Thanksgiving Table Setting

Thanksgiving Table Setting

Designed by Delores Ruzicka

Express the true spirit of Thanksgiving by spending time with family and friends and making a special handmade table setting just for them. Using Rit Dye, sheets of watercolor paper and a washable resist, you can create Thanksgiving Day invitations, place cards and a flower pot decoration. Watercolor paper is made of cotton fibers so it takes the dyes beautifully and is very durable.

Supplies

  • Rit Liquid Dye:  Lemon Yellow, Scarlet, Purple, Kelly Green, Cocoa Brown
  • Batik-EZ Resist Medium by Crafter’s Pick
  • 90 Lb. Watercolor Paper, 9” x 12”, several sheets
  • Brown Card Stock, 9” x 12”, several sheets
  • Brushes:  Detail Liner & Round 6
  • Sea Sponge
  • Scissors, Ruler, Pencil
  • Paper Glue
  • Paper Towels
  • Latex Gloves
  • Microwave
  • Plastic Table Cover

Dye-Painted Pumpkin Instructions

Note: The invitation, place cards and flower pot decoration are all made using the same dye-painted pumpkin design. Only the size varies.

1. Draw round pumpkin shape, veins, stem and leaf on white watercolor paper with Batik EZ Resist Medium. Let air dry or use a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.

2. Prepare Rit Dye for Painting:  Note:  Dyes can be used full strength out of the bottle or diluted with water.

Powder Dyes:  Measure and mix 2 teaspoons dye with ½ - 1 cup very hot water.

Liquid  Dyes:   Measure and mix 1 teaspoon dye with ½ -  1 cup very hot water.

3.  Begin by dye-painting Golden Yellow dye over entire pumpkin, including leaf and stem.

4.  Then dye-paint Scarlet dye over Golden Yellow dye on body of pumpkin.  The Scarlet and Golden Yellow dye will blend to make an orange pumpkin color.

5.  For leaf and stem, dye-paint Kelly Green highlights over Golden Yellow dye.  Then dye-paint Cocoa Brown and Purple highlights on leaf and stem.

6.  Then dye-paint Purple highlights on fullest part of pumpkin and around outer edge of pumpkin body.

7.  Line bottom of microwave with paper towels.  Place the wet watercolor paper in the microwave and set on High for one minute.

8.  Then place watercolor paper under running water, and use a sea sponge to remove the resist medium and excess dyes.  If deeper colors are desired, reapply dyes and place wet paper in microwave another minute.

Invitation

1.  Fold brown cardstock in half, creating a 4 1/2” x 6” card.

2.  Cut out pumpkin motif from dyed watercolor paper to fit on front of card. Glue to front side of brown cardstock.  Then cut out pumpkin shape through both layers of paper to create a 3-dimentional effect.

3.  To make “You’re Invited” message:  Cut a 2” x 1 ½” piece of watercolor paper.  Tear paper around the edges.  Dye-paint Lemon Yellow, Scarlet and Purple dyes on paper.  Dye-paint Cocoa Brown around the torn edges. Dry in the microwave as described in step

4.  Write “You’re Invited” on paper.

Place Card Instructions

1.  Dye-paint pumpkin to fit on  3 ½” x 2/12” brown card stock, following instructions above.  When paper is dry, cut out pumpkin shape.

2.  Cut 3 1/2” x 5” piece of  brown card stock.  Fold in half to 3 ½” x 2 ½”.  

3.  Glue pumpkin shape to one side of folded card.

4.  Write name on pumpkin.

Flower Pot Decoration

1.  Measure the circumference of flower pot, and add 1” for an overlap.  This will determine the overall size of paper needed.  Pumpkins may have to be pieced, if using a large pot.

2.  Dye-paint series of pumpkins to fit around pot, connecting pumpkins as desired, following instructions above.  When paper is dry, cut out pumpkin shapes.

3.  Glue paper pumpkins to flower pot. 

Details