Moonbeams & Fireflies: Night Owl--Crafting Down to the Wire

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Night Owl--Crafting Down to the Wire

A while back, I picked up this cute vintage owl coaster holder at an estate sale for a song with the intent of giving it to my daughter, the owl nut. It bears a label on the back, "Made in Japan." I'd guess from its style and the Japanese origins that it's from the '60s or '70s.

The coasters were the simple cork discs, probably not the original ones that accompanied the owl because they were imprinted with a promotional message. So, of course, I wanted to spruce them up.

Good thing these are easy to do, as I waited until the last minute to begin this Santa gift project. I chose six different patterns of card stock to cover the coasters. First, I traced around a coaster and cut out the circles just inside the tracing lines to ensure the circles wouldn't be larger than the cork discs.

Then, I applied a coat of Mod Podge to each coaster--over the promotional imprint. I attached each of the circles, burnishing with a folding bone to eliminate any air bubbles. After letting them sit for 10 to 15 minutes, I applied the first of three coats of Mod Podge matte finish sealer to the paper coverings.

After wavering on whether I should paint the owl or leave him as is, I decided to leave him in his natural state. I liked the simplicity of the plain wood and the way the eyes stand out against the darker color, so I just cleaned him up.

These are so easy to make, you could create them for any occasion that calls for a small gift. You can purchase the pre-cut cork discs at almost any craft store and can cover them with the paper of your choice. Use your imagination to come up with a stand or holder for your coasters: a vintage tin, a glass bowl or box, a small metal tray.

Quick, fun and easy.

Make it a great day!