DIY Life

Back in September of last year, I wrote a comprehensive tutorial for making marble magnets, an easy project in which images are placed under little glass bubbles in a way that really makes them come alive. In that post, I mentioned that the image pebbles could also be used in other projects, like concrete mosaics.

Kathy Cano-Murillo, one of my favorite craft gurus, recently posted the kind of mosaic project I was talking about: Concrete Coasters. The process for making them is similar to making a mosaic tabletop or paving stone, on a smaller scale.

After creating the image marbles, you mix concrete and pour it into coaster molds, then embed the marbles in the molded material and allow it to dry for at least a day. After removing the concrete coaster from its mold, you varnish it to seal it, and add felt padding to the bottom; if you like, you can further decorate the coasters until you end up with something like Kathy's results.

The one thing I would do differently than Kathy? I don't think white glue (also called PVA glue) is the best thing for gluing images to marbles; glass isn't porous, and that kind of glue is most appropriate for porous materials. I recommend using E-6000 glue instead. However, the fact that you're sealing the marbles in concrete probably makes it a moot point.

[via Craft.]

Is your refrigerator boring? Marble magnets are one of those fun, simple craft projects that have become very popular in the last few years. They've shown up on plenty of craft communities, shows, and books, sometimes with a theme. Once you learn how to make them, you can churn out a nearly endless variety, and you can also find other ways to use the pictorial marbles. But there are a few potential pitfalls in the process, so it helps to have someone show you how.

First of all, what are they? Flat glass marbles, sometimes called half-marbles or cabochons or glass pebbles, have long been sold to line plant pots and fish tanks. At some point, someone noticed that the marble acts like a lens if you place it over a picture or printed design. Eventually, people started gluing these pictorial marbles to things, particularly magnets, and an endless craft trend was born.

They're a great project because they're easy and inexpensive, but also relatively unique. They make good gifts: you can tailor them to the recipients' tastes, and they cost very little to make, so for $10 a teenager can cover presents for a whole group of friends.

To learn how to make pictorial marbles for magnets and other projects, join us after the break!

Gallery: Marble magnet tutorial