DIY: MARBLE & GOLD TILE COASTERS

This idea for a DIY came to me whilst lurking in my dad's garage (it's basically like B&Q in there), and I found some spare marble tiles from my bathroom. I'd just bought some liquid gilding and had so much more than I needed to make my clay marble dishes, so now I'm gilding everything apparently. This time I used gold leaf which was a bit of a learning curve but I found you can be surprising slap dash with it. (But you could also use liquid gilding instead of the gold leaf as it is easier but gives a less shiny finish). I got my dad to drag out his tile cutter and we cut the big tile into 10cm squares. You can buy your tiles already in squares if you can find them, but this just seemed easier. If you're really struggling to find marble tiles, you can apply self adhesive marble sheets to any smooth tile instead. 

YOU WILL NEED:

SQUARE MARBLE TILES (I TOOK ONE BIG TILE AND CUT IT INTO SQUARES) - MASKING TAPE - MOD PODGE - GOLD LEAF/LIQUID GILDING - BRUSH

1. Once you're happy with the size and shape (a hexagon could look really cool if you're a wiz at using your tile cutter) then apply a piece of tape (I used washi tape because it photographs better #priorities - but plain old masking tape will do a fab job) diagonally from corner to corner on your tile. 

2. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to half of your tile with a foam brush.Make sure that you get all along the tape edge so that you get a clean line.

3. Carefully apply your gold leaf. If it tears and leaves a hole, just take another tiny piece of golf leaf and place it over the patch. You can be surprisingly rough with gold leaf. 

4. Firmly press down the gold leaf with a clean foam brush and leave the Mod Podge to dry.

5. Once the glue has set, brush off the excess gold leaf with your foam brush using circular motions.

6. Now for the best bit: peel of the tape and reveal your clean line! Apply another coat of Mod Podge, just to seal in your gold and stop it peeling or scratching off, as the point of using a coaster is that it's hard wearing.

There you have it! As always - good luck, have fun and don't forget to email/tweet me pictures if you recreate this DIY yourself!