DIY Air Dry Clay Coasters
Learn how to make beautiful custom air dry clay coasters and discover chic tips for hosting with paper plates. Because effortless entertaining can still be elegant!
When it comes to hosting, the little details make all the difference! Whether you’re planning a casual get-together or a stylish dinner party, adding a personal touch to your table can elevate the entire experience.
One easy and creative way to do this is by making your own DIY Air Dry Clay Coasters. This is one of our favorite air dry clay projects that lets you customize your decor while keeping your surfaces protected.
And let’s be real. Not every gathering calls for fancy dinnerware. Sometimes, paper plates are the way to go! The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice style for convenience. With a few clever tricks, you can make disposable tableware look effortlessly chic. Whether it’s layering, accessorizing, or adding a pop of color, we’ve got all the tips you need to entertain in style—without the stress of cleanup.
So grab your clay, set the table, and let’s make hosting easy, fun, and fabulous!
Materials and Tools Needed
- Air dry clay
- Rolling pin
- Round biscuit cutter — Or a glass for shaping
- Acrylic paint colors of your choice — We also used liquid gold leaf.
- Paint brushes
- Matte Mod Podge — Or any other sealer to protect your design
How to Make Air Dry Clay Coasters
1 — On a clean, smooth surface, roll out a chunk of air-dry clay, ensuring it’s an even thickness throughout. This will help your coasters lay flat and uniform.
2 — Use a biscuit cutter to cut circles from the rolled-out clay. Gently remove the excess clay from around the edges.
3 — Allow the coasters to dry completely for 24-48 hours before painting. Flip them over occasionally to prevent warping.
4 — Once dry, use craft paint in your chosen colors to decorate your coasters. We started with a white base coat, then mixed various shades of pink to complement our table setting.
For a brushstroke effect, use an almost dry paintbrush to make quick, random strokes for a clean, artistic look. Love this design? We recreated this design in our free DIY gold foil wall art printable.
5 — Once the paint is fully dry, apply a clear coat of Mod Podge to the tops and edges of each coaster. This helps protect them from water and everyday wear and tear.
Tutorial Tips and Tricks
- Use cornstarch to prevent sticking: If your clay sticks to the rolling pin or work surface, lightly dust it with cornstarch to keep things smooth.
- Even thickness is key: Roll your clay to a consistent ¼-inch thickness to ensure your coasters dry evenly and don’t warp.
- Experiment with shapes: Try cutting your coasters into hexagons, hearts, or organic freeform shapes for a modern look.
- Get creative with textures: Use lace, leaves, bubble wrap, or stamps to press in unique patterns before the clay dries.
- Speed up drying (but not too fast!): To prevent cracking, let your coasters air dry at room temperature. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight or using a hairdryer, which can cause uneven drying.
- For crisp edges, use water: If your edges look rough, dip your finger in a little water and smooth them out before the clay dries.
- Mix and match colors: Marbling clay colors together before rolling it out can create a chic, high-end look.
- Seal for longevity: If you plan to use your coasters with drinks, apply a waterproof sealer to protect them from moisture and stains.
Table Setting Styling Tips with Paperware
For an easy paper plate styling trick, try stacking different shapes and sizes to create a layered look. Not only does this add visual interest to your table, but it also makes disposable plates sturdier!
We like to think of ourselves as paper plate pros. After all, we’ve been perfecting the art of stylish disposables for the past 20 years.
Our biggest revelation? Mixing paper plates with a few statement serveware pieces makes all the difference. Our go-to method: use paper plates for the main meal and bring out the real dishes for sides or anything that can be quickly rinsed or tossed in the dishwasher.
Styling Sources
More Easy Clay Projects to Try
- Clay DIY Photo Holder
- Marbled Clay DIY Incense Holder
- Speckled DIY Clay Keychain Accessory
- How to Make Easy Clay Sculptures for Decor
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