I love doing art projects, especially with my kids.  We made these DIY alcohol ink coasters a few weekends ago and it was so much fun.  We got to light things on fire (and who doesn’t love that??) and got a very cool end product as a result. I made the inks using my homemade alcohol ink recipe.

The best thing about these DIY coasters is the possibilities for looks are endless.  You can make them for your living room, your man cave or your office.  They are also a great gift idea. Regardless of why you’re making them, the final result is a very cool DIY coaster.

This post will guide you through the steps you need to take to get the best results with DIY alcohol ink coasters.  I will also give you some suggestions for the best supplies and tips and tricks I use.

What You Need

• Alcohol Inks (if you don’t want to make your own, I HIGHLY recommend these or these)
• Ceramic tiles (you can also buy these at Home Depot, Lowes or some craft stores, but be prepared to PAY for them)
• Long lighter (not a short one, trust me)
• Mod podge or resin
• Spray bottle filled with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol 
• Cookie sheet (optional, for potential messes)
• Somewhere safe with nothing around you can accidentally light on fire

All of the above are affiliate links based on my experience.  I don’t recommend products I don’t use and love myself. People that do are just gross.

I was initially worried that myself or one of the kids was going to accidentally set the garage on fire.  A legitimate concern, considering the fact that we are all messy, clumsy and accident-prone. Luckily, we made it through the entire craft session with no major calamities.  We didn’t even get ink on the garage floor.  I would NOT recommend doing this in your house.  You need a work surface that isn’t flammable (like a good concrete floor).

Steps for DIY Alcohol ink coasters

I recommend you do one tile at a time, that way the alcohol doesn’t dry too fast.  

1. Spray your coaster blanks liberally with isopropyl alcohol.  I don’t just mean a few sprays.  I say liberally for a reason.  The entire tile need to be fairly saturated.

2. Now add drops of alcohol ink onto the tiles. Don’t worry about getting them into a specific pattern because it will change. Your final product will probably look nothing like what you initially plan on.  The ink may drip over the sides of the coasters. I DO NOT recommend plastic bags or cardboard to try and keep your work area clean.  Those catch fire pretty easily, if you didn’t know. A cookie sheet works well to catch the mess.

3. When you have the colors dripped the way you want, spray them with alcohol again. This is going to cause the colors to run a bit and that’s what makes them unique, so don’t sweat it.  You’re also probably going to think you have too much alcohol on them. You don’t. They won’t catch on fire if there isn’t enough alcohol.

4. Light the ceramic coasters on fire. It will burn until all the alcohol is dry. All surfaces with alcohol on them will also catch fire, but it won’t burn anything. Just be careful.

5. When it’s done, let it cool. Then cover it with mod podge or a resin top coat to help protect it. Resin is the best sealant if you are going to use your coasters as actual coasters and not just decorations, but waterproof mod podge works as an ok second choice.  Wait about 6 hours before you put the resin or mod podge on top.

• That’s it, you’re done.  Now you have a very cool set of coasters (or just two or however many) that are sure to be a conversation starter.

If you need more fun projects, check out my Pinterest or check here.

Frequently Asked Questions

My coasters won’t catch on fire.  What am I doing wrong?

You probably don’t have enough rubbing alcohol on it.  You want the entire surface WET, not just sprayed lightly.  You want it so saturated that it’s running down the edges of the coasters and pooling around them and you’re worried you’re going to accidentally set the whole house of fire.  You can use a cookie sheet if you’re really concerned about the mess.

You also can’t use a heat gun or a hair dryer.  At least I haven’t been able to.  I can only use a lighter. A long one, because short ones = burnt fingers.

I only have a small lighter.  Why can’t I use that?

Because you’ll burn your thumb. Ask me how I know. You want the ones with the long end.

Can I use metallic inks?

I don’t know because I haven’t tried.  If you do, please let me know. Now I am curious.

Do I need protective equipment?

I mean, I don’t use that stuff ever (even as a nurse. JK. Maybe.). You don’t need anything crazy like a respirator mask.  Just work in a well-ventilated space.  You may want to use nitrile gloves (or rubber gloves if that’s all you have) when dripping the inks.  That stuff is messy.

How much resin should I use to seal my coasters?

That depends entirely on the size of your alcohol ink coasters.  For normal 4×4 coasters, I would use about 3 ml of resin.

Does it matter what type of tiles I use?

YES!!  You want glossy tiles.  Non-porous surfaces absorb the ink and the finished look isn’t nearly as cool.

Continue to Content

Alcohol Ink Coasters

No Ratings

Print

Materials

• Alcohol Inks
• Long lighter
• Mod podge or resin
• Spray bottle filled with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol 
• Cookie sheet

Instructions

1. Spray your coaster blanks liberally with isopropyl alcohol.  I don't just mean a few sprays.  I say liberally for a reason.  The entire tile need to be fairly saturated.

2. Now add drops of alcohol ink onto the tiles. Don't worry about getting them into a specific pattern because it will change. Your final product will probably look nothing like what you initially plan on.  The ink may drip over the sides of the coasters. I DO NOT recommend plastic bags or cardboard to try and keep your work area clean.  Those catch fire pretty easily, if you didn't know. A cookie sheet works well to catch the mess.

3. When you have the colors dripped the way you want, spray them with alcohol again. This is going to cause the colors to run a bit and that's what makes them unique, so don't sweat it.  You're also probably going to think you have too much alcohol on them. You don't. They won't catch on fire if there isn't enough alcohol.

4. Light the ceramic coasters on fire. It will burn until all the alcohol is dry. All surfaces with alcohol on them will also catch fire, but it won't burn anything. Just be careful.

5. When it's done, let it cool. Then cover it with mod podge or a resin top coat to help protect it. Resin is the best sealant if you are going to use your coasters as actual coasters and not just decorations, but waterproof mod podge works as an ok second choice.  Wait about 6 hours before you put the resin or mod podge on top.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram