DIY Leafy Placemats
Craft yourself some easy DIY Leafy Placemats with this simple how-to. Your Springtime table setting will be happy!
Creating something from nothing is so satisfying! And creating something that you would otherwise spend money on, multiplies the satisfaction even more! If you use something that’s been hanging around your house for a long time…extra bonus points! Making my own version of the pretty placemats I bought last year {“Spring Table Decorating Ideas“} was so easy, I want to find other neglected fake foliage and make more! Here are the simple steps to make beautiful DIY Leafy Placemats.
DIY Leafy Placemats
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Materials Needed:
28- average 3″ x 4″ large leaves, like from a hydrangea bush (see HERE)
11″ circle cut from felt fabric (HERE)
pliers
tacky glue or hot glue for fabric
First, Remove Plastic Veins Of Faux Leaves
Peel the plastic ribbing off the backs of the leaves. You can do it with your fingers, but if you’re doing a lot, it may help to grab the stem with a pliers for a stronger grip. I used 28 hydrangea leaves for each placemat.
Next, Cut Felt Circle for Back of Placemats
Cut an 11″ circle from the felt. It’s easy if you trace around a dinner plate:
Glue Faux Leaves to Felt Circle
Using Tacky fabric glue, place glue on bottom half of leaf and adhere to the felt, leaving a 1 1/2″- 2″ overhang and overlapping slightly. The dotted circle shows where the felt is behind.
Repeat With Second and Third Layer of Leaves
Glue the second circle of leaves with their tips between the first layer. (Don’t mind my fresh glue, it will dry clear!)
At this point, you could place a different kind of colored leaf in the middle to create a flower face (I might try that next!).
Place your third layer of leaves in the middle (5) by centering them about on every other seam. Place one last leaf in the middle to finish it off. Press down all the leaves into the glue and let dry. You could weight them with books for a flatter finish, but I wanted a more textural, natural look, so I just let them dry overnight.
Easy, right? They’re a perfect project to make while you’re watching a couple hour movie. You could make a whole table-full with different types of leaves, or combine them with flower petals. Larger flower petals would work the best-tulips, roses, poinsettias.
Enjoy Your DIY Leafy Placemats on Your Springtime Table Setting
Then you can set a pretty table with them! They’re getting me in the mood for spring! See the Easter table I set with these leafy placemats in “An Organic, Vintage Easter Table”.
Check around your home and see if you have bunches of extra leaves or flowers laying around. Or pick up some cheap ones from the thrift store or on clearance. When you make something from almost nothing, you can be proud of your project when you set your springtime table! Hope you enjoyed seeing how easy it is to make these DIY Leafy Placemats!
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Cute and easy to do. I especially like your lady pliers. Not likely that any male person will abscond with them.
You’re so right! I love my flowered tools:)
What a cute idea! Love this, Lora! Thanks for sharing on Homestyle Gathering… Pinned!
Your welcome, Julie! Glad to be joining a new party;)
What a great idea! I need to make a set of these to use for my table.
You should, Paula! They’re so fun. I need to make a few more;)
Love these placemats! They are the best looking faux leaf placemats I have seen yet and look great against your wood table!
Thanks, Ann! I should be making a few more;)
These are so fun, Lora! I’ve been wanting to make some floral ones. Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm!
I love this idea! Looks so great and uses what might not get used in other projects! Lovely tutorial, Lora!
Totally, Linda. Once at a floral demonstration, the speaker challenged us to make money from the scraps; that’s totally what this project is! I’ve had these leaves from my sister’s wedding hydrangeas for 10 years!