Newspaper Coasters

You already have the newspapers so all you have to do is take the time. When you cut up some newspapers you have lying around the house you can make a unique accent for your home, while protecting surfaces from drippy drinks. Make newspaper coasters and you'll find that they're free, cute, and work as well as any other coaster.

Cut one page of the newspaper off and lay it out flat. Fold it lengthways, then again, and open it back up. Cut along each fold so that you have four separate strips. Lay one strip out in front of you so that one of the long sides is facing you. Fold both long sides into the center and crease the folds well. Fold both long sides into the center again, then fold the strip in half. Do this to all four of the strips.

Roll each strip, from one short end to the other, to curl it. This will help you to shape the coasters. Begin by tightly rolling the coil and, when you get to the end of that one, glue or tape another one on. Continue rolling until you have an arrangement large enough to be a coaster.

You don't absolutely have to make a round coaster from the newspaper strips. Once you begin rolling the very end, you can then shape the strip into a square, and continue in that manner. When you get to the very end (stop on the corner if you're making a square coaster), glue or tape it down.

Newspaper isn't waterproof so follow the coaster through one more step. Brush a coat or two of Modge Podge, or a similar product, over the top, then the bottom of the coaster, allowing each coat to dry completely.

When you make circular or square coasters, and you make them much smaller, you can create a cute little holder for them. The newspaper shapes can be tied together with yarn or wires, or you can just glue them. Create a little box shape and stand the coasters in it, on their sides.

You can make even more colorful coasters when you use magazine pages instead of newspaper. However, it will take many more pages than it will if you use newspaper. The paper coasters are free - if you already have the paper - and they're just adorable. They add a fun element to nearly any room of the house while cleaning up some of that newspaper clutter.