Instructions
Hello Makers! Today I’m sharing a quick technique for making decorative napkins to dress up your tablescape for any season. I’m inviting you to come along, and let’s get making!
Step 1: Gather all the supplies.
Step 2: In a small vessel, put some light colored Distress Paint such as Cracked Pistachio or Shabby Shutters.
Step 3: Add some water to thin it into a paint wash.
Step 4:
- Using the Distress Sprayer, spray water across the bottom of a white fabric napkin.
- The wet area should be about 2” wide all across the bottom of the napkin.
- With a paint brush, apply the light-colored thinned Distress Paint across the wet area of the napkin.
- It doesn’t need to be straight or perfect, just brush it on so it feels organic. Dry with a heat tool
Step 5: Add some Tarnished Brass Distress Paint to a small vessel and add a tiny bit of water to thin it just a little.
Step 6: Dip a thin paint brush into the Tarnished Brass paint and tap the paint brush so it puts some little flecks of Tarnished Brass paint all across the bottom of the napkin over the paint wash. Dry.
Step 7:
- Put the shamrock stamp from Curiosity Shop onto a stamping block.
- Squeeze a line of the darker-colored Distress Paint, such as Lucky Clover or Rustic Wilderness onto a Media Mat. Roll the brayer into it until the brayer has a thin layer on it.
- Roll the paint onto the stamp with the brayer.
- Locate the center of the bottom of the napkin and stamp the shamrock onto the Cracked Pistachio or Shabby Shutters background. Repeat.
Step 8: Continue stamping in a line across the bottom of the napkin until you reach both sides. Consider rotating the shamrock so the stem is in different positions. In this photo you can see the flecks of Tarnished Brass.
Step 9:
- Once all the paint is completely dry, fold the stamped bottom edge up to the top of the napkin so it is folded in half completely.
- Fold the border edge halfway down so it covers the fold and shows the stamped border.
- Flip the whole napkin over so the back is facing up. Now fold the left side in to the center and then the right side into the center.
- Lastly fold the left side over onto the right side. This will make a decorative pocket for silverware.
Step 10: There is a video tutorial showing how to make these napkins using the alternate color scheme as well as a set of napkins for another season. You can see that tutorial here:
For years I have made stamped napkins, used them for special occasions, and then washed them afterward. The Distress Paint looks great on the fabric and holds up well. With each wash they look a little more distressed, but that is part of the charm of these handmade serviettes.
Thank you so much for reading through the tutorial. We would love to see your Distress Paint creations. Be sure to tag Tim Holtz and Ranger Ink if you share on Social Media so we can see your makes!
Tami is a school teacher by trade, but has been crafting in some way or another most of her life. She started scrapbooking 25 years ago as a hobby outside of work. A few years later she discovered the world of Tim Holtz Distress, which led to a whole new love of stamping, die cutting, and Idea-ology. Check out Tami on her Plays Well with Paper social media sites - 
