Beer mats and coasters have a practical use and are also popular with collectors. Designed to protect surfaces from wet rings left by glasses and bottles, coasters and mats are made with a wide range of materials from paper to glass. While coasters and mats are not exclusive to beer drinkers, what sets them apart are the designs, phrases and logos that refer to breweries and beer brands. Make your own beer coasters and mats to use or display.

1

Basic coasters

Choose from a recycled plastic place mat, a sheet of cork or an absorbent oil-resistant paper sheet. Find cork at craft or DIY shops. Buy absorbent paper from car parts suppliers.

Make a paper template for round or square coasters. Trace a piece of paper from a 10 cm (4 inch) square notepad or a circle from a kitchen bowl or mug. Cut out the paper templates.

  • Choose from a recycled plastic place mat, a sheet of cork or an absorbent oil-resistant paper sheet.
  • Make a paper template for round or square coasters.

Trace the circle or square template on to your chosen material for coasters or mats. Cut the shapes out. Make as many coaster shapes as you wish to decorate and use or display.

Remove the label from a beer bottle, being careful not to tear the label. Cut the label to fit over all or part of the coaster shapes. Cut logos or beer bottle pictures from paper napkins to fit on coasters, if you wish to use those instead of beer labels.

Glue the beer pictures on to the plastic place mat, cork or paper coasters. Let the glue dry. Dilute some glue with water. Brush the diluted glue over the beer pictures to keep them from sticking to a wet beer bottle or glass bottom.

2

CD case mats

Remove the lining from a clear plastic CD case. Glue two squares of stiff sponge to the inside bottom of the CD case to reinforce the case so it will hold a heavy bottle or glass of beer.

Cut a beer label to fit inside the CD case. Cut a beer logo from a napkin or paper coaster to fit as desired inside the CD case if you use one of these in place of a beer label.

  • Remove the lining from a clear plastic CD case.
  • Cut a beer label to fit inside the CD case.

Spread glue around the edges of the logo or picture you wish to put inside the CD case. Press the picture against the inside of the case on the side that will serve as the top of the coaster. Be sure the picture faces outward and is visible from the top outside of the CD case.

Glue bottlecaps against the inside top of the CD case coaster instead of a paper label or logo, if desired. Fill the CD lid with bottlecaps, or create a design with fewer caps.

Place glue along the inside of the case at the side edges. Close the CD case to use as a coaster.