Blue Willow Ware china is one of the most collected china patterns in the world. Blue Willow Ware is well known for its beautiful blue and white color scheme. This Blue Willow Ware inspired placemat is a great way to capture the look of Blue Willow Ware with out having to spend the big bucks to get it!
These simple Blue Willow Ware place mats are a very easy craft project you can make out to really include a fun and historical table setting in your vintage dining room décor.
You can make these Vintage Blue Willow Ware placemats in any color you want, but blue and white is what I recommend.
To make this Vintage Blue Willow Ware Place Mat You Will Need:
Acetate
A trip to Kinko’s
Exacto Knife
Black marker
Ribbon (optional)
Premade canvas placemats
Primer
Paint
Whole punch
Scissors
Pinking sheers
Blue and white fabric paint
Go ahead and paint the entire mat out in some primer. Let this dry.
Now, roll on a coat of white over the whole placemat. You can make a border too if you want.
Now, while this is drying take some photos of Blue Willow Ware or some actual Blue Willow Ware. Use this as inspiration to draw out your own pattern to be painted on your placemat in blue.
You could also take your Blue Willow Ware to Kinko’s a have them photocopied up to place mat size. I find that 12 inches by 20 inches is a great size.
Now, you are ready to turn your Blue Willow Ware pattern into a stencil.
To do this you will need a few sheets for acetate.
Lay the acetate sheet on top of your Blue Willow Ware photocopies or plates.
Use the thin or extra fine Sharpie to trace out the outline details that are the most important.
Use the exacto knife to cut out your Blue Willow Ware stencil pattern. You want to cut out the parts that will be blue. Leave the white intact.
You will want to keep the outside of this stencil, not the inside (blue parts).
Cut all of your Blue Willow Ware stencils out first and then lay them out as desired on the placemat. Use the painter’s tape to hold them in place. You could also use the stencil adhesive spray.
Now, start stenciling. Use blue acrylic paints and stencil brushes. Fill in the stencil.
Ok, so now that you have the basic shape of your Vintage Blue Willow Ware dinner placemat you need to start decorating it. You could tape off a border it and stencil it in as well.
I like to use slightly darker blue paint pens to outline the Blue Willow Ware images. If you are doing this with a border then try to outline them in a similar paint color.
You could also run a bead of glue around images. Sprinkle on some very fine royal blue, and then knock off the excess. This would be a awesome take on a traditional look.
This step is optional:
Now, work your way around the edge with your hole punch. Punch one hole about every inch. Try to keep them space evenly from the edge and form each other.
Now, start on the back left top corner. Tape the end of your ribbon back behind the Blue Willow Ware placemat. Start weaving your pretty ribbon in an out of the border. I like the idea of a white or black ribbon.
You can finish off at the same top left corner. Remove the tape, tie a knot, and then cut off any extra ribbon! You’re finished. You have a beautiful homemade Vintage Blue Willow Ware placemat that is a new twist on the Blue Willow Ware look!
