Children create such beautiful and unusual art. It seems a shame to simply hang it on the wall for a short time. Why not make your child's art work more permanent and display it at meal time by creating coasters from their one-of-a-kind creations? It's so simple to do and your child will be proud to see his art put to good use. Here's how to create coasters out of your child's art:

Supplies needed:

* Cork sheet
* Craft glue
* Polyurethane
* A craft knife
* Scissors
* Your child's artwork

Gather your supplies

You can find most of the supplies you'll need form your local craft or hardware store. Once you have your basic supplies, gather together some of the best examples of your child's artwork. If you don't want to destroy the originals, make color copies you can use to make the coasters. You'll want the finished coaster to be around four inches by four inches in size so choose artwork that will fit into that space.

Prepare the artwork

Use scissors to cut out four inch by four inch sections of your child's art. Each section that you cut will become a coaster so choose an appropriate number for your purposes. Once this is done, cut squares of cork sheet slightly larger than the artwork you're using to create the coaster. After completing this step, cut two squares of cork for each coaster to give added weight and prevent curling.

Make the coaster

Start by gluing two squares of cork together for each coaster using craft glue. Allow the glue to dry before proceeding. Once the glue is dry, apply craft glue to the back of your child's cut out artwork and attach it to the layered cork square. The cut out art should extend just beyond the edges of the cork. Allow the glue to dry. Once the glue is dry, use a craft knife to trim the excess paper that hangs over the edges of the cork. This will give it a polished, finished look.

Apply your final finish

To protect the artwork and complete your coaster, apply a layer of polyurethane to the top of each coaster. Allow this to dry thoroughly before handling. You can even take a waterproof magic marker and sign the bottom of the coaster with your child's name as the artist.

You child will be thrilled when he comes to the dinner table and finds his own artwork on the dinner table. It's a great way to have unique coasters as well as bring a smile to your child's face.