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Paper Crafts: Custom Paper Table Runner Tutorial
Paper crafts are one of the quickest ways to customize a theme party.
Today’s paper crafts tutorial will show you how to make a custom table runner perfect for any theme party in about 20 minutes! I’m not kidding!
Paper Crafts: Paper Table Runner
You’ll need:
- Enough sheets of scrapbook paper to reach the entire length of the table in question and down the sides if you like a longer look.
- A paper cutter for nice clean cuts with precise 90 degree angles
- Packing tape. Yup, you heard me. We’re gettin’ fancy!
- A paper punch to go along the edges of the table runner. I like my Martha Stewart model, though there’s lots out there.
- Scotch tape
How To Make This Paper Craft:
First up, select and cut your papers. For our forest party, I wanted a photoreal texturey look with lots of wood and some knit sweater patterns to give it a solid lumberjack feel without being too cheesy. You could use balloon paper for a birthday party, flag printed paper for 4th of July crafts, the options really are endless. I had a couple of long tables where I used full 12″ sheets of paper broken up with darker 6″ strips to give it some contrast and interest.
Next, flip your scrapbook papers over so you’re looking at their backsides. (Scandalous!) Very carefully line up the edges, and verrrry carefully tape them together using a piece of packing tape along that seam. Go slow, and make sure your papers are lined up correctly before you do this step! You don’t want one sheet to turn out upside down, so take that extra couple of seconds to make sure it’s really how you want it before taping. Only tape on the backside so there’s no shiny tape on the front side.
See how nice that looks? Taking a little time and pride in your work is key for paper crafts success, people! Now comes the fun part – let’s bust out that edge puncher!
Punching around the edge of your new table runner is the most time-consuming part of this paper crafts project. Be careful at those corners so everything lines up correctly! I’ll be honest with you. My corners didn’t line up perfectly. Whoopsie.
When you’ve made it around the entire edge, the only thing left is to add little scotch tape loops to the back to affix the table runner to the table of your choice. The effect when it’s finished is awesome!! Lots of texture, and it looks super pro. This is a great paper crafts project because it’s cool looking, but doesn’t take so long that you’re sad when food gets on it and you throw it away at the end of the night. BUT if you’re a hardcore scrapbooker, and the party is special enough, you could keep some of this scrapbook paper table runner as an element to work into your scrapbook pages about the party! Save that wine stain forever!
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS CRAFT!
Painted Welcome Sign
This one takes about 5 minutes and gives partygoers a hint of what they’re getting into walking into your door.
- Cut a heart from woodgrain scrapbook paper.
- Paint your “welcome loggers” message in a color that looks like it was carved into the wood. Don’t stress, it does NOT have to be perfect!
- Add a big glittery B to turn it into welcome B+loggers!
Don’t forget about this week’s Hearts and Laserbeams giveaway! Enter our forest party blog giveaway to win a set of four wine painted coasters!
Click here and scroll to the bottom to enter!
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Freelance illustrator Steph Calvert is an award-winning artist with 24 years of experience working as a creative professional. She is based in McDonough, Georgia, just south of Atlanta.
Steph Calvert has expertise as a children’s book illustrator. She is an expert surface pattern designer for art licensing and creates line drawings for publishing and product design. Steph has years of additional expertise as a mural artist, creating original art, and logo design for small businesses. She is currently querying literary agents with her first author/illustrator book projects.
Writing CLIENTS INCLUDE
Moonfrye.com
OC Weekly
Educational Highlights
National SCBWI Conference, 2023
Illustration Summer Camp – The Highlights Foundation, 2021
Make Art That Sells, 2017
BFA in Computer Art – SCAD, 1999
4 responses to “Paper Crafts: Custom Paper Table Runner Tutorial”
That is adorable! And I’m thinking pretty darn affordable! Thanks for the great tip!
You got it! I’m so looking forward to using this technique again for my sister’s baby shower this winter. But I’m probably going to find an excuse to make another one before that. Like say, for dinner tonight!
“Honey we need a table runner for dinner, it’s FANCY DINNER!”
“It’s McDonalds.”
“Same difference!”
Thank you!!!! Using this to decorate 10 tables for a church function on a tight budget! 🙂
You are SO welcome!! I love this technique for keeping party decorations custom yet affordable. If you post pics of the event online, I’d love to see them!