DIY Crafts for the Uncrafty-Thanksgiving Crafts
No- Sew Table Runner (Based on instructions from Hi Sugarplum blog)
Materials needed:
Home Décor Weight Fabric
Double Fold Quilt Binding
Hem tape (like Stitch Witchery)
An iron
A damp cotton cloth
Directions:
Cut fabric to the length and width desired for your table runner. Cut quilt binding to
matching length and width. Cut pieces of Stitch Witchery to match. Lay runner in
between the folds of the quilt binding. Work in small sections, warm up a section with
the iron, then place Stitch Witchery between the quilt binding and the fabric. Place damp
cotton cloth directly over the quilt binding. Press with iron until it adheres. Do not run
iron back and forth over fabric. Instead press down gently over the sections of quilt
binding. Make sure the binding adheres to the fabric. Let dry.
No-Sew Placemats (Based on instructions for Table Runner above)
Materials needed:
Home Décor Weight Fabric
Double Fold Quilt Binding
Hem Tape (like Stitch Witchery)
An iron
A damp cotton cloth
Directions:
We used one yard of fabric which gave us four 12x17 inch placemats and enough left
over to make a matching table runner. After cutting out your placemats, attach the quilt
binding using the hem tape and iron into place.
Thanks Votive Glasses (Based on instructions from Naptime Decorator blog)
Materials needed:
6 clear glass votive candle holders
Alphabet stencils (either purchase or make your own)
Acrylic paint in cream or fall colors
Low tack tape (like painter’s tape or masking tape)
Paint brush
Glass beads (optional)
Artificial leaves and pine cones (optional)
Directions:
Tape stencils onto each glass. Paint the letters on. Let dry and add another coat. Let
dry and carefully remove stencils. If desired, fill with glass beads, artificial leaves, and
pine cones. If using a flame candle, make sure only nonflammable decorations are used
(like the glass beads). Alternately you could use an artificial LED candle.
Fan Napkin Fold (Based on instructions from Napkin Folding Guide.com)
Materials needed:
A large square napkin (you can use large paper napkins if you don’t have cloth napkins)
Directions:
Place napkin in front of you, wrong side up. Pick up the bottom seam of napkin and fold
up so it meets the top, forming a rectangle. Starting at a short end, fold up about an
inch. Turn the napkin over and fold in the opposite direction, accordion style. Continue
folding until there are only 2-3 inches left. This will form the base for the fan. Holding
the pleats in place, fold in half with the pleats on the outside. Take the unpleated section
and fold the loose (open) corners down and tuck it into the folded base of the fan. This
will form a triangle shape and allow the fan to stand. Stand the napkin up, allowing the
folds to fan out.
Pyramid Napkin Fold (Based on instructions from Napkin Folding Guide.com)
Materials needed:
A large square napkin (you can use large paper napkins if you don’t have cloth napkins)
Directions:
Start with the napkin wrong side up at a diagonal (diamond shape). Fold the top corner
up to meet the bottom creating an upside down triangle. Place your finger in the center
of the napkin and fold the right corner down to meet the bottom point of the triangle.
Fold the left corner down to meet the bottom point of the triangle. The napkin should
now be in a diamond shape (one smaller triangle facing left and one facing right).
Carefully flip the napkin over keeping the folds in place. Turn the napkin so the open
end points away from you. Take the bottom corner and fold it up to meet the top. Slide
your hand underneath the center of the napkin and gently stand it up so it forms a
pyramid.
Candle Napkin Fold (Based on instructions from Napkin Folding Guide.com and
YouTube)
Materials needed:
A large square napkin (you can use large paper napkins if you don’t have cloth napkins)
Directions:
Place napkin in front of you with the wrong side up. Turn the napkin so it is at a diagonal
(diamond shape). Pick up the bottom corner and fold up to meet the top corner, forming
a triangle. Fold up the base of the triangle up a little more than an inch. Flip the napkin
over and turn so that the base is on the right side and the triangle point now faces left.
Starting at the end nearest you, roll the napkin up from the bottom of the base towards
the top. Make sure you roll evenly so the napkin will stand up properly. Tuck the loose
end into the back of the candle base so it can’t be seen. Stand the napkin up.
Shell Napkin Fold (Based on instructions from The Art of Napkin Folding by
Susan Schoenfeld Kalish)
Materials needed:
A large square napkin (you can use large paper napkins if you don’t have cloth napkins)
Directions:
Place napkin in front of you, wrong side up. Fold the bottom of the napkin up to meet
the top, forming a rectangle. Fold the left side to meet the right side, forming a square.
Turn the napkin so that the open end points away from you (diagonal). Fold the top
layer down to meet the bottom point. Fold the next layer down so it almost meets the
point of the top layer (leave about half an inch or slightly less between them). Fold the
third and fourth layers down, leaving space between each layer. This creates a
staggered effect. Hold the folds in place and turn the napkin over. Place your finger on
the center of the top edge of the napkin. Fold the right corner down. Fold the left corner
down. If the napkin will not stay in place, try ironing the folds in place. If it still won’t
stay, hold the folds in place and carefully turn the napkin over, displaying the other side
which will be in a staggered diamond shape that is still very pretty!
Pocket Napkin Fold (Based on instructions from Designs By Jessica Lee.com)
Materials needed:
A large square napkin (you can use large paper napkins if you don’t have cloth napkins)
Directions:
Place napkin in front of you with wrong side facing up. Fold the bottom of the napkin up
to meet the top, forming a rectangle. Fold the left side to meet the right, forming a
square. Turn the napkin diagonally (diamond shape) with the open end facing away
from you. Starting at the open corner, roll the first layer of the napkin down to the
halfway point and press in place. Roll the second layer down to meet the first and press.
Roll the third layer down to meet the second and press in place. If it will not stay in
place, tuck the edge of the third layer down underneath the second layer. Holding the
folds in place, turn the napkin over. Fold the right corner towards the center. Fold the
left corner towards the center. Carefully turn the napkin over. Adjust the width if
necessary. Place silverware in top pocket and if desired place a name card or dinner
mint in the other pockets.
Square Pocket Fold (Based on instructions from Napkin Folding Guide.com)
Materials needed:
A large square napkin (you can use large paper napkins if you don’t have cloth napkins)
Directions:
Start with the napkin in front of you, wrong side up. Fold the bottom edge up to meet the
top, creating a rectangle. Fold the left side to meet the right side, creating a square.
Starting at the upper right hand corner, roll the first layer of the napkin down to the
halfway point and press in place. Repeat for the second and third layers. Turn the
napkin over. Carefully fold the right side back ¼ of the way. Fold the left side back
towards the center about ½ way. Carefully turn over. The napkin should now have
three diagonal pockets. You can place silverware in the top pocket fold. Adjust the width
of the napkin if necessary to accommodate silverware.
Lotus Napkin Fold (Based on instructions from Martha Stewart.com)
Materials needed:
A large square napkin (you can use large paper napkins if you don’t have cloth napkins)
A round fruit to weigh down napkin if needed (optional)
Directions:
Start with the napkin wrong side up in front of you. Fold each corner of the napkin to the
center. Fold each new corner to the center of the napkin. Holding the folds of the napkin
in place, turn it over. Once again fold each of the four corners of the napkin to the
center. Using one hand to keep the folds in place, reach underneath with the other hand
to pull the folds up to create petals. If the napkin will not hold the shape, try pressing it
with your hands or place an object in the center to weigh it down until it stays on its own.
If necessary, you can use a decorative object like an orange or a small votive candle as
the “center” of the lotus. Each guest will then have something to take home with them!