DIY Painted Watermelon Craft Coasters

Today (August 3) is National Watermelon Day! Since the fruit trend is still going on strong, I decided to make a functional watermelon craft project for those end-of-summer parties. Made with cork coasters and acrylic paint, this DIY can be made in an afternoon.

WATERMELON CRAFT COASTER SUPPLIES:

• Darice Cork Disks
• Darice Flat Brush
• Darice Sponge Brush
• Acrylic Paint (Red, Bright Green, Dark Green, Black)
• Sharpie Marker (Optional)

Step one. Using the sponge brush, paint a cork disk with red paint. Let dry.

Step two. Using the flat brush, paint short green stripes around the border of the cork disk.

Tip: Make sure the red paint is completely dry before adding the green stripes. Otherwise, the colors will blend together.

Step three. Fill in the spaces with the second green shade.

Step four. Rinse your brush. Paint black seeds in the red space by creating short, randomly placed dashes.

You can also use a black Sharpie marker to draw on your seeds. Personally, I’m loving the artsy, uneven look of painted seeds.

Step five. Repeat with the remaining cork disks.

Once dry, your set of new watermelon craft coasters are ready to protect your table top with style. Try to avoid using these with printed glasses or mugs; the patterns may clash with the watermelon design.

The best part about these watermelon craft coasters is that you don’t have to add a lining underneath them. Since they’re made of cork, they are good to go the moment the paint dries.

Weren’t these watermelon craft coasters easy? You can also make matching place mats or potholders using Darice’s cork sheets. Simply cut the the cork to your preferred shape and size. Here’s a tip: hold the cork over steam for a few minutes. This will soften up the cork and prevent it from crumbling when you cut it. Don’t forget to use metal tongs to hold the cork, though.

Happy National Watermelon Day!

About Kirsten Nunez

Kirsten is a lifestyle writer and craft book author focusing on DIY, food, health, and creativity. Since 2010, she has been sharing DIY projects at WildAmor.com (formerly Studs & Pearls). In May 2014, Kirsten published her first book, Studs & Pearls: 30 Creative Projects for Customized Fashion; you can find it at Barnes & Noble, Amazon & select independent bookstores. She spends most of her time writing, crafting, traveling, and dreaming up new recipe ideas. Kirsten is a born and raised New Yorker currently living in the Bay Area of California.

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