How to Make Concrete Coasters with Gold Leaf Edges

1. 1

   Step 1: Mix the Concrete

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   Put on rubber gloves and add about two and a half cups of Cement All to your mixing container. Pour in tap water slowly, a little at a time, and mix as you go. You are aiming for roughly a four-part cement to one-part water ratio. Keep mixing until it looks like a thick, smooth batter with no dry pockets. This takes about five minutes. Let the mix sit for two minutes before you pour.

   Tip:

   Cement All sets fast, so mix only what you can pour in a few minutes. Add water bit by bit - it is much easier to loosen a stiff mix than to fix a runny one.

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   Used in this stepsilicone coaster moldmixing cup

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2. 2

   Step 2: Pour the Coasters

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   Pour the wet cement onto a sheet of nonstick parchment paper in equal blobs, one per coaster. Try to keep them close in size so your finished set matches. Do not worry about the shape yet, you will flatten them in the next step. Work quickly here since the mix is already starting to firm up.

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3. 3

   Step 3: Flatten and Cure

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   Flatten each blob out a little, then let them dry for no more than five minutes since this mix moves fast. Lay a few items of equal height around the edges, drop a nonstick sheet over the top, and press down with a flat placemat so every coaster ends up the same thickness. Leave the whole thing to set overnight so the concrete fully hardens.

   Tip:

   The overnight cure matters. You have messed with the bonding a bit by flattening, so give it the full night before you handle the coasters.

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4. 4

   Step 4: Peel and Demold

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   The next day, lift off the placemat and gently peel away the top nonstick sheet. Then carefully lift each coaster off the bottom paper. They may stick a little from the bonding process, so go slow and support the whole coaster as you free it. You now have four solid concrete rounds ready to finish.

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5. 5

   Step 5: Sand the Edges

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   Run a fine sanding block around the edges of each coaster to knock off any rough spots and even out the shape. If the top has a shiny film and you do not like it, buff that away too. A little sanding here gives you a clean matte concrete surface and a smooth rim for the gold leaf to sit against.

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6. 6

   Step 6: Glue the Edges

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   Grab a small paintbrush and brush a thin layer of PVA glue around the outer edge of each coaster. Keep the layer even and stay off the flat top face unless you want gold there too. The glue is what the gold leaf grabs onto, so cover the whole rim you want gilded.

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   Used in this stepPVA glue

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7. 7

   Step 7: Apply the Gold Leaf

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   Decant a small amount of gold leaf so it is easier to handle. Lay pieces onto the glued edges and press them into place with the tip of your finger, working all the way around. Repeat on every coaster. The leaf is delicate and will tear, but that is fine, small overlaps blend into one gold line.

   Tip:

   Once the edges are dry, buff off any loose leaf with a clean dry brush to get a crisp gold line and clear away stray flecks.

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   Used in this stepgold leaf sheets

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8. 8

   Step 8: Finish and Style

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   Buff off the last of the loose gold and brush away any dust for a clean edge. Stick a few felt feet on the bottom of each coaster so they do not scratch your table. That is it. You have a set of four concrete coasters with gold rims, ready to give as a gift or keep for yourself.

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