{Christmas} Snowflake Placemats & A(nother) No-Sew Table Runner

A no-sew runner? Me? Yeah, making table runners seems to be what I do these days. But I wanted to bring some Holiday Cheer into the breakfast room, and it’s hard to beat the impact a few swatches of fabric can make!

Here’s our breakfast table (and dinner table 99% of the time), looking as happy as a table can:

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Let’s break it down and build it in layers, shall we?

I spotted this Dr. Seuss-like outdoor fabric at Hancock Fabric and thought it was a fun twist on the classic Christmas colors. I folded the edges under with the iron, then decided to skip the Stitch Witchery and just used fabric glue to create the ‘hem.’ It took all of about 5 minutes.

Picnik collage

For the centerpiece, I filled my DIY pedestal bowl with ornaments that match this year’s Christmas tree color scheme.

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Not one to leave well-enough alone, I attempted made snowflake placemats out of felt, sequin discs and fabric glue.

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Thank goodness I had extra felt, because apparently I’m the Worst.Snowflake.Maker.Ever!

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What the French is that?!?! I made snowflakes out of paper as a kid, so I didn’t think twice about it when I started cutting my first one out. One problem is how thick folded felt is….it’s like cutting a horse’s mane with nail scissors! (Or what I’d imagine it’d be like to cut a horse’s mane with nail scissors since I’ve not actually ever tried it.) I didn’t get much better at making them, so I don’t have any good tips for you. Definitely practice with paper first, and maybe create a template if you’re particular about how things turn out.

Once I had four snowflakes cut, I hoped to disguise their disfigurement, and add more sparkle, by gluing sequin discs on them.

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(This is totally the best one of the bunch…pitiful, right? I’m kind of hoping you don’t notice the others.)

But as a whole, it looks pretty cute…and definitely full of Christmas Cheer!

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(The really weird looking one is Mr. Sugarplum’s…so it’s not just me that sucks at making them!)

We switch to our Spode Christmas dishes the day after Thanksgiving, so I set the table with them to get the full effect.

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I raided my craft box and found jingle bells and a scrap of snowflake paper….so I rigged them up into musical napkin rings.

Picnik collage

I didn’t actually cook anything, but at least the table is ready for if when I do!

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So who’s the snowflake-making-wizard out there…and what tips do you have for me?! And has anyone ever actually cut a horse’s mane?

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31 Comments

  1. The runner is fab, if I had time to get fabric before my party I would be doing this! AND the snowflakes, ha, I hear you about cutting snowflakes out of felt, I tried to make a skirt last year, it's okay, but it is harder to fold & cut felt than I had anticipated. Paper is soooooo much more cooperative! Still, your snowflakes turned out sweet!

    Janell

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  2. I think this looks awesome! I've never tried making snowflakes out of felt, but I'm sure it is really hard. I think they turned out great though…if I were hosting a holiday party, I would totally give this a try:)

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  3. You are so crafty lady! I love love the runner and the snowflakes are adorable. Nice work:)

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  4. I love it! This is such a fun table setting. Those stripes are so cheerful that you can't help but smile when you look at them. Thanks for joining my party and sharing it with us! 🙂

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  5. Mallory wrote:

    I think it turned out very cute! Snowflakes are harder than they look! I saw this blog post today about how to make them on {How About Orange}. http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-make-5-pointed-paper-snowflakes.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HowAboutOrange+(How+About+Orange)
    I'm going to try it next time I make snowflakes!

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  6. I dig the no-sew thing you've got going on over there. Even though I have a machine, I'm not very adept at using it! Very fun table- especially the jingle bells! I love the font and snowflakes you used in your pictures too.

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  7. Totally crushing on your striped table runner! A great, quick crafty make, Cass! xo

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  8. Cassie! You did it again. Daring. I LOVE the stripes. I am with megan on not whipping out the machine. I grab anything else before it. Super cute.

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  9. I love how playful it is, especially since it is the breakfast nook. My favorite part are the snowflake chargers, very cute!

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  10. love the red and white striped table runner. you are so creative!

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  11. I love the runner and may be stealing this idea with some leftover fabric I have. Second, the only way I have found that works to make felt snow flakes is to create one out of paper to use as a template and then use chalk to mark out what you need to cut. Finally cut everything out using a pair of small scissors. You can thank the 3rd grade teacher down the street from me for this….

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  12. i am loving the bold stripes of that runner! it's wonderful!

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  13. Michaela wrote:

    I love the runner and snowflakes! We have those same Christmas plates, by the way! I love putting them out…they're so cute for the Holidays

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  14. Allison wrote:

    I love your whimsical table! How fun! I think you did very well with those snowflakes!

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  15. love the stripes! your table is so festive…

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  16. Very nice, what a great table setting!

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  17. Jennifer wrote:

    I think your snowflakes turned out cute 🙂 I did read some good felt snowflake making tips by Jen at Tatertots and Jello though:
    http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/12/felt-project-winter-snowflake-specimen.html

    I love your Christmas table! And I'm your newest follower. 🙂

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  18. Simply LKJ wrote:

    I love the table runner Cassie. And, the snowflakes are adorable. I love the randomness!

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  19. Aubrey wrote:

    So do you want to come and decorate my holiday table??? (c: Love it, as usual, and that table runner is so stinkin' cute!

    http://loveallthingsbrightandbeautiful.blogspot.com

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  20. here's a great link I found to cut my snowflakes!
    http://www.highhopes.com/snowflakes.html

    hope it helps 🙂

    Posted 12.9.10 Reply
  21. That table runner is fabulous! Love it!

    Posted 12.10.10 Reply
  22. holy rusty. you are so cute! i love that these are no-sew. because if they weren't… they'd be a no-go. 😉

    Posted 12.10.10 Reply
  23. AnaLisa wrote:

    Nice!

    Posted 12.10.10 Reply
  24. emily wrote:

    I love the combo of the red and white stripes with the green snowflakes. So pretty! And you're cracking me up with the horse's mane! 🙂

    Posted 12.10.10 Reply
  25. Natalie wrote:

    The runner looks great! What a genius idea to iron and use fabric glue! I love the stripes. You are so inspiring, I need to kick it up a notch at our house:)

    Posted 12.10.10 Reply
  26. Val wrote:

    This is brilliant and something I could actually do. Yay. I love the red and white stripes. Thanks for posting.

    Posted 12.10.10 Reply
  27. I am loving that runner – in fact i may have to steal your idea for our christmas eve soiree! Also think the bells idea is super cute! Great post as ever!
    Rachie xo

    Posted 12.10.10 Reply
  28. coolkids wrote:

    adorable!!!! Love it! thecoolkidsblog.com

    Posted 12.11.10 Reply
  29. Very cute! The snowflake placemat idea is great – so simple and yet so festive. Thanks for sharing and Happy Holidays!

    Posted 12.11.10 Reply
  30. Love the no sew runner…Love anything no sew! LOL

    Posted 11.30.11 Reply
  31. Susan wrote:

    I love your table!! And I have the same dishes…they're not Spode though, they're Nikko Christmastime. Darling!!!

    Posted 11.30.11 Reply