Make Your Own Nature-Inspired Placemats
Dress your table for the festive season with DIY placemats that celebrate the beauty of nature’s designs
Fallen leaves and feasts are two highlights of the winter holiday season on the other side of the world. But just because it’s summer here, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a similar aesthetic on our Aussie Christmas tables. Combine these cool-weather joys in simple one-of-a-kind placemats you can make yourself by following this step-by-step guide.
A standard A3 sheet of paper is the perfect size for a DIY printed placemat. Here’s how to turn one into a nature-inspired backdrop for your next tablescape.
STEP 1: Gather your supplies
Select beautiful leaves, fronds and branches with distinctive shapes and textures.
Optional: Gather a few extras to keep unpainted and use as other embellishments for your place settings.
Select beautiful leaves, fronds and branches with distinctive shapes and textures.
Optional: Gather a few extras to keep unpainted and use as other embellishments for your place settings.
You’ll also need:
- Sheets of A3 paper in a light colour of your choice. I used a soft white paper, thick enough to absorb paint and hold its shape on the table.
- A tube of water-soluble paint. I used black gouache, but any colour that will contrast nicely with your paper would be fine.
- A brush and a plate or shallow bowl for diluting your paint with a bit of water as needed.
- Masking tape in a colour that complements your scheme.
STEP 2: Prepare the mixture of gouache and water
Dilute the paint slightly if needed, to cover your leaves and needles evenly. Try a few test prints on a sheet of scrap paper before starting your design.
Dilute the paint slightly if needed, to cover your leaves and needles evenly. Try a few test prints on a sheet of scrap paper before starting your design.
STEP 3: Start printing
Paint one side of each branch or leaf.
Paint one side of each branch or leaf.
Carefully but firmly, press the painted side of your leaf or branch onto the paper, then lift it straight off the page to prevent smearing. Use all or part of the plant – it’s up to you!
STEP 4: Repeat the process several times
Paint, print, paint and so on, until you are pleased with your design.
Paint, print, paint and so on, until you are pleased with your design.
Mix and match leaves, branches and twigs as you like.
If you’re using finer or more delicate fronds and twigs, place them on a sheet of newspaper before you coat them with paint.
Then place them on your paper and apply pressure as described above. Don’t worry if the print isn’t an exact copy of the leaf; abstract surprises are part of the fun.
STEP 5: Choose the one that best suits you, or use them all
Every person will have a different favourite.
Every person will have a different favourite.
STEP 6: Set the table
A brightly coloured tablecloth will highlight your white placemats.
TIP: Save a few special twigs to embellish your place setting.
A brightly coloured tablecloth will highlight your white placemats.
TIP: Save a few special twigs to embellish your place setting.
For a fun twist, fasten your cutlery to the placemat with masking tape in a complementary colour.
A paper placemat can slide around on the table during the meal, so use a strip of tape on a corner or two to keep it in place.
YOUR TURN
Show us your clever Christmas place settings by posting your photos in the Comments section below.
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YOUR TURN
Show us your clever Christmas place settings by posting your photos in the Comments section below.
MORE
12 Simple Christmas Decorating Ideas
20 DIY Ornaments to Give Away or Keep for Yourself
3 Easy DIY Gift and Wrapping Ideas
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