Make a homemade and personalized placemat for your dad, with this easy kids’ craft.
The design possibilities are endless for this kids craft. Even if more than one child will be making the craft, it won’t be like dad is receiving two of the same thing. Each homemade placemat will be as unique as the child who made it.
Kids Craft Materials Needed for the Homemade Placemat for Dad
2 sheets of clear laminate, approx 11.5 x 17 inches (or measure a placemat from your table)
2 sheets of 11.5 x 17 inch piece of paper or smaller
crayons, markers, metallic pens, stamps or paint
photographs of the family, or color copies
pinking shears or decorative scissors (optional)
glue stick
Kids Craft: Preparation for the Homemade Placemat for Dad
For this kids craft and others, clear laminate can be purchased with other contact paper, in the kitchen section of Wal-Mart or Target, or other large retailer. The clear laminate may measure 12 inches in one direction. Don’t worry about cutting half an inch off, if the laminate you have is 12 inches in height.
Have an adult cut two pieces of laminate into sheet that are 17 inches long each for the homemade placemat craft. Once the laminate is measured, do not peel it yet! (You have to wait, impatient crafters!). Set the laminate aside.
Next, set up the kids work space with two sheets of paper. Although only one sheet of paper will be used, there are two sides to the placemat. By having two work surfaces out at once, the kids can design both sides at once. Note: for smaller children who may only be decorating one side of the placemat, only put out one sheet of paper for this kids craft.
Kids Craft: Materials Needed for the Homemade Placemat for Dad
Before gluing any objects the paper in this kids craft, take the time to “design” your placemat.
On one sheet of paper and place one or two family photographs on it. Once the photos look right on the homemade placemat, glue the photos to the placemat. Next, take a crayon or marker and write down a couple of words that you think of when you see those photos. Some ideas for words to include on this kids craft:
dad
smile
laugh
love
family
hugs
When that side is done, turn the paper over.
Draw a picture of your dad and you. Use stamps and ink or a crayon to write a message to him.
Kids Craft: Finishing Up the Homemade Placemat for Dad
Have an adult help you unpeel the laminate they cut for this kids craft. Place one sheet of the unpeeled sticky side down and have an adult help you place your designed placemat down flat.
Next, peel the other sheet of laminate and cover the front of the placemat.
Optional for this kids craft: cut decorative edges.
Now you have a homemade placemat for dad, that you make yourself, with this craft for kids.
