Things I covet: Map coasters

I’ve never really been a coaster user in the past. I think this is due to a combination of laziness and having only ever had cheap furniture around — the kind that wouldn’t have balked at the presence of a sweaty glass on its surface. But having recently purchased some new tables (of the coffee and dining varieties), I am now trying to be good and remember to use coasters. So when I stumbled across this idea from crafting giant Martha Stewart, I raised one or more eyebrows in its direction. It’s map coasters!

As it stands, the coasters we currently have are totally boring.  Just circles cut out of cork board. I think they could use a facelift, stat. But now it’s got me thinking… any kind of paper would do for this.  Do you have any ideas about something that would be good for a coaster topper?  Newsprint? Old book pages or illustrations?  Anatomy diagrams?

Tutorial: Wooden EAT sign, Mod Podge style

I’ve been poking at this project for the last few days and it’s finally done!  This EAT sign was made for our dining room corner (it’s not its own room). As I posted about back when I was on a Mod Podge project admiring spree, I was inspired by Jen over at Frame Fanatic’s version.

I picked up these wooden letters from my local dollar store, and they were a bit more detailed than Jen’s. I decided to paint the edges (and backs) red and to apply some decorative scrapbook paper to the top-most plane. And that’s just what I did!  Read how I made this puppy after the jump!