It's a problem! A rookie problem (I'm so ashamed).
BUT - I have solution that's worked well for me the last couple of years: having smaller spray painting projects on the go at the same time! See, I just need to keep my hands busy. So while I was recently spray painting a fire pit Hubby welded (it's so gorgeous), I distracted myself by applying the topcoat to an Ikea hack we stained grey (details soon!) and whipping up these "dipped" birch slice coasters as well. With three projects on the go at once, I was occupied enough to allow my projects time to dry in between coats.
And, as an added bonus, we now have this adorable set of DIY birch slice coasters! Aren't they the sweetest?
In our allotment of firewood this year, most of our logs were split but we did have a few whole birch logs that I squirreled away for crafts. You could easily buy all of the supplies for these birch coasters online, though.
Supplies for Making DIY Birch Slice Coasters:
- Birch log/branch and chop saw - or purchase ready-to-go birch slices
- 220 grit sandpaper
- Painter's tape
- Spray paint (this is a great project for using up leftovers!)
- Watco Spray Lacquer (Clear)
How to Make Painted Birch Slice Coasters:
Using the chop saw, Hubs and I quickly chopped one of the birch logs into even slices. I peeled off the loosest layers of birch bark and then gave each slice a light sand with 220 grit sandpaper, just to smooth out any roughness:
Easy, peasy.
When my friend Ashley and I made her wood burned birch slice ornaments, we left all of the birch bark on, which you can do, but for coasters I just didn't want too many loose bits.
Then I taped off half of each birch slice coaster with a good painter's tape. I really had to press down on the tape with my fingernail to get it to adhere to the uneven wood surface. I propped each coaster up with a rock and gave each a blast of a different spray paint, including Rust-Oleum Ocean Mist (left over from the candle holders I painted for my bottle brush tree mantlescape), Rust-Oleum Harbor Blue (which ended up not working for my painted terracotta planters), and dribs and drabs of different silvers, gold, and copper (the latter is actually Rust-Oleum High Heat Enamel Paint in Copper...hint, hint).
To seal them - probably the only step that really needs explaining - I lightly coated each handmade birch coaster with three thin coats of my newest favorite product, Watco Spray Lacquer, which is such a great alternative to laboriously brushing on a clear coat. I'm loving how easy it is to use!
Since trying those wood burned wood slice ornaments, I'm really on the birch slice craft bandwagon. The materials are cheap and I'm two for two finding super easy projects to make with birch wood.
Best of all, while I was fiddling with these DIY wood coasters, I was occupied enough to properly let our fire pit project dry. I just need to do a little finessing (i.e. rake the goose poop) and I can share that project soon!
I love that guests can choose their own unique coaster colour!
I call dibs on the mint.
Although...I do love the contrast of the glittering metallic spray paints and the rustic birch slice:
I just have to chat about the napkin for a second. It's such a gorgeous colour, isn't it? I scooped a set of four from Value Village. There was a bright orange set with a looser weave (bought that too) and a pretty speckled yellow set with the original 1960s tags (Mom scooped that). They were all crisp, brand new, with such a strong mid-century modern vibe. This colour pairs so beautifully with turquoise and the gorgeous texture of the linen totally makes me happy - I love a good linen! I don't even mind ironing them, it's soothing to set the ironing board up facing the lake on a rainy day and iron linens.
Anyway, these days I find so few gems at the thrifts, I just wanted to share!
