When you have guests over, the last thing that you want to worry about is where your guests will place their glasses or cups so they do not leave a stain. Instead of stressing over a tabletop’s finish, having a trivet or two on hand is a good way to keep drinks accessible and water rings away.
Intricate metal trivets can be found at nearly every home good store, but often come with a price tag that is far too high. Keep money in the bank by combining a square of wood and some decorative cowrie shells for a unique DIY trivet that shows off some personal oceanside style. This lightweight trivet is easy to move around wherever it’s needed and is just the right size to hold everything from a cup to a teapot. Place it on a dining room table or end table as the perfect barrier between moisture and sleek surfaces.
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Materials
-Wood square, 5.75” x 5.75”
-Pencil
-Ruler
-Painter’s tape
-Large wood block
-Table clamp (2)
-Cordless power drill
-Cowrie seashells (24)
-Needle and thread
-Scissors
-Elmer’s glue
-Pencil
-Ruler
-Painter’s tape
-Large wood block
-Table clamp (2)
-Cordless power drill
-Cowrie seashells (24)
-Needle and thread
-Scissors
-Elmer’s glue
DIY Everywhere
Instructions
1. Draw a pencil dot in each of the four corners of a square of wood that measures 5.75” by 5.75” on a flat working surface.
2. Position a ruler beneath the bottom edge of the wood square and mark five even points along the wood in pencil between the two corner points.
3. Repeat measuring and marking five evenly-spaced points along the remaining three sides of the wood square for a total of 24-pencil dots.
4. Flip the wood square over so the pencil marks are facing down and stick painter’s tape along all four edges making sure the tape meets at each corner.
5. Place a large wood block at the corner of the table and position the wood square on top. Make sure the pencil marks are facing up and one edge of the square is in line with the edge of the wood block.
6. Secure the block and wood square in place with two table clamps.
7. Drill through each of the pencil marks with a cordless power drill. The painter’s tape behind the wood will keep it from splitting. Release the wood square and remove the tape from the back when all the holes have been drilled.
8. Thread a needle with white thread then thread it through the opening of a single cowrie seashell.
9. Thread the needle through one of the drilled holes in the wood square.
10. Double-loop the needle through both the shell and the hole before tying a knot with the thread at the back of the wood square. Cut away any excess thread as needed.
11. Thread and knot a single seashell into place at each of the remaining holes in the wood square making sure the shells are facing the same direction for a more uniform final look and the knots are all positioned on the same side of the wood.
12. Flip the wood square over once all of the shells are attached and place a spot of Elmer’s glue on each knot to secure it.
13. Turn the finished trivet right side up and place it on a dinner table or end table to hold hot beverages, teapots and more.
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