Stylish, DIY hostess gifts
Wow your host with a matching napkin and placemat set
By Tara Nolan
We’ve all had that moment of panic. You’re dashing out the door to a party only to realize you don’t have a hostess gift. It’s easy enough to grab a bottle of wine or box of chocolates on the way, but chances are it will be placed on the counter among other bottles of wine and boxes of chocolates.
With a little planning, you can stand out from the hostess gift pack by presenting uniquely designed table accessories.
“The current trend in tableware is an eclectic mix of decorative options,” says interior designer Dvira Ovadia, pointing to table runners, napkins, vases and bowls. Your computer is the perfect tool to create colourful, personalized designs that you can use to jazz up napkins and placemats, which are perfect for the consummate entertainer.
IN THIS STORY
Materials
- plain, light-coloured canvas or cotton napkins and/or placemats
- T-shirt transfer paper
- colour printer
- sharp scissors
- iron with no-steam option
Determine a colour scheme
Search for Clip Art that reflects the current tableware trends. Try royalty-free sites such as Microsoft Office Online and iStockphoto.com, which has great images for under $20.
“Pick colours that are vibrant and expressive,” says Ovadia. Her colour recommendations include caramel, light brown, terracotta, walnut and burnt orange, complemented with purples, plum and eggplant tones as well as deep hues of grey and taupe. “This will attract attention to your table and make your tired dinnerware pop.”
Our free template incorporates a modern floral design with the trendy hues of deep purple, taupe and grey recommended by Ovadia.
You could also look to the season or holiday to determine your pattern: deep yellows and reds for fall or silvers and whites for New Year’s.
- In Word, open a new document.
- Go to Insert > Picture > Clip Art.
- Or, open our floral design Word template.
Print the design
- Whichever artwork you choose, make sure to size the image to your napkin and/or placemat. Click on the image and then drag the squares at the corners to scale it up or down.
- Before using T-shirt transfer paper, print a test page on regular paper at the best-quality setting to make sure the colour and saturation are accurate.
- When you’re ready, place the specialty paper in your printer according to the package’s instructions. Maintain the high-quality settings.
- Allow the paper to dry before ironing.
Transfer the image
- Place your wrinkle-free napkin or placemat on a hard, flat surface.
- Trim around the image, if necessary. Lay the transfer paper on the fabric, face down.
- Using the highest cotton setting and the no-steam option, iron with firm pressure from side to side and then up and down for approximately one minute. (These instructions could vary with different brands; check your package directions for further details.)
- When the paper is cool to the touch, carefully peel off the backing.
When you’re ready to head out to the party, fold and stack the napkins and placemats, wrap them up with thick ribbon, and add a card. Then watch as your gift is envied by all the wine and chocolate presenters.
