Turn a sheet of construction paper into a placemat with paper weaving. These simple-to-make colorful placemats will brighten your table. Turn any meal into a special occasion, whether it's a family dinner, a birthday or a party, by weaving up a set of placemats. Figure out the number of placemats you want to make and a color theme. Now it's time to get weaving!
This project uses basic materials and is great for family, classroom or group craft time. This is an especially fun and fast craft for kids and parents to do together!
Related crafts: For weaving with yarn, see the Weave a Pincushion and Handwoven Bookmarks craft projects. To make a greeting card with a woven design, see the Paper Weaving Cards and Woven Heart Valentines craft projects.
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Read through the project, then gather the materials needed for making the placemat. To make the craft go faster, pre-cut the paper strips.
Select two colors of construction paper that go well together and contrast with each other. One color of construction paper is for the mat and the other for the weaving strips. Cut three 9" by ¾" strips from the weaving strip construction paper.
Tip: White and just about any color with work, as do complementary colors like blue and orange, red and green, or yellow and violet. Analogous color combinations are also very effective.
Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel. They are naturally in high contrast with each other and exude high energy.
Analogous colors are near each other on the color wheel, have a cheerful effect, reflect color schemes found in nature, and create color harmonies that are pleasing to the eye.
Slits for weaving in paper strips need to be cut in the placemat construction paper.
Weave the paper strips into the slits cut in the placemat. Starting from the back, bring the first strip up through the first slit and down through the second slit. Continue weaving the strips up and down through the slits. At the end, adjust the strip so it is even with the placemat edges at the top and bottom, and pushed to the left side of the slits. Do the same for the second strip but start from the back at the second slit and finish with the ninth slit. Weave the third strip like the first one.
Tip: It is much easier to weave the third strip if the first two strips are pushed to the left in the slits.
Arrange the strips so they are evenly spaced in the slits. Center the middle strip in the fold. Be sure the strips do not extend beyond the edges of the placemat.
Turn the placemat over and glue the ends of the strips, top and bottom, to the placemat. Trim strips, if needed.
That's it! Your placemat is ready
for the table!