Glittered Placemat

Step 1. Gather your supplies.

Step 2.

Draw and cut out several shapes on white scrap paper. Tip: have children practice drawing and identifying shapes as you name them aloud. If desired, you can also download our template by clicking the “template” button.

Step 3.

Cut (2) pieces of contact paper, approximately 18 inches wide. Put one aside for later. Tip: if the contact paper is too curled, roll it gently the opposite direction to help it stay flat.

Peel off the paper covering, and leave the contact paper with the sticky side facing up. Make sure to save the paper covering for the next step. 

Step 4.

Trace your template pieces with the marker onto the paper backing you just peeled off and cut out the shapes. We use this material as it will not permanently stick to the contact paper.

Step 5.

Gently shake a light color Glitter over your sticky contact paper laid out in step 3. We used the White Glitter.

Step 6.

Place a few of the shapes cut in step 4 on the contact paper.  Gently hold the shape with your fingers and sprinkle a darker color of Glitter around the shapes. Lift the shape and you will see a “hole” where the shape had been. This is also called a mask or a resist technique.

Step 7.

Place some other shapes around the contact paper. You can overlap the shapes. Sprinkle another darker color Glitter around the shapes.  Notice how the shapes look when they are overlapped.

Step 8.

Repeat Steps 6 and 7 until you have filled up the contact paper with shapes. You can sprinkle a little colored Glitter over the finished contact sheet.

Step 9.

Peel off the paper backing from the other piece of contact paper and place it sticky side down on top of your glitter covered contact paper.  Tip: line up the edges on the left side and gently press the contact paper together, moving from left to right. Gently smooth out any bubbles in the paper.

Step 10.

As a final step, cut a decorative edge around your placement. Your place mat is now ready to use at the kitchen table!