numbered napkins to help you keep track of your holiday guests ...

It’s no secret that I’m nutty for numbers …


They greet you when you arrive …



… offer lumbar support …


… follow you into the powder room …


… and make a seasonal appearance on the screen porch …


So it should be no surprise that I’ve invited them into my dining room (with future plans to sell on my ‘in-the-works’ etsy shop) …


I also made them using my latest obsession:  painter’s drop cloth as fabric …

Here’s how I made mine:

1. Machine wash and dry drop cloth. I purchased mine from Menards. It cost just under $15.00 for a 4’ x 15’ drop cloth.

2. Create mirror image numbers and print on transfer paper (I have an ink jet printer but mistakenly used paper made for a laser printer. It was a mistake that worked in my favor because the images transfer to the fabric without that annoying film border. It comes out a bit grainy and aged – but honestly, I like that look …)


3. I cut the drop cloth fabric into 22” x 22” squares, allowing for a 1” seam allowance around the border …


Here’s a tip that guarantees a straight line: cut a small slit in the drop cloth and then tear …


4. Double fold over a 1/2” inch and pin. The drop cloth frays easily so the double fold will make it much more durable for frequently washed fabric napkins.


Here’s a quick ‘pic-tutorial’ on how I pinned the corners …


5. Sew … and since I’m a glutton for punishment, I sewed a double seam to ensure greater durability …


6. Now it’s time to transfer the mirror-image numbers … (check back tomorrow for my ‘screen cap’ tutorial on how to make mirror image text and numbers in a Microsoft Word document).


… the transfer paper I used comes out a bit grainy, but I really like that aged look on the drop cloth canvas …


… and the finished product …




Oh, and I have more projects planned that use numbers (sorry honey, hope you’re not reading this) …

... and be sure to check back tomorrow when I offer a screen cap tutorial on how to make mirror image numbers/text/words using Microsoft Word ...



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