Mini Pallet Coasters

Okay, these things are ridiculously cute. Super easy to make and did I mention ahh-dorable? I mean who doesn't want little pallets as a coaster? The answer no one. Everyone will love these.

First things, first. Materials you will need to make the Pallet Coasters:

• popsicle sticks (14 per coaster)
• hot glue gun
• wood stain/paint (optional) 
• upper body strength to cut the popsicle sticks

Now, this is a multi hour/day process. Mainly because of the wood staining and painting. If you choose not to stain the coasters, it is a simple, hour process to make a set. Mine, however, are the semi-lengthly staining included process. I think the stained wood makes them look more realistic and less like, well, popsicle sticks. 

So, here you go. 

Pallet Coasters

First, you need to cut the popsicle sticks. Basically, the gist is to cut off the rounded part so they are square. This is a difficult and painful task. My thumbs still hurt from using the scissors to force the sticks into pallet shapes. I'm pretty sure they will be bruised. But totally worth it. 

After the painful cutting process.

After all your popsicle sticks are now pallet shaped, you need warm up your hot glue gun. **Warning: Hot glue guns are actually quite hot. You think someone in my age range would know this, but no. Even though I knew this, there is now skin missing from my fingers because I absentmindedly touched the hot glue. I guess I am not the sharpest set of scissors in the craft box. If you think I would learn after burning myself once, you would be wrong. I did not learn. 

Next, you must make the frame of the pallet. Take two popsicle sticks and place them flat on the table. Then glue the sides to the bottom sticks, like below on the left. This will be the base to your pallet.  

The top comes next. Glue each popsicle stick in a row down the base, like above on the right. 

After your top section is complete, I added a third stick as a brace on the bottom. I figured that if I used the coasters for something heavy or if I drunkenly slammed a drink down, it wouldn't break. Thinking ahead, genius, I know. 

After they are all put together, they will look like this.

Mini pallets, seriously adorable. 

Painting/staining comes next. I made a turquoise set for my friend Anders, a stained set for my friend Matt (I am debating whether or not he gets his, he was rude to me today,) and another stained set for myself. Anders' are obviously painted. The others are stained.

Painted Version: 

I used basic acrylic craft paint, one coat worked just fine. I let them dry for around 25 minutes.

Patio/Beach house ready!

And tada! Lovely painted pallet coasters, perfect for containing the condensation from your fruity drink at your beach house.

Stained Version: 

I only have a few things to say regarding staining. One, wood stain smells. Two, it doesn't stain your hands, but the smell remains until you have washed them a good fifty times. Ew, I know.

I used Minwax Wood Finish in an Early American 230A. Sounds like a professional choice right? I mainly chose this because it is what my dad had lying around his garage. I recommend using the spray version. It went on cleaner and way easier. Unfortunately, I ran out of the spray after doing the back of the coasters, so I moved to the paint on stain. Thus, the hands smelling of wood stain.

When you're staining, you need minimal amount of stain for each pallet. With stain, more is definitely less. The more you put on, the longer it takes to dry. 

The coasters turned out so great. I think they will be perfect on a deck or at a beach house (as my friend Sarah said.) I love mine. I am hoping that Anders and Matt love theirs too. Maybe I'll make more, if the feeling ever comes back into my thumbs. 

Go get your drink on and enjoy your new adorable pallet coasters. 

*Special thanks goes to my friend Sarah, mainly because she moved popsicle sticks from one paper towel to another as they dried and ate my pizza as I put them together. But I love her anyways. 

**No popsicles were harmed in the making of this blog, only thumbs. Seriously, my thumb still hurts. This is not okay.

Long Distance Friendship Mugs

621 miles. 10 hours and 13 minutes. That is what now separates me and my best friend. 

I live in Michigan. She lives in Maryland. Separated by miles, not by heart. I know... super presh. But okay, enough with the super mushy and on to the good stuff. 

As I was scanning the internet for any sign of coolness, I found this awesome mug craft on Pinterest. The website explaining how to make them was difficult to follow. So I basically used my creative talents to, well, wing it. I think they turned out pretty swell.

Without further a due, my tutorial on how to make Long Distance Friendship Mugs. 

How-to: Long Distance Friendship Mugs 

First things first, ask yourself....do I have a friend who lives in a different state who loves drinking beverages out of a mug? If you answered yes, continue on reading. This is the blog for you. 

The first thing I did was print off a outline of Maryland and Michigan. I figured the easiest way to get probably the most difficult two states to draw, ever, onto the mugs was to trace them. My freehand artistic skills are lacking. If I tried to freehand these two states, one would look like a mitten (I can draw a mean MI) and a mutated blob (MD: 1 Me: 0). So tracing it is. 

Cutting out the states is very important and will probably take you longer than any other part of this craft. Make sure that you get all the edges just right because this is what you will be tracing onto your mug. 

Darn Maryland and its many edges. 

I probably should address what you need to make this mug. Probably a necessary step.

You will need the following items to complete this craft:

• mugs
• permanent markers
• outlines of desired states
• oven
• patience 

Okay, now the hard part. Taping the states to the mugs. In retrospect, I recommend double sided tape. I didn't think this task through. I rolled pieces of tape and used scissors to cut down the rolled tape to secure every peninsula down. Maryland was ridiculous, tape everywhere. 

After you are 100% sure every angle of your states are taped down, start tracing. I warn you, be careful. Although you can remove the permanent marker, it is difficult. It requires a steady hand and spit. Mistakes can be fixed. Don't worry. Be careful, but don't worry too much. 

**MOST IMPORTANT PART**

Do not remove the outlines until the marker is dry. I waited 5 minutes. You don't want to smudge the marker. I carefully removed the paper and tape after it was dry. Any mistakes can now be seen. I spit fixed any too thick edges and made sure everything was even looking.

I went around the states again to darken the lines. This isn't necessary, but I think it helped a lot. 

Pretty spiffy, right?!

Now is the fun part. Pick whatever color you want and make your hearts on the cities in which you and your bestie live. You can add whatever you want inside the mug. I picked Miss You. Mainly because it is relevant and so easy to write. Again, I retraced it a couple times. I recommend using a dark color for this. For some reason the pink faded after I baked it. 

Bake the mugs at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Baking seals in the marker, allowing you to wash and reuse them over and over again. 

TADA! They will be hot for around a hour after you remove them from the oven. (Possibly a duh! comment, but you never know.)  Send your state to your best friend and keep their state. As you drink your beverage of choice out of your mug, you can think of your best friend; the great times you've had or the $5 they might owe you. Best friends rule, regardless. 

I miss my best friend dearly. She is basically my twin in all ways that matter. We both love old things, our kitchens are pastel (antique feel, of course) and she can solve my life problems with a simple phone call. She has been extremely helpful with making major life decisions so far, so I guess I'll keep her around. She just moved to Maryland with her boyfriend and I wish them all the luck in the world. But, a warning, if he hurts her, I will end him. Gotta look out for my best friend. 

Patti, I miss you dearly. I hope you love the mug. Every time I drink out of my Maryland mug, I will think of you and all the crazy times we have had together. Chances are, you'll hear be hearing from me later that day. 

Remember, this is not goodbye. It's see ya.