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How to Make a Newspaper Tablecloth

Recycle newspapers into festive party tablecloths.
newspaper image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.com

Forget about purchasing an expensive disposable paper tablecloth for your next party. Recycle by making a newspaper tablecloth. Piece together several sheets of newspaper to create one large cover for your party table's surface. Newspapers provide a neutral background for decorative embellishments of color. These embellishments will enhance your party's theme. After creating a second use for the newspaper, these tablecloths are disposable, or portions can be cut out to place in a memory scrapbook.

Recycle newspapers into festive party tablecloths.
newspaper image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.com

Things You'll Need:

  • Sewing Machine
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Craft Glue
  • Decorative-Edge Scissors

Unfold and spread sheets of newspaper over your table. Line up and overlap their edges by half an inch. Allow excess paper to hang off of the table.

Lift each overlap one at a time and apply a thin line of craft glue between the layers. Press down the overlapping edges with your fingers.

Center the attached sheets on the table. Using the table edge as a guide, cut away the excess newspaper using ordinary scissors.

Trim around the edge of the cut tablecloth using decorative-edge scissors. The tablecloth will lay only on the surface of the table.

Place your sewing machine on the floor. This will give you a large flat surface to work and prevent the paper from wrinkling or tearing.

Sew around the tablecloth two inches from the edge using your sewing machine. Set the stitches to a straight, zigzag or decorative stitch of your choice. Use a thread color that matches your party's theme.

Tip

Use newspapers at least three weeks old. This will allow the ink to cure and prevent it from smudging onto clothing. Add color and design to your tablecloth. Apply acrylic paint to large rubber stamps and randomly stamp the newspaper.

Warnings:

  • Choose which pages to use carefully. Read over each page to make sure there is nothing on it that would offend your guests, especially if the tablecloth is to be used at a party for children.
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