How to Make a Painted Penguin Coaster
If you’re looking for a simple, fun, and adorable craft project to brighten up your home or entertain the kids, this painted penguin coaster is perfect. With just a few basic supplies and a bit of creative time, you can make a cute penguin that’s ready to waddle its way onto your coffee table.
This tutorial is great for beginners and ideal for parents looking for a hands-on activity to share with children. It’s also a lovely homemade gift idea that can be customised with your own penguin personalities.
Materials You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to make your painted penguin coaster:
- Blank wooden coaster or wooden circle
- Acrylic paint in:
- White
- Black
- Orange or yellow
- Optional: pink or red for cheeks
- Fine paintbrush
- Medium paintbrush
- Water cup and paper towel
- Pencil (for sketching)
- Sealant (optional – Mod Podge or clear acrylic spray)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare Your Coaster
Start by making sure your wooden coaster is clean and smooth. If needed, give it a quick sand to remove any rough edges. This helps the paint go on smoothly.
Top Tip: Lay down newspaper or a reusable craft mat to protect your workspace, especially if crafting with kids.
2. Sketch Your Penguin Shape
Use a pencil to lightly draw the outline of your penguin. The shape is simple:
- An rounded heart shaped body
- triangle beak
- two rounded rectangle feet
- Two small circles for eyes
Don’t worry about making it perfect, quirky penguins are the cutest!
3. Paint the Black Body
Using a medium brush, paint the outer edge of the rounded heart to the edge of the coaster with black paint, leaving the tummy area blank. Let it dry before going over any patchy areas with a second coat.
4. Add the White Tummy and Face
Once the black is dry, switch to a clean brush and fill in the tummy and face area with white paint. This may take two coats depending on the paint coverage.
5. Paint the Beak and Feet
Use a fine brush to add the orange beak and tiny feet at the bottom.
6. Add the Eyes
With the fine brush (or even the end of a paintbrush handle), dot two small black eyes above the beak.
7. Optional: Add Cute Cheeks
For an extra dash of personality, you could use pink or red paint to dab two little circles onto the cheeks.
Optional: Seal Your Coaster
To make your penguin coaster longer lasting, apply a clear acrylic sealant or a coat of Mod Podge once the paint is fully dry. This will also give it a lovely finished look and help protect your artwork.
Make It Your Own
There are endless ways to personalise your painted penguin coaster:
- Add a name underneath to make it a gift
- Try a Christmas hat for a festive version
- Paint a set in different colours for the whole family
Ready to try it yourself? Let me know how your penguin turned out – tag me on social media @craftcartwright
