Groovy Printed Napkins

Sometimes you want a practical little craft you can bang out in a day. You know, something you can bring as a hostess gift or a little whatnot to complete that birthday gift. This is that craft. These printed napkins are so simple, so quick and super satisfying.

Here’s what you’re going to need:

Plain cotton napkins – I got mine at JoAnn
Fabric paint – I recommend going with the Martha Stewart brand for all craft paint; it’s good on a ton of surfaces
Craft foam
Cardboard
Glue
Foam paintbrush

Now before you do anything, wash and dry those napkins (no fabric softener) to remove any coating from the fabric. This will make for smooth sailing for that fabric paint. And give them a good ironing while your going through the trouble.

OK, now that you’ve got that done, it’s time to get doodling. For this, you do you. Leaves, cat faces, initials, whatever floats your boat. I’d just advise to keep your shapes about an inch across or more. Tiny designs and ones with a lot of detail can get pretty muddy with this informal stamping method.

So doodle one design, a handful or variations on theme on your craft foam. Clip these out and glue the shapes to scraps of cardboard.

Once you’ve got your stamps in order, you can get to painting. To get a nice imprint that’s not too mottled, swipe an even coat of paint on the foam. You don’t want any globs here. Then give that stamp a whirl on some scrap paper. You want to get a feel for how it works with the right amount of paint and pressure.

I’m sure you can guess what’s next: get stamping on those napkins. Get groovy with this. Multiple colors, multiple stamps, print on one edge, print all over – it’s all you!

And it’s as simple as that. Just let these dry overnight and you’ve got some slick fabric napkins to bust out for your fanciest party or to give as gifts. These are totally washable too, so don’t be afraid to get some use out of them!