, give it a try!
What you’ll need:
Template for mould – Download here
Cardboard, preferably with a shiny coating
Cement mix
Spray paint
Masking tape
Thin cork board or felt
Glue
Sandpaper (optional)
Here’s How:
Start by printing and cutting out the template. Fold along the dotted lines and tape the hexagon mould closed using masking tape. Using a shiny card, such as the back of an old magazine, will allow the card to peel off the cement easily once it is dry.
Mix the cement with sand and water. I used a ratio of 1 part cement to 3 parts sand, with 1 part water plus a little extra to make a nice soft paste that will take the shape of the mould.
Add mixed cement into each mould to about 5mm and allow to dry for a few days. If the cement is too thin, it will be brittle and break easily. However, if thick enough it is durable, especially once the cork or felt is attached to the underside.
Gently remove the mould once cement is dry. You can see below that normal cardboard can leave some paper residue where the cement was drying on the card. If this happens simply remove as much as you can and then use sandpaper to remove the rest. This is the side that will be the top of the coaster. You can also use sandpaper to give it a bit of a rougher texture on top and to smooth the bottom of the coaster. Be sure to brush all dust off the coaster after sanding it.
Use masking tape to cover parts of the coaster that you do not want spray painted. Lightly spray, ensuring that all exposed cement is painted. Once the paint is fully dry, remove the masking tape.
Use the cork template to cut hexagons, slightly smaller than the coasters, from the cork or felt. Glue the cork onto the underside of your cement coasters and they are ready to use!
Happy crafting!
For more creative inspiration, follow my Instagram at @Puresweetjoy or visit me at Pure Sweet Joy.
17 responses
First of all, cool idea! Second these are actually grout which is Portland cement sand & water. Some tips: If you want to skip the cement & sand mixing you can get grout pre-mixed usually where tiling supplies are sold. You can even buy it with water already in it. There’s also color options & dyes you can use too. As an professional concrete inspector I can tell you that the dust is unhealthy and some people even allergic to cement so use a respirator and gloves. As far as air bubbles those are because of improper consolidation. Pre-mixed ready to use grout reduces air from mixing but vibrating the molds is needed to ensure consolidation. Also wait until cured to seal so hydration has a chance to do its job. Thanks for the awesome post!
Hey! Just wondering, did you have any problems with air bubbles in these? We’ve been creating small concrete planters and soap dishes yet seem to keep getting little air bubbles EVERYWHERE! Sometimes they add to the aesthetic, but sometimes we want it smoooooth!
HI, not really, but then the beauty is in the imperfections, right?!?
Hi Mayku, The best I do for air bubbles is just to give the cement a few little taps when you’ve just poured it to try get them to move to the top. Also, try to stir gently when you’re mixing it so that you don’t bring in too much air there. But as Germarie says, the beauty is in the imperfections!
What type of concrete powder did you use so they get nice and smooth?
Hi Ashley. I used normal mortar (1 part mortar to 3 parts sand). It was the smallest, most affordable bag of dement that the hardware store had.
Can u tell me if these can be heated in microwave or cooled in freezer. Thinking would be awesome to rest glass on to keep chilled .
Hi Ashley, I think that’s a great idea! Please try it and let me know how it goes 🙂
I want to give these a try! How thick did you end up doing them so that that they weren’t too brittle?
Hi Jade. That’s great! These ones are about 1 cm thick. Enjoy!
Hi Amy- Random question, but about how much do these each weigh?
Sorry– **Deborah!!!
Hi Kelsey. Each one is about 95g. This would obviously depend on the size you choose to make and how thick you pour the cement, but they are surprisingly light.
LOVED YOUR AMBITION TO SHOW ALL OF US OUR CREATIVITY SIDE…
WE WERE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF OUR MAKER….. .. THE ATTRIBUTE OF CREATIVITY IS INHERIT IN ALL OF US…………..WHAT MAKES HUMANS DISTINCTIVE FROM ANIMALS..
Do these need to be sealed? Will condensation from cups ruin the paint?
Hi Amy. Mine are not sealed and they have lasted fine, but I have used them with mugs that do not have condensation. If you want to seal them, a clear seal will give them a nice gloss. One other tip to make the paint last is to make sure that you dust off all the cement dust before painting.
If you seal them they won’t absorb any condensation. I would not seal them — I have some travertine tile that I’ve done this with and taking care of condensation is why I chose them. All the ones you buy don’t absorb so what’s the purpose! Just my opinion. Love yours, though, can do different shapes! Definitely going to try this.