Weekend DIY: Fruity Summer Serviettes
Spruce up some plain fabric napkins and channel your inner artist with this fun DIY
Summer is the time for outdoor dining, but why settle for bland? There’s no need when you can give your table setting some extra zest with bright homemade serviettes that make every mealtime feel like a party. All you need is fruit, fabric paint and some plain cloth napkins or fabric. What are you waiting for?
What you’ll need:
- Selection of different-sized fruit
- Fabric paint
- Paint palette
- Paintbrush
- Plain cotton napkins or fabric
Step 1: Chop it up
Cut your chosen fruits in half on a chopping board. I found oranges, lemons and limes to have the best result, but experiment with different fruit for a truly unique look. Get creative!
Cut your chosen fruits in half on a chopping board. I found oranges, lemons and limes to have the best result, but experiment with different fruit for a truly unique look. Get creative!
Step 2: Lay them down
Once halved, place fruit face down on some paper towel to absorb excess juices.
Once halved, place fruit face down on some paper towel to absorb excess juices.
Step 3: Prepare your paint
On a paint palette (or takeaway containers work just as well), squeeze out a small amount of fabric paint. A little goes quite a long way, so use sparingly.
On a paint palette (or takeaway containers work just as well), squeeze out a small amount of fabric paint. A little goes quite a long way, so use sparingly.
Step 4: Paint it on
Paint the colour you would like on with a paint brush, rather than stamping it into the paint. This will give you more even, and less heavy, coverage,
Paint the colour you would like on with a paint brush, rather than stamping it into the paint. This will give you more even, and less heavy, coverage,
Step 5: Stamp it down
Carefully place your fruit face down on the fabric and press lightly, if you press too hard juice will come out and your print won’t be as effective. It might be worth having a few practise attempts on a spare piece of fabric or paper.
Carefully place your fruit face down on the fabric and press lightly, if you press too hard juice will come out and your print won’t be as effective. It might be worth having a few practise attempts on a spare piece of fabric or paper.
Step 6: Move on to the next fruit
Switch up the colour and size of your fruit stamps and have fun making your mark.
Switch up the colour and size of your fruit stamps and have fun making your mark.
Step 7: Hang up to dry
Carefully, with clean hands, hang your napkin up to dry. How long this takes will depend on what paint you use, but it’s generally best to leave it for a couple of hours, if not overnight.
Carefully, with clean hands, hang your napkin up to dry. How long this takes will depend on what paint you use, but it’s generally best to leave it for a couple of hours, if not overnight.
Step 8: Colourfast
Once the paint is dry, you can run the iron over the napkin to set the paint so it becomes colourfast. Make sure the paint is fully dry before pressing.
Once the paint is dry, you can run the iron over the napkin to set the paint so it becomes colourfast. Make sure the paint is fully dry before pressing.
TELL US
Have you transformed a plain serviette or tablecloth? Tell us how and post a photo of your efforts in the Comments.
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Have you transformed a plain serviette or tablecloth? Tell us how and post a photo of your efforts in the Comments.
MORE
Browse more DIY stories