Agate Stone Coasters

Hey party people!
I don’t know what it is, but 2014 (plus the end of 2013) is the year of the coaster for me (see an example here & here).  Maybe it’s because, when you entertain, you always need coasters? Maybe it’s because I stick to a neutral palette in my home but love to bring in fun accessories? Maybe it’s just my strange mind?
All I know is that I can’t get enough of coasters.
Last year, I made this agate stone art with pieces I got during our vacation. It makes me smile every time I pass it in our hallway. My love of that art, combined with my coaster obsession, made me covet these beauties…

These are agate stone gold-rimmed coasters from William Sonoma that will set you back $140 for a set of 4.  Breath-takingly beautiful, but my blog is called “Parties for Pennies,” so if I can figure out a way to save a little change, I do.
Thanks to a generous friend and a couple of materials I already had at home, I created my own version.

The best part? It cost me $0. My friend gave me the stones, and I already had the rest of the materials. If you need to purchase all the materials, it could be around $30 for 4 coasters (that’s a high estimate).
Speaking of, here’s what you’ll need:

1| Felt – you can find this at any craft store for about $1.
2| Gold Paint Pen
3| E6000 – This is a heavy duty adhesive. If you don’t already have this, but you do have a hot glue gun, use that instead. The E6000 is stronger but the glue gun works well too.
4| Agate Stones – Last year, I got the ones I used for my framed art at a gem store during our ski vacation. They were only $3 each! If you don’t have  a gem store near you, call up a local antique store. Kudzu antiques, in Atlanta, has a whole booth with these agate stones.

To create the beautiful gold edges, use a paint pen to cover. The biggest hurdle is that it’s a little porous. I had to take a little more time in some spots, but overall it took me about 10 minutes for all of my coasters.

Now cut a square out of your felt that is a little smaller than your stone. You could trace the entire outline of the stone. The square is just a faster option.
The reason I wanted to attach felt to the bottom is because we have a glass coffee table. I just wanted there to be some type of protection.

Add a little bit of E6000 or use a glue gun to attach the felt pad to the bottom.

Set these out the next time you entertain or give them as gifts.

Cheers!

p.s. This is YOUR official invite to the party… join in on the Parties for Pennies Facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram & Bloglovin!