Create Your Own Tablecloth and Placemat Out of Reused Products

What's Up?

Are the table decorations at the grown up table boring?  Create your own!  Reflect your personality in the design and showcase your creativity.  Everyone will be impressed.

Idea

Create your own tablecloth, place mat, and centerpiece using paper, reused products, and nature.  By utilizing your imagination and what is available, you can create a unique look that is all your own.

How Does It Help?

Environmentally

By reusing items instead of throwing them away, you are helping the environment. If we reduce the amount of waste created, it helps conserve natural resources, and reduces the amount of garbage in landfills.

Monetarily

Since you are using mostly reused items, the cost of the creations is minimal.  It is easy, with some creativity, to create beautiful things with very limited money.

Parent(s)

Your child will need help with this project.  Encourage them to explore nature and instruct them how to safely bring nature indoors for decorating.

Safety Tips

Permission

Please get your parent(s) permission prior to starting this project.

Scissors

Scissors are sharp with cutting edges.  They should be used with care whenever touching or handling.

Craft Project

Supplies

  • Long roll of white paper (Newspapers sell the end of their paper rolls for a minimal fee.  Contact your local newspaper to purchase.)
  • Brown paper bags
  • Different size empty food boxes (cereal, pasta, etc.)
  • Decorating supplies (pens, markers, glue, ribbon, stickers, used cards)
  • Nature items
    • Fall -- leaves, acorns, berries
    • Winter -- pine limbs, berries, tree branch, winter flowers
    • Spring -- Flowers, clippings from flowering bushes and trees, seeds
    • Summer -- Flowers, leaves, vegetables

Directions

  1. Roll out the paper on the table.  Cut paper long enough that it will cover a portion of both ends of the table.
  2. Decorate the paper tablecloth using all the different craft and nature items you have collected.  Be creative -- this is your design.
  3. Cut the brown paper bag open.  Cut the bag such that you leave the big sides intact.
  4. Use the big sides of the brown paper bag as your place mat.  Decorate them to coordinate with your tablecloth.
  5. Select different size boxes for the centerpiece.  Cover them either with the paper or the paper bag.  Decorate
  6. Put the covered boxes on the table at differing heights.
  7. Place either empty jars or bowls on the boxes.
  8. Fill the jars with nature items to create your centerpiece.