{DIY} Wine Label Coasters & Cork Holder

First off, I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season and celebrated the new year accordingly. To start off this new year 2012, I will share with you a little diy project that will allow you to use some of your saved wine labels, as well as some of your used wine cork. This project is easy and requires no special skills, only time. You will need:

• Mod Podge (I used the Satin finish)
• Brushes (to apply Mod Podge as well as a thing paint brush)
• Square coasters (found at Michael's in the $1 dollar bins)
• Paint (I used a bronze colored water based paint)
• Hot glue gun
• Used cork (cut into rounds and halves)

Step 1: Cut your wine labels to size, so that there is a bit of room all the way around between the edge of the labels and the edge of the coasters, we will fill in with paint for added detail later. (Note: the coasters had a colored side as well as a white side. I actually made double-sided coasters, which means that they are reversible, and used 12 labels total. If you only do one side, pick the white side of the coasters)

                                            Coasters and labels, before sizing the labels

Made-to-fit coasters wine labels

Step 2: Apply Mod Podge over each label. Let dry for at least 30 minutes. Repeat the process until you have the desired thickness. I applied 5 coats.

Mod Podge covered coasters

Step 3: After you have applied enough coats, apply the paint you have selected around the edges of the labels. Again, you will probably need several coats for the proper opacity (I applied 3 coats so that the white would not show through)

I actually made reversible coasters, here is a photo of the other side of the coasters (which I liked even better than the ones above, don't you?):

To make the coaster holder:

Slice enough cork rounds to create the bottom of the holder (I used 25 rounds total) and hot glue them together as shown in photo.

Cut 2 corks on half, to obtain 4 halves, and glue them on all four sides as shown in photo.

Add you coasters, and VOILA!!!!! Happy drinking, as always ;)

***NOTE: These are not suitable for very hot drinks, it will melt the Mod Podge and leave permanent marks on your coasters. Only use with cold drinks.***