The Baller on a Budget September 24, 2020 DIY

DIY Agate Coasters: Inspired by Neiman Marcus

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It’s been a while since I last shared a DIY project, but I’ve been excited to share this particular one! If you follow my blog or Instagram you might know that I have an obsession with crystals for both spiritual practice as well as decor. Ever since I saw these beautiful agate coasters from Neiman Marcus, I knew I had to have them!

Unfortunately, like everything else from Neiman Marcus, they were priced way higher than what I wanted to pay for them. $250?! That’s literally $62.50 for a single coaster. And many other big retailers still carry them at crazy prices (like Macy’s or Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams). If there are financing options available for mere coasters, then you know they’re not worth buying.

If you buy crystals and stones a lot, you probably know that agate slices are extremely affordable, so there’s no reason to pay anywhere near that price to have a similar item. I made my own, and it was probably one of the easiest DIY projects I’ve ever done to produce something that was so unique, chic, and expensive-looking!

A note on the agate slices: while you can get them on Etsy, you’ll save a lot more money if you can get them locally. Check Yelp to see if there are any local metaphysical stores near you that carry crystals – give them a call and ask if they have agate slices in-stock or if they can order them for you (they usually can). My local store Pacific Beads in San Diego, CA carries them in-store and I got a bunch of them for about $2-$3 each.

Materials Needed:

Agate slices (many options available on Etsy)
Gold leafing paint
Peel-and-stick cork sheets (you might think you don’t need this, but it’ll prevent scratches on furniture and will allow you to pick them up easily)
Scissors
A small flat or round brush (I used a spare lip brush just like this one)

Instructions:

Prepare a clean area with newspaper to prevent paint spills.
Using a damp cloth, wipe the agate slices clean of any dirt, making sure to get into the crevices of the edges. I used rubbing alcohol to remove price sticker residue.
Flip the cork sheet over so the adhesive side faces upward. Measure and cut the cork sheet into sizes that fit the coasters – it doesn’t have to be a perfect circle nor mimic the exact silhouette of your coaster, do what you prefer! No one will look at this side of the coaster. Just make the size a little smaller than the actual coaster itself so the cork doesn’t show on the edges when you set it down.
When you’re ready, peel and stick the cork on the bottom side of the coaster.
Shake the gold leafing paint before use.
When painting the slices, dip the brush in the paint and scrape any excess paint on the edge of the pot – it is very liquidy, so a little goes a long way. Apply a thin layer.
The paint dries fast once it’s applied, so find a pace that works for you. I found that doing the 1st layer on all the coasters gave them time to dry in time for me to do the 2nd coat.
If you make any mistakes, you can use nail polish remover and a cotton swab to gently remove paint off the stone surface.

That’s really all there is to it! These coasters are incredibly easy to make, and the best part is that you’ll have plenty of leftover paint to make sets for birthday or Christmas gifts. You can use some twine to tie them up in a set for some extra-cute DIY packaging. You’re welcome in advance!

Would you make these coasters? Tell me what you think in the comments! If you love the look of these coasters but don’t have the time to DIY them, I’ve included a few affordable options you can purchase online below. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Instagram for more money-saving tips and tricks on style, beauty, lifestyle, and more!