Easy Craft Project: Spring Paper Bag Placemats

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by Diane Henkler on March 27th, 2023 | 4 Comments »

In anticipation of the arrival of spring and Easter, I went in search of finding something fresh and bright to bring into my house. I found gift wrap that looked very spring-like. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to use it, but I loved the orange, pink, lavender, and green floral pattern and polka dots.

After looking at it for a few days, I decided to make place mats for my Easter dinner table with it. I also recycled brown paper grocery bags to make them, so this could truly be considered a "green" project. After I made them and was taking the photos, I thought one of the mats could be cut-to-size, wrapped, and glued around a large tin juice can to use as a festive vase for your Easter table, too.

Spring Paperbag Placements

Supplies Needed:

Brown paper bag
Paint brush
Apple Barrel Paint in Lilac Mist
Mod Podge Paper Formula and Glossy Formula
Gift wrap - I bought it at Walmart
Straight edge and Mat knife
Straight pins
Scrap piece of cardboard or surface to pin into

Directions:

The place mat is made by painting the bag your desired color and then cutting it into 1-1/2-inch wide strips to weave together.

1.) Cut open the bag along seam. Use one side for your long strips and the other for the short strips. Paint both sides of bag with Apple Barrel Lilac Mist acrylic paint. If there are strips with the stores logo on it, cover those section with gift wrap. Half of your strips you will cover in gift wrap and do not need to be painted, but it is easier to paint the bag whole before it is cut.

2.) Cut 6 horizontal strips - 2-1/2" x 18 ". Cut 11 vertical strips - 2-1/2" x 12". I used my paper cutter for the shorter vertical strips.

3.) Cut strips of gift wrap the length of your brown bag strip x 4-inches. 1. Lie brown bag strip on wrong side of gift wrap and use Mod Podge for Paper to glue and wrap the gift wrap around the brown bag strip. 2. It will look like this on the back.

4.) Pin the top edge of the vertical strips to a piece of cardboard once all your strips are painted, covered with gift wrap, and dry. I used apiece of Homosote that I have on my worktable. This is done to anchor the strips so it is easy to weave them together.

5.) Start weaving, just like you did when you were at summer camp. I chose to make a pattern by alternating a painted strip with a gift wrapped covered one.

6.) (1)Use the Mod Podge and Brush and glue down all the edges. Flip it over and do blue down all the edges. 2. Place the tip of the brush under the woven sections that are not flapped. Once all the flaps and edges are glued, let it dry.

7.) Use a straight edge and knife to trim the sides evenly once dry.

8.) Leave the mat like this or if you want to be able use a damp cloth to wipe your mat clean if it gets dirty, then brush on 1-2 coats of Gloss or Matte Mod Podge and let dry. It will get a little bumpy and look white, but it will flatten and once it is dry will turn clear.