Ceramic Trivet Gift Idea

About two weeks ago, I posted a selection of coasters that I had made using 4" square tumbled marble tiles that can be purchased at your local home improvement store. Today, I am featuring a ceramic trivet idea. This project was made using 6" square white ceramic tiles that can also be found at your local home improvement store.

Wouldn't this be cute in a little girl's room as a message board?

Wouldn't this be cute in a little girl's room? Here is a closer look at the flowers and butterflies:

These tiles were stamped a little differently. I used my stamps and a special ceramic paint that I bought at my local craft store. It's quite simple, just apply the paint to your stamp and stamp onto the ceramic piece. Be cautious when stamping . . . the paint is thick and "wet" which makes it easy for your stamp to slip and slide on the smooth ceramic tile surface. Stamp slowly and with even pressure to ensure that you get a good impression without distorting the impression. Worst-case scenario . . . you wash off the tile and start again. Be sure, also, to IMMEDIATELY wash your stamps when you have finished stamping, as this paint will dry permanently on the rubber. Once stamped, the ceramic tile piece can then either be baked or set aside and left to dry and completely cure on its own. You can then place cork on the back of the ceramic tile or just add some "feet" that you can find at your local craft store (I would add a strong adhesive to the "feet"; I wouldn't trust the adhesive on them to be strong enough to withstand use or the texture of the back of the tile). These tiles don't have to be used merely as trivets--you can also use them as little message boards in your kitchen, like you see advertised in home decor catalogs, or, put a few tiles together and make a message board for your child's room. If using the tile as a message board, it can be written on with dry erase markers. You can also create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind serving tray--purchase a wood serving platter at your local craft store, put a few tiles together and you have a beautiful serving tray.

So, take another look at your stamps . . . make custom trivets or message boards or serving trays. Give them as a gift! Like the coasters, your friends will be amazed that you made these--and only you will know just how easy it was to do!! All stamps used for these trivets are from Stampin' Up! sets.

Lastly, a reminder that if you haven't participated in the QKR Stampede Frosty in July Blog Hop, there is still time. There is a wonderful prize being offered--a $25 gift certificate (with free shipping)--to be used at the QKR Stampede store. You have until the end of the day Wednesday, July 28, to complete the Hop; a winner will be randomly selected and announced Thursday, July 29. You can start the Hop here. And don't forget if you aren't a QKR Stampede fan/friend/"liker" on Facebook, be sure to go to Facebook and become a fan of QKR Stampede. During the month of August, every Monday, a fan/friend/"liker" will be randomly drawn and will win a free stamp of their choosing. And one last little item . . . if you already have some QKR Stampede stamps and would like an easy way to "earn" free QKR Stampede stamps, make card fronts using only QKR Stampede stamps** (you can use any type of paper, ink, embellishments, etc.) and mail your card fronts to Maribeth Douglas, QKR Stampede, 19522 High Park Road, Cedaredge, CO 81413. Now, through the end of August, for each card front you send, you can receive one free stamp. Be sure to include with your card fronts a list of the stamps you wish to receive in return. (**You cannot use any stamp images from any other stamp company when making these card fronts, as they will be used for a convention and images from other companies will infringe on copyright laws.)