MAKE A GIFT: Monogram Tea Towels

So you managed to get your family an invite to someone else’s Thanksgiving feast… SCORE! Now you won’t have to worry about basting a Turkey come Thursday, but be a good guest and don’t forget a hostess gift. You could always go the edible route (try this or this) or for a more lasting token of appreciation make these easy Monogram Tea Towels.

Easy Neighbor or Hostess Gift idea at PagingSupermom.com

Made with freezer-paper stencils and craft paint, they’re so simple you could even whip them up on Thanksgiving morning (you know, in that time when — if not for your gracious host — you’d have been elbow-deep in turkey carcass.)

Here’s what you need:
:: white flour sack towels
:: freezer paper
:: craft knife
:: iron
:: acrylic craft paint
:: foam brush
:: scrap piece of cardboard

Begin by formatting the initial you want to use for the monogram in any word processor program. Type the letter and change it to a classic font (we used “Century”) then make it 250-point size. Center the letter on the page and print.

TutorialFreezerPaperStencils

Place a piece of freezer paper, shiny side down, over the top of your print out, and trace the letter onto the back of the freezer paper. Use a craft knife to cut out the letter. If your monogram has floating inner pieces (such as O, A, B) be sure to hang onto those pieces that you’ll need to complete the stencil. Although you can reuse your monogram print out, you will need one freezer paper stencil for each towel you wish to make.

Once your freezer-paper stencil is cut out, apply it to the towel. Align the stencil, shiny side down, at the center of one edge and iron into place. The heat from the iron will cause the plastic coating on the freezer paper to stick, sealing the edges to create a nice, crisp stencil line. (This process is similar to the Fireworks Splatter shirts we made last summer.)

Before painting, place a scrap piece of cardboard behind the fabric to catch any paint that might soak through. Using a foam brush dab on acrylic craft paint, covering the letter completely. Let paint dry. (A blow dryer really speeds up drying time if you’re in a hurry!) Carefully peel off the freezer paper.

TeaTowelPackagedHostessGift

To package we folded two monogrammed towels into thirds then rolled up and slid into a canning jar. Tie on a couple jingle bells with yarn or ribbon for a festive finishing touch.

Bettijo Bridges

Administrator at Paging Supermom
Bettijo is the founder and designer of Paging Supermom where she shares creative ideas for family fun. Known for practical and kid-friendly activities, free printables and holiday entertainment. Bettijo was a guest on the Martha Stewart Show and has frequently appeared on local TV. Her work has also been featured in national magazines including Real Simple, O, Redbook, Parents, Family Circle, and Health. She enjoys art, retro-modern design, photography and making new things. Mom of 4 kids.

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12 thoughts on “MAKE A GIFT: Monogram Tea Towels”

  1. I see that they are indeed washable. But, you did use regular craft paint, without adding any medium? One more question… MS Word only increases fonts to a certain size -not large enough for this project. Any suggestions?
    The green you used is beautiful! Thanks!

    Reply
    • I just used regular acrylic craft paint with nothing added… the fabric paint was more expensive so I figured I’d try the acrylic stuff first and it works great.

      As far as the MS Word thing, I’m able to make type as large as I want. I know the drop down menu only goes to 72, but you can usually just type in whatever number you want. At least that is how I do it. Good luck. –bettijo

      Reply
  2. can i use wax paper as opposed to freezer paper? will the wax paper stick to my iron and ruin it? i’m a little afraid to try it…

    Reply

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