Sea Tow Foundation's DIY Craft Time: Nautical Coasters

Everyone knows that the best boating memories are the ones made out on the water. However, being out on the water isn’t always possible because of the weather, work and school schedules, or millions of other things going on in our lives.

With that in mind, the Sea Tow Foundation has created a monthly nautical craft to help bring those boating memories home. These crafts are easy for anyone to make and require limited tools and materials. In fact, all of the tools and materials are available at online retailers, or at a local craft store if you don’t already have the items lying around your house. Younger children may need the help of an adult for some portions of the craft project, but they can help with most of the personalization of the crafts. And many of these crafts make great homemade gifts!

In this month’s craft project, enjoy your hot or cold beverages at home while remembering the fun you had on the boat!

Materials to Make Nautical Coasters:

• Felt paper
• Sisal rope
• Hot glue
• Nautical stamps
• White stamp pad or white paint
• Black construction paper
• Drinking glass
• Marker
• Scissors

Directions for How to Make Nautical Coasters:

1. Use the drinking glass to trace circles onto the felt paper with the makers and then cut the circles out. The felt will protect your tables from being scratched with the rope coasters and also serve as a guide to the size of the coasters in the next step.
   
   
   
   
2. Take the sisal rope and begin twisting it into a swirling circle using hot glue to secure each new curve.
   Safety Note: An adult should assist with the hot glue to avoid burning fingers.
   
   
   
   
3. When the circle is slightly bigger than the felt circles, cut the sisal rope and secure the lose end to the circle with the hot glue. Allow the glue to dry completely while working on the next step.
   
   
   
   
4. Stamp the nautical stamps onto the black construction paper. As the stamp pad ink is white, it will show up against the dark paper. You can also coat the stamp with white paint and stamp directly onto the sisal rope, if desired.
   
   
   
   
5. Cut the stamped images out of the construction paper and glue these to the tops of the coasters. If you mess up, you can turn the coaster over and glue it to the other side.
   
   
   
   
6. When finished, glue the felt pieces to the back of each coaster using the hot glue. This also hides any mistakes.
   
   
   

Congratulations on making your own Nautical Coasters! Share your creations with us on Facebook and Instagram by tagging @SeaTowFoundation and using the #DIYNauticalCraftTime

If you found this article helpful or entertaining, please consider a donation to the Sea Tow Foundation today to help us continue our efforts to educate boaters and keep them safe on the water. You can donate securely online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or by clicking on the DONATE tab at the top of the page.