Two Easy Place Mats

Here’s a great project for personalized place mats. These place mats can be made from recycled pillowcases or new ones or from felt. You can make them fancy, artistic or simple.

PILLOWCASE PLACE MAT

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
Two Solid Pillowcases (white works best)
Fabric Paint
Scissors
Felt (optional)
Needle and Thread (optional)
Iron (optional)
Buttons (optional)

1. Take your plain pillowcases from your own linen closet (or buy new ones) and cut into four equal pieces (each pillowcase in half making four place mats).

2. Hem and iron the edges of your pillowcase for a more professional, clean look. If you prefer a rustic look, cut around the edges with decorative scissors.

3. Using fabric paints and paint Autumn designs on the front side of the pillowcase. Be sure to follow the directions for the fabric paint.

4.  You can glue different craft accessories to the borders, like sprigs of leaves or natural-colored raffia (keep in mind that using sprigs of leaves or raffia you will not be able to wash and reuse them).

5. You can also sew buttons around the edge or sew ribbon around the edge for a “framing” effect.

TIPS AND VARIATIONS:

* Kids can paint their hands and press them to the pillowcases to make prints all over your place mats.

* You can cut shapes out of scraps of material or felt and stitch them onto your pillowcase for a textured place mat.

* These make great gifts since they can be personalized to suit any family.

* Felt Place mats – This is a really inexpensive place mat. Use different colored pieces of felt. Choose one felt color for your place mat. Use the other colors to design a Thanksgiving-themed picture for the place mat (cut leaf shapes, a turkey, pilgrim hats, cornucopias, etc.). Lay out the different colored felt pieces to design the picture on the felt place mat. Now use a glue gun to stick the different pieces together (or you can sew the pieces on if you prefer).