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The Dream is Free, The Hustle Sold Separately

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DIY Cactus Coasters

October 11, 2017 by Bethany Sy

I usually avoid trendy things like the plague. I just don’t want my house to look like every other house on the block… which ironically, we live out in the country and literally don’t have any neighbors, so I’m in the clear, right?! But sometimes, WE LIKE WHAT WE LIKE… right? And I liked cacti long before they were trendy. Like, I have an actual cactus in my house that I nurture and keep alive. (so far so good at least)

So when I saw this one day whilst strolling pinterest for gift ideas for ‘that person that has everything’, I just knew that I HAD to make cactus coasters ASAP.

I mean… it’s a cactus, MADE OF COASTERS.

DIY Cactus Coasters made out of wooden disks! {Reality Daydream}*This post is sponsored by Mohawk. Thank you for supporting the fabulous brands that make Reality Daydream possible! This post contains affiliate links.*

How stinkin fun, right? YOU wanna learn how to make this too, am I wrong? Well I’ma teach you.

Supplies for DIY Cactus Coasters

  • Slab of wood (we used pine) planed to 3/8”
  • Terra Cotta pot with approx 4.25” opening (this one)
  • Plaster of Paris
  • Round lid the size you want for your coaster for tracing
  • Teeny White Pebbles
  • Behlen Solar Lux Stain
  • Mohawk Ultra Mark Stain Pen – White Melamine
  • Sandpaper (220 grit)
  • Scroll saw or Jigsaw (this is the scroll saw we use, but this one is also good and more affordable)

I used a wide-mouth Mason jar lid to trace the circles onto my piece of pine. I didn’t worry about avoiding the knots in the wood, because I love the character and ‘homemade’ quality they add.

Make these cute wooden coasters to look like a CACTUS! {Reality Daydream}

I cut out each circle with my Scroll Saw, but you could use a jigsaw too if that’s what you have.

Cactus Coasters {Reality Daydream}

Sand off those rough edges with 220 grit, and smooth off the surfaces so each circle is ready for stain!

Sand the circles to make these cactus coasters! {Reality Daydream} #diy

Or make your kid do it.

Sanding circles for DIY Cactus Coasters {Reality Daydream}

We’re going to take just one of the circles and cut a notch in it that’s the same width as the thickness of your discs (3/8” in our case) with the scroll saw. You can see better how I get this dimension by watching the video above.

Making cactus coasters {Reality Daydream}

Stain this circle that has the notch with Dark Green Behlen Solar Lux Stain using a cloth, and use a tiny craft paint brush to get in the notch. Then after that dries, add curved lines that connect at the notch using the white stain pen, and and little dots along each line to look like a cactus! The reason we’re only doing the first one for now is because we don’t know where we want our notches yet for the future coasters.

Behlen and Mohawk for these cactus coasters {Reality Daydream}

Now it’s time to mix up our plaster! Follow the instructions on the package of whatever kind of plaster you purchase. You’re going to want to mix up about a half gallon of plaster, and you want it to be about the consistency of pudding. Tape over the hole in the bottom of the terra cotta pot (on the inside, not the outside), and pour in your plaster!

DIY Cactus Coasters with wood, plaster, and terra cotta pot! {Reality Daydream}DIY Cactus Coaster project made with wooden disks, terra cotta pot, and plaster of paris! {Reality Daydream}

Next, we’re going to cut notches one at a time in each of the remaining circles of wood. We’re doing this so that we can decide on a case-by-case basis where we want the notches so that the cactus isn’t just a straight-up line. We want it to have some angles and dimension! With each new addition, I would hold up the next circle and decide where I would want it, then would mark where the notch should be, and cut it! This part came together easier than I thought it would!

Make these coasters that look like a cactus sculpture! {Reality Daydream}

Once you got all the notches cut and in place, you can disassemble your cactus coasters and stain them all with Behlen Solar Lux Stain just like you did that first one! And add the curvy lines with dots too (using this stain pen!

https://reality-daydream.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/22174037/source.mp4
.

Cactus Coasters DIY Tutorial by Reality Daydream

I just think these cactus coaster set turned out SO CUTE!

Cactus coasters made from wood, plaster, and a terra cotta pot! {Reality Daydream} #diy

I mean…

Cactus Coaster DIY Tutorial by Reality Daydream

Cactus Coaster DIY Tutoial... made from wood, terra cotta, and plaster! {Reality Daydream}

You must make one of these for the cactus-lover in your life! Or for yourself if you too love cacti. And send me pics when you do! You can email me at beth@realitydaydream.com, or tag me on social media… @RealityDaydream on Instagram AND Facebook!

~Bethany

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check out all our other scroll saw projects by clicking the image below!

Thanks for pinning!

TUTORIAL for these darling DIY Cactus Coasters! Made from wooden discs, plaster, and a terra cotta pot! {Reality Daydream}

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About Bethany Sy

Nick and Bethany Sy are the creative free-spirits behind DIY/Lifestyle blog, Reality Daydream. They recently purchased a historic mansion and have been documenting the ups and downs of renovation and making this home their own... all while sharing tips and tutorials along the way! When they found themselves in the trenches of infertility, they started a journey that would prove to be their most important DIY project ever, and have 3 beautiful girls to show for it. <3

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Comments

  1. 5

    Kiara says

    November 17, 2018 at 4:11 pm

    I really need new coasters, I should try this

    Reply
  2. 6

    Lauren says

    May 11, 2018 at 11:02 pm

    I didn’t like coasters till now!!!

    Reply
  3. 7

    Maureen says

    October 13, 2017 at 4:13 pm

    Bethany,

    Your set is SO much cuter than the original. Makes me wish I had a scroll saw. Love the blog and read nearly everyday.

    Maureen

    Reply
  4. 8

    Kristie says

    October 12, 2017 at 9:32 pm

    This is really neat! I love things that form & function. Pinned! 🙂

    Reply
    • 9

      Erin says

      July 27, 2022 at 11:26 pm

      Super cute and functional. Great tutorial!

      Reply
  5. 10

    Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids says

    October 11, 2017 at 8:59 pm

    Very cute Bethany! I have a friend who loves everything cactus so I’m going to pass this along to her 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. DIY Cactus Coasters - a Tutorial! - Best Diy Crafts says:
    August 24, 2019 at 2:58 pm

    […] [Read more] […]

    Reply
  2. Top 20 Easy-to-Make DIY Coasters | The Crafty Blog Stalker says:
    August 12, 2019 at 3:41 pm

    […] 13. DIY Cactus Coasters […]

    Reply
  3. Projetos com cactos | Joia de Casa says:
    April 24, 2019 at 2:00 pm

    […] Porta copos de pinus, por Reality Day Dream. […]

    Reply

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We are Nick and Bethany! Welcome to our blog, Reality Daydream where we share our DIY adventures!

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