Coasters with a retro twist

Hands-on time: A couple of hours.
Total time: Add drying time if you choose to paint the coasters.
Skill: Easy.
Cost estimate: $25 for a set of eight coasters. (The cost can vary depending on whether you cut the panes yourself and the cost of the glass pieces).

Materials & Tools

• Square glass panes (101/5 cm by 101/5 cm, about 3/10-cm thick) in assorted colours and textures
• Glass cutter (optional; needed if you cut the panes yourself)
• Glass cleaner and lint-free cloth
• Sanding block or pumice stone
• Glass or acrylic paints
• Craft paintbrushes
• Self-adhesive copper or silver foil tape
• Scissors or craft knife
• Ruler
• Letter opener or blunt side of knife

Put the "art" back into the art of entertaining with glass coasters that have a retro twist. These coasters are made with square glass panes in assorted colours and textures. They can be cut to size, or made with leftover pieces from stained-glass projects.

Clean the panes thoroughly to remove smudges or grease, then wipe them dry with a lint-free cloth. Using a cutting board as your work area, measure and cut the panes. With a sanding block or pumice stone, sand around the just-cut edges to give each piece a smooth finish, and wipe with a cloth. (Specialty glass stores can also cut these pieces for you.)

Using glass or acrylic paints, you can paint some of the panes with simple geometric shapes or in freehand. Glass paints can be applied directly on the textured side of the panes. For acrylic paints, paint on the flat bottom side. Let stand to dry.

Apply the foil tape all around the edges of the panes, overlapping the ends of each strip. Using a letter opener, rub over the edges of the panes to secure the tape in place. Fold the edges of the tape over the sides of the panes and press them down flat. Again using a letter opener, with the glass pieces flat on your work area, go over the borders on each side to flatten the tape.

Variations

• You can embellish your coaster designs by using frosted or pearlized glass paints to create effects, or to add texture to plain glass panes.
• Personalize your coasters by sandwiching arrangements of pictures, pressed flowers or leaves between two pieces of glass and securing the edges with the foil tape. You can also do this project with larger pieces of glass panes and use them as planter coasters. Try gluing glass beads under the coasters for little legs.