Easy, Do-It-Yourself Painted Christmas Coasters

The Halloween coasters I made recently were a hit, so it’s time to dive into the next holiday—Christmas! I’m excited for my latest DIY project: a set of “Christmas Belly Coasters.” I named them with a wink because, honestly, they make me smile! These designs are simple, modern, and easy to paint, perfect for anyone looking to add a playful holiday touch to their home.

The designs are inspired by classic Christmas characters with a fun twist. First up, Santa’s classic belt! It’s easy to find variations of this Christmas theme all over. I gave it a little extra flair by adding an oval embellishment at the top and bottom of the buckle. Next, Mrs. Claus gets her own look—I couldn’t resist designing an apron-inspired theme for her! Surprisingly, Pinterest didn’t have any good options when looking for inspiration for this project, so I went with my own take. Then there’s the elf coaster, a cheerful, traditional design that’s always a crowd-pleaser. And finally, the reindeer coaster! It’s rare to find reindeer-themed coasters, so I had to get creative. After experimenting with different ideas, I think I found a look that brings a reindeer right to the table.

So there you have it, four “Christmas Belly Coasters” inspired by the North Pole crew!

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Materials

• 4 wooden coasters
• Acrylic craft paint – Matte Finish
• Paint brushes
• Multi-purpose sealant – Matte Finish

You can usually find 4-packs of wooden coasters at your local craft store—I picked mine up at JoAnn’s. If you’re planning to make more than one set or host a coaster-painting party, consider buying a bulk pack of coasters online.

Most crafters already have acrylic paints and brushes on hand, but if you need to stock up, a multi-colored pack is a convenient option (especially if you’re ordering online). You can also pick up individual colors; for these coasters, I used red, green, white, black, yellow/gold, brown, and tan. Look for a matte-finish paint and don’t forget to grab a matching matte sealer to protect your work!

Step 1: Paint the base color for each coaster.

Paint a solid base color on the front, back, and sides of each coaster. The recommended base colors are: red (x2), green, and brown.

Let the paint dry.

Tips:

• Allow enough drying time. The base colors may take a while to dry. You’ll need to do the front and sides, let them dry, and then paint the back.
• Multiple coats may be needed. For example, the green paint was more translucent than expected, and it required several coats for a solid finish. The basic craft paint I used, dried quickly. It took about 20 minutes between coats.

Step 2: Paint the Christmas belly designs on each coaster.

Santa Belt Coaster

1. Start with one of the red coasters.
2. Paint a thin black horizontal line across the center of the coaster, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
3. Switch to yellow or gold paint for the buckle. Outline a square approximately 1 inch by 1 inch, then outline the square, keeping the outline about 1/4 inch thick.
4. Using a very thin brush, paint the buckle pin inside the square.
5. Finish by adding a small half-oval embellishment at the top and bottom of the buckle.

Mrs. Claus Apron Coaster

1. Start with the other red coaster.
2. Paint a white rectangle in the upper half of the coaster to represent the top of the apron, approximately 1 inch x 1.5 inches.
3. Paint the bottom part of the apron in white, creating a slightly curved shape at the bottom edge.
4. Using black paint, add a slightly curved line near the center of the coaster. Where the top and bottom of the apron meet you are creating the belt.
5. Once the paint is dry, add a small yellow or golden buckle over the black belt and apron.

Elf Coaster

1. Start with the green coaster.
2. Paint a vertical white stripe down the center of the coaster, covering about 3/4 of the coaster’s length.
3. At the top 1/4 of the coaster, paint a red zig-zag line perpendicular to the white stripe to create the elf collar:
   • Center the zig-zag line where the white stripe ends. Begin by painting a diagonal line down and to the right, followed by a line up and to the right. Repeat these two angles once more so the final line extends off the right edge of the coaster.
   • Mirror this zig-zag to the left side of the white stripe, starting from the center and moving down and to the left, then up and to the left. The final stroke should also extend off the left edge of the coaster.
4. Fill in the elf collar with red paint from the zig-zag line to the top edge of the coaster.
5. Paint a thin black line across the coaster about 2/3 of the way down, perpendicular to the white stripe, to represent the elf’s belt.
6. While the black belt dries, add white dots at each bottom point of the zig-zag line to accent the collar.
7. Complete the design by painting a small yellow or gold buckle where the black belt and white stripe intersect.

Reindeer Tuft Coaster

1. Start with the brown coaster.
2. Paint a partial oval shape with light tan paint. This oval should be about 1/3 the width of the coaster and about 3/4 of its height, with the open part of the oval facing downward. Fill in the shape with tan paint.
3. Using black paint, create a curved line with the open part facing upward, the top of the tan oval. This will be the reindeer’s collar.
4. Below the black collar line, paint a yellow or gold circle, centered horizontally.
5. Add five reindeer spots of varying sizes within the bottom left area of the tan section.
6. Once the yellow circle is dry, paint a small “X” on the bottom of it.
7. Paint a thin white line down the center of the black collar line, blending it to a light gray if desired, or leaving it white.
8. Finally, add a curved line in white or gray from the top of the yellow circle, arching over the black collar.

Step 3: Seal the coaster.

Once the designs are dry, apply a wood sealer to coat the coasters. Paint the top and sides, allow them to dry, then seal the bottom.

Step 4: Enjoy your new coasters!

And there you have it—four festive and unique Christmas Belly Coasters, each capturing a bit of holiday cheer! These coasters are not only practical but also add a playful, handmade touch to your holiday decor. Whether you’re using them for family gatherings or gifting a set to friends, they’re sure to spark conversation and bring smiles.

I hope you enjoyed creating these as much as I did. If you try your own twist on these designs or come up with new holiday characters, I’d love to hear about it! Share your creations, ideas, and any tips you discovered along the way. Crafting for the holidays is all about sharing joy and creativity—happy crafting, and may your season be full of warmth and cheer!