As previously mentioned, I am saying farewell to a few very good friends this month. As sad as it is for me to say goodbye, I am truly excited for the new chapters in their lives. As I strive to be the eternal optimist, I am remaining focused on all the positive aspects of these life changes. 

Speaking of…since Laura will be moving to Los Angeles and Amanda will be moving to sunny Florida, I now have two new vacation destinations! Hooray! 

Also, saying farewell means one thing: Going Away Parties! With summer in full swing, we’re having a few pool parties to wish these lovely ladies the best of luck in their new endeavors. And, I’m a busy bee working on some gifts for them. 

As I reflect on the amazing memories of time spent with my friends, two things were always constant: food and drink. Without a doubt, some of our best times have been on the patio of our favorite Cuban restaurant; feasting on fish tacos and sipping sangria…or crowded into our own kitchens; cooking dinner and enjoying a nice bottle of wine. 

So, I thought I would make them each a functional gift that they could use in their new homes and that would remind them of the wonderful times we enjoyed while they called Atlanta “home”. 

I went to a local flooring supply warehouse and bought some granite tiles. Then I picked up some Atlanta tourist maps, grabbed my trusted bottle of Mod Podge and went to work!

The end result: A set of decoupage coasters decorated with our favorite Atlanta neighborhoods.

Here’s how I did it.

my supplies

tear map to fit tiles - rough edges look best

cover tile with a good coat of Mod Podge

place map on tile and coat with Mod Podge

apply a coat of waterproof varnish

affix felt pads (to protect surfaces from rough tiles)

finished coasters

cheers!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 11:10 pm and is filed under art projects. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.