Draw a picture or say hello to these fun placemats. Then, when the meal is over, clean up the message along with the crumbs from dinner.
Iron the fabric so that it is perfectly smooth. No wrinkles need to appear when it comes time to place it on the particle board.
Measure and cut a piece of fabric one inch larger on each side than the particle board. For example, if your board is 14" x 18", cut the fabric to 16" x 20".
Cover the front of the board with a thin layer of decoupage glue.
Carefully center the fabric over the top of the glue-covered board and lay flat.
Smooth out the fabric with your hands, taking care to get rid of all air bubbles and wrinkles.
Wait for the glue to dry. Turn the board over and cut off the corners of the excess fabric in a triangle shape. This will form flaps that are angled inwards.
Apply decoupage glue to the excess flaps, then fold them over the back of the board. Wait for the glue to dry.
Measure and cut a piece of fabric to cover the exposed back of the board. You can do this by tracing the board onto the fabric with a pencil and then cutting just inside the line; This way the cut piece of fabric is slightly smaller than the board.
Attach the fabric backing with a layer of glue and wait for it to dry completely. The fabric part of the tablecloth is complete..
Add a top coat of decoupage glue to both sides of the placemat to seal the fabric. Let each side dry completely before moving on to the final step.
When the glue is dry, apply a thin, even layer of light chalkboard paint in a horizontal direction across the top of the tablecloth. Wait an hour and then apply another even coat of chalkboard paint, this time in a vertical direction. Allow the paint to cure for a total of 24 hours. Depending on the fabric you use, you may need to apply two more coats of clear chalkboard paint in each direction.
