Painted and Stencilled MDF Coaster with Vintage Distressing

A project from our live show MDF Coaster 13 x 13 x 5cm - C9WHF2 · 08/08/2025 · watch it from 28:15

Transform a plain MDF coaster into a vintage-style decorative piece by painting it with eco-friendly paints, layering stencilled designs, and distressing with finger waxes and white pigment. The result is an elegant, handmade gift with dimensional floral details and aged character.

You will need

MDF Coaster 13 x 13 x 5cmSEE IT HTCN - 5 X Aladine Izink Nature Bundle - SZEQ2TSEE IT

DOWNLOAD THIS GUIDE (PDF)

Step by step

1. Place the MDF coaster on a protective surface and apply your first base coat of paint using a graduate brush, using cross-hatching strokes to ensure even coverage. ▶ watch 28:30
2. Allow the base coat to dry completely, then position your classic rose layering stencil on the coaster. ▶ watch 31:00
3. Using a pink ink pad and brush, tap the first stencil layer (layer one) lightly onto the coaster, building up colour gradually. ▶ watch 35:00
4. Remove the first stencil and position the second stencil layer, tapping with the same pink ink to add more detail to the rose centre. ▶ watch 36:30
5. Continue layering with stencils three, four and five, using darker pink tones and then green for the leaves, tapping gently to build dimension. ▶ watch 38:00
6. Switch to a teal or purple ink pad for additional depth on the foliage areas, tapping lightly to avoid overwhelming the design. ▶ watch 40:15
7. Apply gold finger wax to the edges and corners of the coaster by dipping your finger and tapping gently, blending as needed. ▶ watch 44:30
8. Distress the design by dry brushing white pigment over the surface in one consistent direction, dragging upwards to create vintage wear lines. ▶ watch 49:00
9. Use a silver pencil and ruler to lightly draw imitation wood grain lines across the coaster surface, pressing gently to avoid heavy marks. ▶ watch 54:15
10. Once complete and dry, seal the finished coaster with a matte or satin varnish to protect the design and allow it to be used functionally. ▶ watch 55:30

Tips from the show

• When opening the paints for the first time, you may see a little oil come out first—this is normal due to the heavy oil content that allows the paints to work on multiple surfaces.
• Keep your brush lines consistent when distressing—either all going up, down, or left to right—to avoid creating an unintended cross-hatch pattern.
• The white pigment is blendable and will dry back lighter than it appears, so you can adjust the effect as you work.

Written up from the show itself. See every guide from our shows · free how-to guides · watch live on My Telly