Hello to all of our favorite people!
Today I thought we’d share a little how to on our place settings/savers we featured yesterday in our painted fall tablescape.
This year we decided to go with a little aqua and grass green love paired with some nice punches of fall trad tones and fun painted accents for our Thanksgiving table. The entire table was actually inspired by this little idea that popped up in my head…
My kids thought they were leaves. I guess they could be both, but I’m sticking with feathers. Either way, they love them. They’re a super quick afternoon project, and what I love the most about them, is that they can double for some pretty cool ornaments or accent pieces for various ideas down the line. {I think I want to see them displayed in a clever way for the boys’ room.} Here’s how we made them.
We started with these templates (you can download it right here) And printed them out onto regular sized paper. {There are three different variations of this feather, and you can use all or one.} Cutting them all individually, I then used them as templates on top of a standard thick crafting foam. Simply trace, and cut. You can scoop this foam up at any of your local craft stores, and I went with the greatest thickness I could find. I then cut them out using an X Acto (with a self healing mat underneath.)
Going with my current color obession, I started with a good coat (on the sides and top) of Benjamin Moore’s Calypso Blue. {Yes, it was already in my garage so I sometimes I stick with what I have} When that initial coat was dry, I used a painty pen to draw a simple line down the middle, and then angled lines down each side. This is to give it that natural “feather” shape, and I could use it as a guide with the various colors I then put on top.
From there, I started with grey and white {some leftover craft paint I already had} and painted each feather randomly at varying points. I ended up adding more “sections” on each feather than my original outline with the marker, but I was able to use it as a loose guide. I then went back over a few of the cracks with the painty pen again, to make sure it had an interesting contrast in the center. From there, I used some golden paint I already had left over from our pumpkins project, and silver on various shades of the grey and white, as well. So in ‘real life’, these feathers have a super cool glint to them.
I finished off each place setting with a napkin, tied with a scrap of fabric, an orange piece of ribbon and secured it with some jute. You could easily personalize each one, with a metallic pen, to save places at a special meal.
I think mine may be finding their way into a fun frame for the boys’ space, soon. Maybe even Emerson’s room. And because I received a few questions about it yesterday:
I used this screen printing method on scraps of fabric for this mock bunting in the background. {I ended up simply pinning them into our giant cork board for a rough hewn look.}
Tada! I absolutely love cherishing Thanksgiving. I hope you have fun making your table special this year. If you have any questions…ask away. And as always… let me know if you decide to make this-we’d love to see.
Have an inspired day!
Janet L says
This is gorgeous and I’m totally making these. Thank you for all your hard work
ashley @ the handmade home says
Thank you, Janet! ;} It was fun!
Destiny says
Ohhhh!!! Love this girl! Your color choices are just AMAZING……beautiful!!
ashley @ the handmade home says
thanks, sweet friend! ;}
Peta says
Thank you so much for the feather design. I love feathers & have a beautiful ceramic one my daughter bought for me & your feathers look very similar. I wanted to make some to hang from a light fitting. Yours are the first ones that I thought would be good enough. Sounds snobby. Isn’t. Thank you again. Would you like a photo when I’m finished.
ashley @ the handmade home says
I would love to see! ;} And you’re allowed to be a snob when it comes to decor. A good snob. haha!
Kristin says
Love the fabric for the table runner…is it from fabric.com? What is the name? Thanks!
Tanya says
My dining room table has a HUGE holiday style crush on your dining room table. You guys are amazing, thank you for the inspiration to continue to decorate and create around sweet little hands, tippee cups and crayons. We will all survive & remain stylish right? đ
xoxo, Tanya
twelveOeight
ashley @ the handmade home says
Amen, Tanya!!! đ
areti pifea says
fantastikoooooooooooooo