Toddler Activities: Make a Mosaic Coaster
Description
Toddler Activities: Make a Coaster with Plaster of Paris. Fill a coaster mold with plaster of paris, and embed some colored craft glass, buttons or other flat decor.
Materials
Plaster of Paris
Plastic mold can be found at craft stores
Container/cup and spoon or wooden disposable chopstick to mix plaster
Colored Craft Mosaic Glass (we used Cobbles)
Other items to consider using instead of glass: mosaic tiles, flat buttons.
Fine grade sandpaper
Steps
- Mix plaster in container according to directions.
- Fill Mold with Plaster until a little below the top. When you press the pieces of glass into the plaster, the level of the plaster will rise slowly.
- Gently drop pieces of glass onto plaster. With tip of finger or popsicle stick gently press into the plaster until the item is level with the plaster.
- Very carefully while on a flat surface, shift the mold back and forth gently to let all the pieces settle and create as flat a surface as possible. It must be done on a flat surface and very gently or you will cover the pieces.
Let dry for several hours for best results gently press behind the mold in a circle to loosen and then carefully pop the coaster out of the mold.
Use your fingernail to gently scrape off excess plaster on the glass pieces if needed. If there are any rough spots in the plaster, use a small piece of very fine sandpaper.
Tips and Suggestions
- Due to the powder consistency of Plaster of Paris before adding water, handle the mixing of the powder out of reach of children. You might even consider using a face mask to prevent breathing in the powder.
- For younger children use other items like mosaic tile that may be easier to handle and monitor. With bigger pieces, fill the mold halfway or three quarters.
- Although Cobbles pieces are rounded to avoid injury, they are small pieces of glass so it must be monitored very closely.
- We tried putting in the pieces first, then pouring the plaster on top with less than ideal results. The plaster tends to surround the item and get under it. It takes a lot more work to sand it to make the pieces visible.