DIY print cork coasters

I love little creative projects that take hardly any time or effort at all, and this is definitely one of those:

I've got a thing for cork at the moment, and fancied incorporating something corky 

in my new, little Coffee station I put together in my kitchen the other week....so I decided to make myself some new coasters..

Being a cheapskate very frugal person, I just cut out my disk shaped coasters from a cork tile I had left over from when I did my loft makeover (hence why they are a little rough around the edges ) , but you can get plain cork coasters , like these, really cheap.

There are of course loads of ways you can decorate plain cork coasters, check out pinterest for inspiration, but I actually used cookie cutters to print my cork coasters with.

I managed to get a set of hexagon fondant cookie cutters on sale in Dunelm mills, but this set gives you a great selection of geometric shapes at a very reasonable price.

Then all you'll need is some paint, in your choice of colours.

I chose a minty blue, a greeny-yellow and some white + a coral shade that really pops!

Love this colour combination!!

I just painted the thicker side rim of the cookie-cutter shapes with paint...

...then pressed the paint onto the cork coaster. 

Pretty self explanatory really.

Then I painted the rim of the coasters white.

 Simple!

I also made some matching tea towels, that I will be sharing with you all next week...

 These little creative projects helps add personality into my interiors, and by making useful things for the home, as simple as they are, helps add some creative beauty to my everyday...

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My New Coffee station...

An early morning upgrade

I love mornings.

It is my favorite time of the day.

I love getting up with sunrise and see the day get gradually lighter outside...when all is quiet and calm...

And I love my morning coffee....and last week I posted about my quest to make my first morning coffee even more enjoyable, when I looked into creating a coffee station.

I wanted to see how I could use beautiful, yet functional design to enhance that first sleepy half hour of my day, and make the coffee-brewing experience as lovely as that first cup of coffee...

So today I am sharing my design picks for my dream coffee station....some of which I've already acquired, and some that are on my wish list:

1/ Wood collar Chemex 6 cup coffee maker 2/Hario V60 Buono Power Kettle 3/square wooden tray 4/Super living Amanda blue Sugarpot 5/Superliving Amanda blue milkjug 6/glass storage jar with wooden lid 7/House of Rym TISSAGE cup 8/small wire storage basket 9/Hay coffe bag clip and measuring spoon 10/Salvaged cork coasters 11/CoffeeSock Chemex Filter 12/Cafe de Tiamo Stainless Steel Hand Coffee Grinder Skerton 13/Tall Glass storage jar with wooden lid 14/Marimekko Oiva teapot 15/Linen napkin 16/Stelton copper thermos flask

My Coffee station essentials list consists of:

A tray to gather the coffee making essentials on, with beautiful storage jars for teabags and coffee beans, a pretty sugar pot and milk jug....A handy basket for storing coffee filters, tea towels and coasters.....a beautiful , new favorite cup and a handy measuring spoon is on my wishlist...as is a stylish new kettle and thermos flask to keep the coffee warm....and a nice teapot for the tea drinkers.

And I really want a handheld coffee bean grinder, to replace my electric one (as apparently this will prevent the coffee beans from getting scorched in this process)...

But top of my wishlist was a Chemex coffee maker, as I'd heard so much praise for it...so after much deliberation, I took the plunge and got one to replace my hideous green plastic cafetiere

....and I have to say...it lives up to it's expectations:

Not only is it beautiful, like a piece of art, to look at, but it really does make THE best coffee!

There is a bit of an art to brewing the perfect cup of coffee with the Chemex, and at the bottom of this post you can find my Chemex coffee brewing guide. But as convoluted as the process may sound, the Chemex has most definitely improved my morning coffee, beyond the fantastic taste....

...it has made the coffee brewing an enjoyable morning ritual, and I find (now that I've got the hang of the process) that it focuses my mind and sets me up for the day...

Who knew that a coffee maker could do all that?

Of course, my coffee station is more than my new Chemex...it is now not just an organised space where I keep my hot-drinks essentials, but also a more aesthetically pleasing corner of my kitchen.

My late mormor's old copper tea-caddy has now found it't use, as mu new sugar bowl, and has pride of place....

And this stylish milk jug was a bargain from Tiger...

The cork coasters are a DIY that I will share with you all in my next post...

As is the wooden bead trivet, handy for resting my Chemex on to protect my kitchen counter. (tutorial coming soon)

I've also printed some tea-towels to go with my DIY coasters that I also will share with you soon....

But for now, I will leave you with this little guide to brewing the perfect cup of coffee using a Chemex:

Photo by Cindy Loughridge  from her atmospheric 365 days of coffee tumble page.

I hope you all feel inspired to upgrade your morning coffee fix.

It doesn't have to cost a lot: Some new storage jars to keep your essentials in or  A pretty, new favorite mug could make a big improvement...

And investing in a Chemex will only set you back about £40...

....I mean: surely we all deserve to start each day in the best possible way:

With a great cup of coffee!