Springtime Place Mats

Figure A (Click to enlarge) Figure B (Click to enlarge.) Figure C (Click to enlarge.) Figure D (Click to enlarge.) Figure E (Click to enlarge.)

Susan Pickering Rothamel of USArtQuest demonstrates how to make springtime painted place mats (figure A).

Materials:

craft knife
felt-backed foam padding (figure B)
denatured alcohol ink
sheet vinyl (available at fabric stores)

Steps:

1. Using a craft knife, create your own design(s), then cut them out from a sheet of felt-backed foam padding.
   
   
2. Load stamp with ink (figure C), blending colors between separate stamp components, if you prefer. The ink will permanently adhere to any surface, and the flexibility of the stamp allows for stamping on rounded or uneven objects.
   
   
3. Stamp pattern(s) onto vinyl sheet, repeating as desired (figure D).
   
   
4. When pattern is complete and the ink is dry, your place mat is complete.
   
   
5. If you have a place mat that didn't turn out just perfect, you can cut it into strips and use them as napkin-ring holders (figure E).
   
   
6. Just join the ends with wire and decorate with beads or additional pieces of vinyl sheet.

* Note: If you get ink on your fingers, rinse with alcohol. The stains should rub right off.

Resources
USArtQuest
US Artquest, Inc.
Website: www.usartquest.com

Guests
Susan Pickering Rothamel
Owner, US ArtQuest
Email: AQSue@aol.com
URL: www.usartquest.com
Also in this Episode

Our Place : Episode OPL-467
•	Springtime Place Mats
•	Basement Makeovers
•	Garden Wall Hanging
•	Trade Secrets