Crafty

Crafts and I don't get along. I don't have patience and inevitably goof something up because I am in too much of a hurry or because I don't think through what I am doing. I generally finish a craft and wish I had done it differently. Sometimes though, because crafts can be a less expensive way to give a spec ail gift to that hard-to-buy for person, I try one, usually for my parents. I gave my parents these photo coasters for Mother's day, Father's day and the Fourth of July (I kept having snags and delays--like broken printers and backordered supplies).

I wanted to share them because I know some of you LOVE crafts. And it was so easy, even for me. Intially it wasn't the cheapest but now that I have the supplies, I can make more for very little. There is a product that you can buy called Lazertran Water Slide Decal paper. You have to order it online from art stores as Joanne's, Michaels and Hobby Lobby don't carry it. Then you go to your favorite version of a home improvement store, buy ceramic tiles that you love (or just cut squares of wood), felt for the bottom of the tile and a polyurethane spray. Resize your favorite photos to fit the tiles, print them on the Lazertran paper. Simply put the paper in water, wait about two minutes and the image slides off the paper. Cover your surface with rubbing alcohol and wa-la the image sticks. Let it dry overnighy. Coat with polyurethane to make the coaster waterproof. I used polyurethane paint and it left brush strokes so I'll use the spray next time.