DIY Coasters including the fails!

I've over at The Pinning Mama today sharing a tutorial on how to make these Cut Out Coasters.

They are made from left over scraps of the pleather I used for a coat repair a little while ago. Remember this?

The cute, bright, "felt peeking out" Cut Out Coaster tutorial I'm sharing at The Pinning Mama was not my first coaster making attempt, it's been a process. This whole coaster making tale is a bit of a saga. 

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...

If you saw my post a little while ago about the changes I've been making to our existing things to match the bedroom décor in our new house you may have seen this photo of my bedside table. 

It's very nice (and tidy!) but something very important is missing. A coaster for my cup of tea! Doh! I was using a scrappy bit of junk mail (NOT photographed!), then a really bright crocheted coaster. But I really needed to make something elegant.

The pleather I'd used for the coat repair is cream coloured so perfect for the bedroom, it's wipeable so perfect for a coaster - good so far.

I glued a piece of pleather to a piece of felt with Mod Podge, pressed it under a pile of books for a bit then let it dry thoroughly.

Next I cut out an octagonal shape using a card template (I just used a "Insert shape" option on the computer in word)

I had a perfectly serviceable shaped coaster.

I thought I could make it better, prettier, more classy. So I used a gold paint marker type pen to mark a simple jewel pattern.

I was really happy with this until I used it for my tea.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! Somehow the gold paint pen never quite dried properly on the pleather. FAIL!

Not to be deterred I tried again. This time I used a gold spray paint and a doily.

Slightly better, I love how the coaster looks. BUT after a few uses I can see where the bottom of the mug lifts and smudges the paint a little. A BIT OF A FAIL!

I have still to find some thing I can paint onto this pleather with that can withstand a mug of hot tea, 'tis a quest...

What I did like though, was seeing the felt layer underneath the pleather from the side. That made me think maybe coloured felt and some sort of cut out to let the felt show through would be the way to go. 

NOT A FAIL AT ALL! HORRAY!

The bright colours don't really go in our soft neutral pallet bedroom so I will make some more with a gold felt bottom layer when I get a moment. I just couldn't resist making something with the brights, these have gone in the living room and are standing up to wear and tear very nicely. Pop over to The Pinning Mama for the full tutorial here.

I don't normally share all my fails, and they are not infrequent believe me. Everyone makes things that just don't work out sometimes, it's perfectly normal. As long as you don't stuff things up with a very expensive piece of material or equipment it's all good!

What do you do with your fails? Pop them in the rubbish bin quickly before anyone sees or leave them out to give everyone a good laugh?