How to Make Placemats With Wax Paper

Wax paper makes a good child's placemat.

Wax papers are convenient tools for the kitchen, and many people have discovered this culinary paper is a good craft medium too. Wax paper comes in rolls, most often in plain white sheets but with some searching, you can locate colored wax paper. A simple wax paper craft is placemat making. Display a flower or leaf collection in your work of art, or just show off some of your favorite colors. Search your yard or home for the components you will need to make wax paper placemats.

Things You'll Need

• Wax paper
• Yardstick
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Leaves
• Flowers
• Iron
• Ironing board
• Crayons
• Plastic storage bag
• Mallet

Instructions

Nature Placemat

1. Roll out the wax paper in the length you want. A good size placemat is 2 feet long. Use the width of the roll without cutting it down. This is easier as wax rolls are normally the ideal height. Measure the length with a yardstick.

2. Mark the edge with a pencil. Cut it with scissors. Repeat the process to get the two pieces you will need to make a placemat. You need two sheets for each placemat.

3. Walk in your yard to collect attractive leaves or flowers to add to the placemat. Remove bulky stems, and look for thin, flat items.

4. Heat up an iron on the low or warm setting.

5. Lay one sheet of wax paper on the ironing board. Arrange the leaves and collected items on top of the wax sheet. Keep the items away from the edges of the paper.

6. Place the second sheet of wax paper on top, even with the bottom piece.

7. Press the ironing board down onto the wax paper. Gently smooth the two pieces together by sliding the warm iron over the wax. This will melt the wax behind the two pieces together. Let the wax cool for a minute before handling it.

Melted Color Mat

1. Collect broken crayons. Remove the papers from the crayons and throw the paper away.

2. Place the crayons in a plastic storage bag.

3. Smash the crayons with a rubber mallet or kitchen mallet.

4. Lay a piece of wax paper on the ironing board.

5. Sprinkle the crayons around the wax paper. Place a second sheet of wax paper on top.

6. Glide the iron over the wax-covered crayons melting them in interesting shapes.

7. Let the wax paper cool for a minute before handling it.

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of leaves, you can use clippings of your favorite animals from magazines.

• Cut out construction paper creatures and place them in your wax paper montage.

References

• The Holiday Spot: Walk in Nature Placemats