Checker Circle Vinyl Coaster or Ornament

This design is intended for vinyl cutting 

(checker ring and contrast base ring) and 

card stock or vinyl (holly and berries). 

Cut design elements from vinyl then follow conventional

 process to add checker ring and optional contrast (white) 

onto a wood circle such as those commercially available

 from craft stores. Size recommended is 3.5” diameter disc. 

Use the plus sign symbol to align vinyl contrast ring 

and checker ring over the marked disc center point. 

Add paper or vinyl to produce and attach holly berries 

for a festive Christmas decoration. For customized coasters 

or ornaments, prepare and attach specific vinyl initial letter 

from the “Alphabet Letters A-M” or “Alphabet Letters N-Z” 

separate designs which are sized to fit easily 

in the center of ring. 

Checker ring measures approx. 3.25” in diameter.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Obtain a 3.5" or equivalent base disc

for coaster(s) or ornament, such as these laser cut wood

discs (available from Hobby Lobby or other outlets).

If you have not previously completed a project using

cut design vinyl, search online (including Silhouette

2. Identify and cut the shapes from vinyl:

A contrast show-thru ring

B checker design ring

C optional lower case initial, from separate file

D base disc

3. Weed the "waste" outer, inner and 

checker bits from the checker circle, from

the contrast ring, and from the initial letter. 

4. Use transfer tape to transfer the vinyl from backing

and prepare to attach to the disc base. 

5. Create a center point registration on the base disc

 to help with aligning the ring(s) precisely. 

Place a piece of (temp) masking tape in the approx. center

of disc, then lay the disc on a gridded mat or equivalent

and straight edge to mark small tick at center. Then

repeat for the other perpendicular axis. Where the two

tick marks cross in the center.

Push the tip of a push tin into the tape to create

a pilot for positioning to follow.

NOTE: the small nick that may result in the surface

of the disc underneath the tape may be covered by

the lower case initial letter. To prevent an unwanted or

uncovered mark, stack 4-5 layers of masking tape

so that the pin can push into tape thickness without

marring disc surface. 

6. Insert the push pin through the center of the '+' mark

center from backside to front, then position 

the contrast ring over the disc and push the pin point

lightly onto the prick point. Hold in place while

the vinyl is slid down the pin shaft and onto the disc

surface. Double check for centered-ness at ring

outer edges, then press the vinyl into place.

7. Peel away the carrier sheet, leaving ring and

center registration '+' in place.

8. Repeat the process by inserting the push pin point

through the checker ring vinyl transfer tape at

center of '+' registration, then placing pin point

onto the center prick as before. Carefully slide down

into position, checking that the ring edges will align

with and cover the contrast ring, then press in place.

Remove transfer tape, then carefully remove center '+'

vinyl and tape.

9. Assemble the holly sprig and berries circles

from vinyl or card stock, then . . . 

. . . position and attach or glue in place on disc.

10. If desired, position and attach the initial letter

of choice, centered within the ring.

Convert the coaster disc into an ornament by drilling

a hang hole at center top (optional vinyl contr. ring

includes hole location), add large jump ring and

decorative hook. Consider placing the checker ring

and holly on back as well as front.