{DIY} Enameled Ink Coaster

So, it's the end of the year and I have two wonderful and adorable Preschool teachers to make gifts for. These fantastic ladies are OBSESSED with Route 44 Diet Cokes from Sonic. It has become a running joke with us this year, and so I decided to play up the fun with their gifts.
I learned this craft from a Stampin' Up consultant. I have loved doing it and it is a great craft for your kids to do as well. Here is what you will need:

Unglazed tile (tumbled travertine, or unglazed porcelain tile) [4x4 or 6x6 are good sizes]
Craft ink (you do not have to use Stampin' Up ink, but it MUST be craft ink)
Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (you can find it here)
stamps
paper to cover your work surface
felt
glue gun

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. Cover your work surface with a piece of paper. Lay your tile on the paper. Decide what design or words you will want to stamp.

I chose to stamp Route 44 Parking Permit for the teachers' obsessively large thirst for beverages from Sonic.

Pour the embossing enamel powder over the ink as soon as you have stamped your tile. Let the powder sit for a minute or two to make sure it adheres to the ink.

I was unable to find the embossing powder in any craft store where we are, which is why I ordered it online, but you may be able to find it in art stores or in your local craft store.
The reason you must use craft ink is that it stays wet longer, allowing you time to stamp and then pour the embossing enamel powder over the ink, thus making the powder stick to the ink.

Shake off the excess embossing enamel onto the paper. See how the embossing enamel sticks to the ink? Well, maybe not, it was difficult to capture this, but the powder sticks to the ink making the ink look grainy.

Place the tile onto a baking sheet and place in the oven for about 10 minutes, but check after 5. The tiles is ready to remove from the oven when the stamped image looks wet and glossy. When you remove your tile from the oven, allow to cool to the touch, this doesn't take long, perhaps 20 minutes.

While you wait on your tile to bake, pick up the paper with the leftover embossing enamel powder and pour it back into the container. This stuff will last you for a VERY long time.

Hot glue some felt to the back of your tile (which is now a coaster) and you are finished. Add a sonic gift card and a Route 44 Diet Coke and their gift is complete.
Fun, right?
I hope you like this craft. It really is fun, easy, and the results are rather nice. Happy Tuesday everyone. See you next week,
Shannon