How to Make Scrabble Tile Coasters

The last thing anyone wants to see are water marks on tables left by cold beverages. By using drink coasters, you can encourage your guests to place their drink container on the coaster instead. And these drink coasters made from scrabble tiles are a unique way to celebrate both your love of the ever-popular board game and save your furniture too.

Edit Steps

Edit Preparing the Words

1. Brainstorm on your four letter words. Consider making the words into a theme, especially if these coasters are intended for gifts. Some theme ideas could include:
   • Food (such as bake, dish, fish, etc.)
   • Automotive (such as Ford, Audi, fuel, etc.)
   • Computers (such as tech, disk, hack, etc.)
   • Non-physical words (such as love, care, dear, etc.).
2. Calculate the letter amounts in Scrabble. In a standard board game, there are 100 letter tiles.
   • 1 tile of each: J, K, Q, X, and Z
   • 2 tiles of each: Blank, B, C, F, H, M, P, V, W, and Y
   • 3 tiles of each: G
   • 4 tiles of each: D, L, S, U
   • 6 tiles of each: N, R, and T
   • 8 tiles of each: O
   • 9 tiles of each: A and I
   • 12 tiles of each: E
3. Collect the letters. Research on websites, such as eBay, Craigslist, and the like, so that you can easily find collections of letters instead of relying on using an actual game set.

Edit Gluing the Words

1. Assemble the four words together. Put each word under one another until a square is formed.
2. Glue the letters together. Allow a few seconds for each letter to dry before applying a new letter on.
   • Start with the first letter of the first word.
   • Apply a thin layer of super glue on the right edge of it.
   • Add the second letter of the first word on it.
3. Repeat for the rest of the letters.

Edit Gluing the Cork Board

1. Measure your cork board. Use the glued letter square as your “size pattern” by laying it on top of the cork.
2. Cut the cork board out. Use an X-Acto knife to “draw” a square around the border of the square letters and then finalize a cut-out.
3. Glue the cork to the letters. Connect the letter board and cork by using a glue gun.
4. Allow the coaster to dry for an hour. You can place a heavy object on top of the letters to ensure the two items are secured together.

Edit Finishing the Coaster

1. Apply a finisher to the coaster. Use Mod Podge or another similar product that protects the letters from water or any moisture.
   • Spray products are recommended over paint-appliers because there are no streaks shown when it dries.
2. Allow the coasters to dry. Leave the coasters untouched for about a day for the sealer to completely dry. The last thing you want are fingerprints on it.
3. If wished, present the coasters as gifts. Stack about four of the coasters on top of each other and wrap them with ribbon.
4. Finished. The coasters are now ready for use or for giving as gifts.

Edit Tips

• You can also insert “blank” board letters for pure decoration or to create a word that has less than four letters.
• Instead of each word being read from left to right, consider constructing the coasters so that the words read from top to bottom.

Edit Things You’ll Need

• Scrabble letters (16 for each coaster made)
• X-Acto knife
• Super glue
• Thin cork board
• Hot glue gun
• Mod Podge (or a clear glue sealer)

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Make Coasters from Tea Biscuits
• How to Turn a CD Into a Coaster
• How to Make Quilted Coasters

Edit Sources and Citations

• Adapted from Domestic for Dummies, http://domesticfordummies.com/2011/11/fall-pinterest-project-diy-coasters.html , Scrabble Coasters

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How to Make Scrabble Tile Coasters