Fresh Christmas trees don’t last forever, but the wood slices from their bases can. The circles cut from the bottom of a tree to allow living cells to access water or shorten the tree just a smidgen, produce a wonderful fragrance and often feature a handsome ring pattern. Sentiment alone could cause one to want to save a piece of a Christmas tree. But even without the scenes of Christmas in mind, these tree slivers have a value of their own and can be made into something beautiful and functional. DIYers have been captivated by their beauty, and slices are available at craft stores all year.
Turning these slices into a coaster is practical and easy. The design can be Christmas themed or not. A beautiful flower, a woodland scene or an abstract work of art would enhance this unique coaster. The finishing material gives the coaster a shiny luster and protects it from dribbles. It can be reapplied years down the road to keep the coaster looking its best.
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Materials
- Print of image three-fourths the size of the slice
- Unvarnished slice from a tree base or branch
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Paper towels
- Waterbase sealer, glue and finisher (such as Mod Podge)
- 2-inch flat, soft (Taklon) brush
- Clean two-sided sponge
- Print of image three-fourths the size of the slice
- Unvarnished slice from a tree base or branch
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Paper towels
- Waterbase sealer, glue and finisher (such as Mod Podge)
- 2-inch flat, soft (Taklon) brush
- Clean two-sided sponge
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Instructions
1. Choose a wood slice with a smooth surface and place it flat on the work surface.
1. Choose a wood slice with a smooth surface and place it flat on the work surface.
2. Center the wood slice over the image, and trace around the edges with the pencil.
3. Roughly cut out the print of the desired image with a circle of paper around it.
4. Cut carefully along the pencil marks.
5. Put the image on a paper towel and paint a full layer of Mod Podge onto it.
6. Place the design right-side down on the slice.
7. Smooth the design carefully with the sponge, with finger motions moving out from the middle to avoid creasing. Let dry.
8. Rub the entire design carefully with the sponge.
9. Paint another coat of Mod Podge over the entire image.
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10. Wipe off excess Mod Podge from the surface and edges of the slice. Let dry.