Kid Art Coasters

Turn whimsical kid art into one-of-a-kind coasters!

Materials

1 ceramic tile, 4″ diameter
1 child’s drawing, 3″x3″
1 Lazertran waterslide decal transfer sheet (for laser color copier/printers), 8.5″x11″
Paper cutter
Casserole dish, 9″x12″
Squeegee
Paper towels
Oven mitts

Step 1

To create the art for the coaster, have your child’s drawing photocopied onto the Lazertran sheet using one of the Lazertran-approved printer/copiers listed on the package. (If your child’s art includes a written word or name, have it photocopied in reverse.) Use the paper cutter to cut the decal so it is slightly smaller than the tile.

Step 2

Skip the package instruction to pre-bake the Lazertran sheet. Instead, remove the Lazertran decal from the backing paper by soaking it in a casserole dish filled with water. Slide the backing off, being careful not to tear the decal.

Step 3

Carefully apply the Lazertran decal to the tile with the toner-side touching the plate. Squeegee out all the air bubbles and water from under the decal. (Use a paper towel to keep the water from seeping back under the decal.) Sprinkle more water on top of the decal to keep the squeegee moving. Smooth out any wrinkles. Finally, clean the decal and the edges of tile with a damp cloth so no slimy adhesive residue remains.

Step 4

To fuse the image to the surface, heat the tile decal-side-up in the oven at 200 degrees for 15 minutes, then increase the temperature to 250 degrees for 15 minutes. Finally, raise the temperature to 300 degrees and watch the decal closely. If a few bubbles appear on the surface, continue baking until they disappear. Remove the tile when the image “melts” and the finish has a hard, glazed appearance. Let the tile cool and wash it with warm soapy water.