Family coaster tray? You may be scratching your head right now and wondering what in the world that could be.
Weeellll, it's a tray of coasters so each family member can keep track of ONE cup per day, not 15,000 (spread all over the house on end tables and counters and floors).
Ok, I know this Pinterest thing is a bit crazy but I can't help it. I love it especially when I can solve a problem. And so I bring you my Pinterest inspiration:
From bee in our bonnet
I saw this and immediately knew it would be put to good use around here. My budget is quite scant so I strolled my favorite flea market for supplies.
I found this perfect tray for $3:
It wasn't in tip top shape but I could see the big picture and knew it would work. It is pretty modern looking so it was perfect, even for that guy I live with who is constantly cramping my style.
I scuffed all of the edges with sandpaper since it was already scuffed up some and I cut up some self adhesive cork I had left over from lining my cabinets into 4x4 inch squares for the coasters. Ok, ok, I never finished lining all of the cabinets but the three I did line are awesome. The paper on the back of the cork is grid marked which made for easy measuring.
I momentarily whined in my head about how I, of all people, deserve a Cricut yet I don't have one. I also don't have any stencils which is odd for me b/c I seriously have a lot when it comes to craft supplies. So, I opened up Microsoft Word and began testing fonts. I thought I would be nice and ask that guy I live with what his favorite "typeface" was. I only said "typeface" b/c I knew if i said font he would correct me. Font is related to the size of a typeface (typeface is actually what you probably call font). He gave me three choices. Helvetica, Calibri, and Ariel. I wanted to test them out and see if I liked them but I couldn't find Calibri so I asked him how to spell it. He then, with much snobbery, told me if I would stop using Microsoft Word and use Pages like the rest of the world I could find it.
Um, excuse me? I believe I asked you how to spell it....still waiting for that answer.
I opened up Pages to find it and still, it was no where to be found and I was still waiting on the answer to the initial question. Heated bantering went on which really helped me make my decision.
American Typewriter it is.
He hates American Typewriter. Perfect.
So, if you ever thought I was exaggerating about how difficult it is for us to agree on anything when it comes to decorating our home I think you might understand a little better now. Not only can we not agree on a typeface for a simple project we can't agree on what to call the font-typeface and we can't agree on which word processing program to use to generate the typeface-font.
Yes, we know. We are sick and twisted people.
I printed the letters from my printer (not my Cricut because I don't have one) that has been telling me for 6 months it has no ink. It lies. It totally has ink:
I then cut out each letter, lined them up sort of straightish and traced them onto the cork with a dull pencil. A sharp pencil would have snagged the cork.
Now that the tedious hard part was over, you know, because I don't have a Cricut, I painted in the letters with indoor/outdoor glossy black paint. I used exterior paint b/c I knew it will hold up to the condensation from the cups better than acrylic. I have had this paint for two years. I use it randomly and I think it replenishes itself like the wine in that one bible story.
I gave the letters three coats of paint and had a really hard time waiting for it to dry so I could put glass jars on it and test it out. But finally it was done and I made that guy I live with pose with the American Typewriter FONT and smile about it.
And just in case you need a visual of how it works and looks while in action:
And just in case you need a visual of how it will really work and look while in action:
Reality is just not as pretty as the fantasy world I apparently frolic in but this is what it will look like on a regular basis. Ya'll, I love this tray. It is such a simple solution that works for us. Jules' type A personality has taken to it quite nicely. She loves for things to have special place. Mia, well, she woke up this morning (Wednesday morning to be exact) and was totally shocked that it was a school day so her artistic personality puts it on the coaster 50% of the time. The other 50% of the time she can't remember if she had a drink at all and so I find her cup and place it on the coaster for her because you win some and you loose some. And that's perfectly o.k.









