Turkey Day Place Mats

• Muslin
• Pinking sheers
• Thick brown yarn
• White glue
• Various colors of acrylic paint
• Corks

1. Cut the muslin into a 14"x18" rectangle with pinking shears (for decorative edge).

2. Thin out glue with water (about a one-to-one ratio) and dip a 12" piece of string into mixture. Squeeze string to remove excess moisture, then place vertically on muslin about 4" in from the left edge.

3. Repeat with a 5" and 7" piece of string to make tree branches; let dry.

4. Dip one end of a cork into paint and stamp on fabric around string tree to make leaves. Repeat with different colors until tree is full; let dry completely.

Originally published in the November 2009 issue of Parents magazine.

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