What do you do when you find something in an antique store that is fun, absolutely adorable, and dare I say, laughable?  You buy it.  And you buy as many as you can get your little hands on.  At least I did.  Then, you decide to turn an everyday object into a work of art.

So refined.

Turn An Everyday Object Into A Work Of Art

Only 4 different styles were sitting there, but they were mine.  Can you guess what I’m talking about?  They are small, usually round or square, mostly overlooked, and basically the underappreciated hero of our furniture.

Did you guess a coaster?  If so, you are correct!

These little cuties were just sitting there in the corner of an old hutch.  Like someone had thrown them over there without caring.

The coaster that turned out to be my favorite quickly caught my eye.  She’s the mouse in the dress and hat.

I love the dark rich color, the poses, and the serious look on each of their little furry faces.  I actually chuckled and might have given them a little hug before tucking them in my arms.  But seriously, who doesn’t need animal portraiture in royal clothing?

So charming and confident.

The plan from the start was to create artwork but I made the mistake of using them until I figured out what to do.  When they started getting scratched is when I got serious about preserving them.

Steps to create your works of art!

The hardest part was deciding on brown or green paper for the background.  All I had to do was trace the glass insert from the frame around the paper then cut it out.  I used E6000 to glue the back of the coaster onto the glass and let it sit overnight.  So technically, the coasters aren’t inside the frame.  But that allows you to seem them more clearly.

The last thing I needed to do was assemble the frame back together.  I put the green paper in between the back of the frame and the glass. So the coasters looked like they were matted.

And voila!  That is how you turn an everyday object into a work of art!

So stylish and carefree.

I chose to rip 3 of the frame legs off the backs so I could hang them on the cubby shelf.  The fox with his wine sits on the entry table for all to see.  I can’t get over how well they turned out.  So stinkin’ cute!

So debonair.

I smile each time I pass them.  And isn’t that what’s important about your home?  That you surround yourself with things that make you laugh, smile or have good memories?  I think so.  When my friends saw my little works of art, they too smiled and said, that is so you.  I couldn’t agree more.  

And I’m hoping you think outside the box next time you find something you enjoy and wonder if you can incorporate it into your home.  It might take a some time to figure it out, but it’s worth it!