Holly’s Typography Place Mats with DecoArt and Canvas Corp.

Here is the Placemat DIY!

Supplies

• 8 (or desired number) - Canvas Corp Place mats
• DecoArt Americana Stencils, 5″ Stencil Font Alphabet. They have other sizes and styles too…as well as other designs if you don’t want “words.”
• DecoArtAmericana Acrylic in Ebony*
• DecoArt Fabric Painting Medium*

*NOTE: You can use So Soft Fabric Paint in Lamp Black in lieu of the Americana Acrylic/Fabric Painting Medium. Either gives a great result.

• Fabric Stencil Brush…I used a foam pouncer
• Paper Towels
• Plate or bowl for mixing paint

DIY IT!

1. Wash the place mats and press them prior to painting.

2. Determine your words/wording, and measure or make a template to ensure it fits.

3. Layout the words for placement – I used the stencils and a sheet of blank paper/pen to write the words and then laid them out.

NOTE: DIY SAVE! When making my place mats I started with the shortest name first – not my brightest idea. “JOE” fit perfectly…then guess what? The letters for the rest of the names did not fit…so I stylized it by angling the second to last letter - to the left and up. Everyone actually likes it, and if I never told you, you would think it was on purpose, no? I am only telling you so that you do not make the same mistake if you prefer a different look.

4. To keep my words straight, I measured up from the hem of the placemat and them placed a line of tape. I lined up the top edge of the stencil with the tape and it kept everything straight and even.

5. Mix paint and fabric medium together.

6. Place stencil (first letter) on runner and using the pouncer apply paint to the stencil/letter. (see this step – this is when I realized I needed that guideline with the tape and then step 3 was “born.”)

7. For subsequent letters, you may need to clean the used stencils (the stencils come on multiple sheets, so it just depends on on which letters you are using). I kept paper towels handy to blot the front and back of the stencils before placing my next letters.

8. You may also need to let the paint dry slightly before moving on to the next letter. I simply let it dry slightly (because the paint is not super-wet after applying it) and them laid paper towels under the stencil.

9. Continue with your letters until you are finished. I also added a few lines around the outside of the name.

10. Let dry for 48 hours.

11. Heat set the design -  using the correct iron setting for the fabric, cover design with cloth and press.

12. My place mats have been washed after painting as well…I LOVE IT!