DIY Fabric Plate Chargers

Is it a charger?  A placemat?  A hybrid of both?
I honestly don't know but I am calling them chargers.

I can tell you that this is one of the most satisfying DIY projects I have ever done!  Nothing is more fun them making something both pretty and useful.  Such bliss.

My initial color scheme was my no fail, go-to colors of light aqua and pale green.  But I could not find any fabric that spoke to me. My husband had actually suggested we use two shades of pink (how cute is he?) since the theme of the gala is "We are Family." When I saw this fabric I fell in love with it and switched gears.

I saw a similar project like this recently where wrapping paper or contact paper was used on fiber board. But can not remember where.  If any of you know where you saw something like this, please contact me so I can add a link and give proper credit.  While churning this idea in my head for the Gala, I spotted some FOAM BOARD at the dollar store (while buying my little birdies).  I figured that would work and it was inexpensive too!

I started off by seeing what a place setting looked like.  

(Do you like how I did it up  a bit fancy?) 

 I then figured I would need 15 x15 squares and began cutting with a rotary cutter and cutting mat.

And they all turned out different sizes.  With me measuring it.  Causing me to sweat with moderate anxiety. Just so we are clear on my math prowess...if the free world's existence depended on my math skills...the world as we know it would end.

So I called upon this sweet guy who I happened to be married to measure and cut the fiber board FOR me.  Which he did.  CORRECTLY. Look at him lovingly sweating it out on our unpainted garage floor.  That is devotion. I gotta tell ya I love this guy to pieces.  And do you also notice how I posed him cutting an already perfectly cut square since I did not think to take a photo until he was already done?  Just keeping it real folks.

So my cut boards ended up measuring 13 x 13 and PERFECT!  

15 x 15 would have been too big.

I cut my material with about an inch (give or take) allowance on all sides.

After cutting and ironing all my fabric pieces, I laid out a foam board square and cut out the corner (blue dotted lines) to help me fold over the excess fabric onto the back of the boards.

With the right side facing down (wrong side facing up), I sprayed the entire piece of fabric with spray adhesive. You can use Mod Podge too but it will take longer.  

This method took me only 30 minutes.

Working quickly, I lined up the foam board corners with the cut out corners and began folding up the sides. I worked two opposing sides together so I could pull the fabric tight as I worked.

 It will end up looking something like this on the back...

And like this on the front. :)

 These really took me no time to make.  (Special thanks to the hubs).

A great finishing touch would be to put felt on the back.  I may actually try using cork liner.

(the kind you line your drawers and shelves with)

It's getting fun now, right? 

What do you think of these easy DIY chargers?

So many possibilities...

I may share the centerpiece or favors and place cards tomorrow.  Still not sure.  

But I will know by then!

I am beyond excited to see what the whole thing will look like at the end of the week!

Hugs!

xoxo

linking to this week: