Make Your Own Stunning Mini Lippan Art Coaster a Fun & Creative DIY Project

Hey there, creative souls! 🌸

If you love adding a personal touch to your home decor or enjoy getting your hands messy with arts and crafts, you’re in for a treat today. Let me walk you through a super fun and satisfying project: making your very own Mini Lippan Art Coaster. This traditional craft from Kutch, India, is all about creativity, texture, and tiny mirror embellishments that give your work that magical sparkle.

I recently made this beautiful piece (you can see it in the picture), and trust me, it’s addictive once you start. Plus, it makes a charming addition to your home or a lovely handmade gift for friends and family.

🌿 Why Make a Lippan Art Coaster?

Lippan art is traditionally done on walls using mud and mirrors, creating stunning reflective patterns. But why not bring that tradition to something functional and cute like a coaster? It's small, manageable, and requires minimal materials—perfect for beginners and seasoned crafters alike.

✨ Materials You’ll Need:

1. Thick cardboard or MDF circular base (mine was about ~15 cm in diameter)
2. Natural white clay (or air-dry clay)
3. Mini decorative mirrors (the tiny round and square mirrors)
4. Acrylic paints (I used turquoise, deep blue, and white)
5. A small palette knife or sculpting tool
6. Fine paintbrushes
7. Craft glue (strong enough to hold the mirrors)
8. Clear varnish or sealer (optional, for extra shine and protection)

I have ordered items from a store named Chetna Store in India, you can also look for products at their online store. They deliver PAN India and also ship worldwide.

Start with a clean, sturdy circular base. I used a smooth MDF circle, but you could repurpose an old coaster or cut your own from thick cardboard.

Roll out the natural white clay until it’s about 3–5 mm thick. Using a palette knife or your hands, layer it evenly over the coaster base. This will act as the canvas for your design.

Now comes the fun part! Sketch a simple floral mandala pattern on the clay surface. You can either draw it lightly with a pencil or just freehand it directly.

Using your sculpting tool, carefully shape petals and concentric circles, giving them a slight relief so the pattern pops out. Don’t worry about perfection—imperfections add character!

Embed small mirror pieces into the clay at regular intervals. I placed them in the center of each petal and around the concentric circles. Press them gently into the clay so they stay in place but still reflect light beautifully.

Allow the clay to dry fully. Depending on the thickness and the type of clay, this could take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. Be patient here, rushing might crack your design.

Once dry, it’s time to breathe life into your creation. I used a deep blue for the outer petals, turquoise for the inner ones, and white for the central circles. The contrast gives the piece depth and vibrance.

Feel free to mix and match colors as per your taste!

After the paint dries, apply a thin layer of clear varnish or sealer to protect your artwork and give it a subtle shine.

If you are not used to paint with good detailing, you can paint the MDF and clay first and then place mirrors to make things easier. So then, the steps will be. Apply Clay -> Paint -> Apply Varnish/Sealer -> Apply Mirror Cutouts.