Useful tips
Watch the video if you are too lazy to read
Watch the video if you are too lazy to read
As a rule, the festive table is decorated with interesting dishes, beautiful glasses and cutlery, but all this is perfectly complemented by original folded napkins for guests.
Paper napkins can be folded in many different ways to make your table more elegant and make a great impression on everyone.
Here are the most interesting ways to fold paper napkins for any table and for any event:
How to quickly fold paper napkins
1. Place the folded napkin on the table so that the corner where all the folds meet is on top (see image).
2. Start folding the bottom ends of the napkin upward, but leave a little space at the top after each folded end.
3. When you have folded all the ends of the napkin, turn it over.
4. Turn the napkin with the large end down so that it is shaped like the Superman sign.
5. Fold the left and right sides into thirds, one on top of the other.
6. Turn the napkin over.
*If you wish, you can put a beautiful stamp on the tip of the napkin.
Crafts for the exhibition
Such a topiary can also be taken to a school exhibition for crafts in order to regularly take honorable prizes. And your child will certainly enjoy this activity; at the same time, it develops his creative potential and gives him the opportunity to discover new talents. If you don’t have the desire or materials for such a product, you can make it simpler - paintings from paper napkins using the cutting or mosaic method.
Related article: DIY feather hairpin
Trimming is the process of gluing pieces of napkins rolled onto a thin stick onto PVA or any other glue, as well as onto plasticine. You can glue it arbitrarily onto some shapes or onto a finished drawing.
You don’t have to be able to draw for this; you can print out the drawing or cut it out from a coloring book and glue it onto thick cardboard. And even if it’s an ordinary flower, three-dimensional designs from such trimmings turn out very beautiful.
Mosaic is almost the same as gluing, only the napkins are cut into squares and twisted into beads. These balls can even be used to create beads for decorating a New Year tree or birthday party.
You can create various figures from plasticine and napkins in your free time with your children. Relax and engage in creative work with your child; using napkins is not so difficult. You can make toys for the Christmas tree, snowmen, the Christmas trees themselves, balls, fruits, animals.
First you need to mold a base from plasticine - a ball or bars, then cut a lot of squares from napkins with sides of 1-2 cm, and wrap pieces of paper onto a thin stick, for example, the back side of a pen shaft, then press these ends into the plasticine one after another.
Beautiful paper napkins on the table: double fan
1. Place the napkin laid out on the table.
2. Fold in half (from bottom to top).
3. Bend the top layer down (towards the bottom edge).
4. Turn the napkin over.
5. Fold the top layer down (toward the bottom edge).
6. Fold the napkin evenly like an accordion.
7. Take the napkin in your hand so that there are 2 layers on top. Fold the first layer inside each inner accordion piece downwards (see image).
8. Gently spread the napkin to form a fan.
Video instruction using a cotton napkin as an example:
Placement in glass
It happens that a napkin holder is not at hand when you need to set a festive table. In such a situation, you can beautifully fold paper napkins into a glass. There are several interesting ways of this placement:
- Candle. The paper product must be folded into a triangle, leaving about two centimeters from the edge. There should be a triangle underneath. Next, the workpiece needs to be turned over and carefully twisted, forming a candle. The material can be folded evenly, and there will be a straight candle, or you can do it slightly obliquely and place the figurine in a glass.
- Fan. To implement this method, you need to build a rectangle from a napkin. On the wide side, you need to fold the product like an accordion, forming a fold in the central part. After this, you should place it in a glass, straightening the edges.
- Cone. This method requires thick napkins to make the figure beautiful and elegant. To create a cone, the product needs to be folded into a triangle, and then bent like an accordion - about four folds. After which the corner is placed in a glass.
- Flower. To implement this method, a napkin is lowered into the glass, covering the walls. The following paper products are distributed similarly, filling the space inside the bowl. A bud formed from a napkin is placed in the very center.
To create a bright table decoration, any of the following methods will do. At the same time, the table setting will look beautiful and original, even if a special stand is not available. It is important to show imagination and lay out the napkins as neatly as possible.
Fan
Cone
Candle
Flower
Festive paper napkins: aster in a plate
Below is a video instruction for a more detailed analysis.
1. Lay out the napkin and place it on the table.
2. Fold the bottom and top to the middle.
3. Turn the napkin so that it lies across the table. Fold the top and bottom towards the middle.
Press the folds down well to maintain shape.
4. Unfold the napkin to a rectangular shape (with two opposing folds made in step 2). You will get 4 folds that divide the napkin into 4 rectangles (2 on each side).
5. Now you need to make 8 out of 4 rectangles (each of them will become an aster petal in the future). Start folding the napkin evenly like an accordion. First, turn the napkin over and start with the fold towards you and then away from you.
6. Prepare aster petals. From all the folds you need to make three-dimensional triangles. The work will be done with a quarter of the folds.
Start tucking the edges of the folds inside, after which you need to bend them so as to get triangles - the petals of a paper flower.
7. When all the edges of the folds are folded into triangles, connect the outer triangles to each other and the flower is ready. Place it on a plate.
Video instruction
Popular folding methods
The options for folding napkins when setting the table are very varied. Experienced craftsmen create complex designs from paper and linen squares. Those who are just beginning to master the art of decorating choose simpler shapes.
Candle
The figure is appropriate during a New Year's feast or evening meal. Looks good in any color. Place “candles” on snack plates or in glasses. You can roll the fabric into a candle in the classic way, leaving its middle hollow, or in an original way, forming a “flame” or “wick” at the end.
Wick
Flame
Lotus
To create fabric flowers, the size of the napkins matters. The side of each square should not be less than 50 cm. “Lotus” is rolled up from pastel-colored fabric and used for a wedding banquet or romantic dinner. Flowers in blue, pink, peach or lilac look especially beautiful.
Tulip
This beautiful option is suitable for decorating a celebration of any level. “Tulip” is folded in two ways: on a leg, using 2 squares, or in the form of a cup - from one. Traditional shades for this figure are red, pink, yellow or orange - from pastel to bright, depending on the occasion.
Crown
For official banquets, this option is performed in white. For weddings and anniversaries - in gold or silver. Folded figures should be formed from squares with a side of 50–60 cm. This folding method looks impressive, but does not draw too much attention to itself. Ideal for table setting in honor of a man's birthday.
Heart
To create this simple figure, red textiles are usually used. “Heart” is suitable for decorating a romantic dinner and a wedding feast. This figure is often used for table setting on the occasion of Valentine's Day.
Fan
Looks equally good on a plate and in a glass. Depending on the chosen color, it will decorate any event. Subdued colors are used for a friendly party, bright colors are used for a children's party. This is one of the most versatile options.
Butterfly
When serving, use various options for folding napkins in the form of this figure. The “butterfly” is created from colored fabric or fabric with a small pattern. Usually this figure is used for a men's holiday. If the hero of the occasion is a little boy, then you can take bright napkins; for a respectable gentleman, more austere colors are suitable.
Herringbone
Suitable for a family New Year's feast and festive banquet. The figure is made from textiles of any color that harmonizes with the dishes and tablecloth. An additional accent will be a shiny bead or wooden star on the top.
With space for a guest card
This method of folding fabric is used at official receptions where people who do not know each other are invited. Also suitable for a large-scale event (wedding or anniversary) with a large number of guests. It can be made in 2 versions: a simple bag or in the form of an envelope.
With napkin ring
One of the most beautiful ways to fold table textiles. A napkin decorated in this way is folded into the shape of a fan, flower, butterfly, and is used both at large feasts on the occasion of a wedding or prom, and at family celebrations. The option looks very original and elegant.
Under devices
The easiest way to fold woven products. Rectangular envelopes are made from textile squares, into which knives, spoons, and forks suitable for a given meal are placed. In addition to the envelope, there are other types of shapes for placing cutlery: a cone-shaped pocket, a hexagon.
