Botanical Table Decor

The versatile table runner project allows you to incorporate almost any type of dried material as the "filling" between the paper sheets. If you want a different look, just change the organic material to fit any mood, season or theme.

Carol Duvall Show guest Sandi Reinke from Loose Ends contributed these terrific ideas.

Materials:

one sheet Banana Wind handmade paper "Bamboo Natural" – Loose Ends #57030
one, 10-pc. bunch Black Beard wheat – Loose Ends #07293
one hank Raffia "Natural" – Loose Ends #27102
premixed, water-based wallpaper paste
stiff-bristle brush

2. Fold along these two lines. Dampen the folds. To do this, dip your finger or cotton ball in water and run it along the edge of the fold (Figure A).

3. Gently tear the two strips of paper along the fold, away from the sheet and each other, rendering two deckled-edge pieces that are approximately the same size (Figure B).

4. Place one strip of paper wrong side up and liberally apply a coat of the wallpaper paste.

5. Trim the stems of the Black Beard wheat so that the base of the heads will extend about 3/4" beyond the paper's edge, and the stems themselves about two inches. If desired, trim back the "beards" on the wheat heads so they don't extend too far into the table. This is entirely optional, and will probably depend on the width of the table or buffet you are dressing.

7. Fill in each space between the wheat with a few strands of raffia. Press all the various organic material gently down to anchor it slightly to the wallpaper paste (Figure D).

8. Apply a coat of wallpaper paste to the other strip of paper (wrong side) and place it on top of the organic material, matching up the ends and sides to the first paper strip. This step is much easier if you have a friend to hold one end.

9. Gently press everything together into a tight "sandwich," using your fingers to accent the textures that result from the stems of the wheat and the fainter outlines of the raffia (Figure E).

10. Let dry overnight.

11. If desired, protect the table runner with a coat of a matte-finish acrylic sealer.

Tip: Each sheet of paper will render one, 36-inch length runner. If you need more length, make two runners and position them with the ends overlapping, adjusting the overlap to fit your table size. Another option is to paste the second runner to the end of the first but you'll have more versatility without adhesive.