Instead of throwing away old maps, use them to decorate new cork coasters or transform old ones. Choose maps of your favorite vacation destinations as a memento of past trips. Place the cork coaster on the top of the map, trace it with a pencil and then cut it out. Alternatively, you can put the map on a cutting mat and cut directly by tracing the coaster with craft knife. Glue the map piece on one side of the coaster. Brush the sides and top of your coaster with a layer of glue sealant, repeating the operation after it is dry.
Use an old embroidery hoop to give a distinctive border to a round cork coaster. Before starting your project, make sure that the diameter of both hoop and cork coaster are the same. Take apart and paint the embroidery hoop with acrylic paint of your favorite color. Wait until dry, them put the embroidery hoop back together and apply E6000 glue on the top side of the hoop. Attach the coaster to the hoop and let it dry.
Use colorful scrap fabric to create a patchwork effect on you coasters. You will need thin cork coasters, about 3 millimeters thin. Sew alternate pieces of fabric on the coaster; if you have a sewing machine, make sure you use a needle suitable for thick fabric, such as a denim needle or a leather sewing needle. Alternatively, stitch the fabric to the coaster manually. After creating the patchwork on one side of the coaster, trim the fabric and sew around the coaster, near the rim. Glue a piece of felt to cover the bottom side.
You will need a sewing machine, colorful heavy duty treads and thin cork coasters for this project. Use an appropriate needle for thick fabric and set a decorative stitch on your sewing machine. If you prefer, first mark the designs on the cork with a fabric marker. Then, place the cork coaster under the machine's presser foot and stitch, creating your desired designs. You can create circular designs or straight lines, decorating the coaster with one or more colors. While stitching, do not push the coaster under the presser foot, as it can break easily. Do not forget to trim the loose ends of the threads.