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I am having a card making class and I need something "Cheap" and disposable to cover the tables with. Anyone have any ideas? I thought I could buy some 2014 desk calendars, but they are not cheap either.
How big will your class be? Stampin Up! has beautiful grid paper that comes on a pad - not sure how many sheets on the pad, but it's priced somewhere around $10.00 (is that cheap?). I can't be without it - use it constantly even though my work table doesn't need to be covered up.
Or cheaper yet, go to the dollar store and buy paper tablecloths (like you'd get for a birthday party).
__________________ SilverSnow Lois Malachi 3:10 "See if I will not throw open the floodgates of heavenand pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it"
I looked at Stampin up, but still not sure I want to go that route, I have thought bout Dollar Store paper tablecloths. Just looking for options!
Thanks
Another vote for Dollar Tree plastic tablecloths. They come in all colors, too!
They get my vote also. If they get messy, just roll them up and pitch them. If you want paper on top of that, the large newsprint pads are a nice choice.
Just divide them by the number of participants.
__________________ Denise
"If a person who indulges in gluttony is a glutton, and a person who commits a felony is a felon, then God is an iron.�
― Spider Robinson
My brother in law is a builder and gives me large paper pads (bigger than A3) that he gets from suppliers. They're gridded so great for lining things up, drawing designs on, stamping off on and protecting the table surface. So if you know anyone in the building game ask them
__________________ Stop paint chip abuse. Act now!!
Won't somebody think of the paint chips?
I have a friend who works in a mortgage company. They have those desk pad calendars (very large). She saves them all for me to use as table covers / scratch paper.
You can get 50 sheets of newsprint at Michael's for under $5 (on sale) ore with your coupon Shop Now
Dollar store plastic table cloths and the shipping paper that is crumpled up in packages I receive. Just smooth out the paper and cut to the size you need. I also get the really cheap sheets of fun foam that are about 11" x 17" to put under the shipping paper so there is a cushion to stamp on. The shipping paper lasts a long time. Sometimes I wrap the shipping paper around the fun foam and tape it so it doesn't move when I'm working. Newspaper is a possibility but you can get messy black on you.
You could use old magazines or phone books to stamp on top of, too.
__________________ Arlene, The Snorkeler
Last edited by arlenevita; 09-13-2014 at 03:08 PM..
I use plastic table cloths from the dollar store in various colours to match the season or the class. I also have some old gestetner paper that someone gave me a while ago. The size is good (11 x 14) but you could also use ordinary copy paper. I usually stamp something in one corner that relates to the class ie:- Maple leaves, valentines, Mother's day etc. It depends how messy you are going to get but the tablecloths wipe off and the paper goes in the recycle bin.
I've seen big rolls of paper at Home Depot meant to cover floors for painting... maybe that could work ...either as the cover for the entire table, or cut up into individual mats?
I often repurpose old manila file folders from work that would be thrown away. I turn them over and then fold them inside out so get four sides from each folder. Great for stamping off your project or testing colors, brayered cards, wheels, etc. I also love grid paper for putting my stamps together straight - especially the verses. Lots of options.
Do you have a newspaper in your town? When ours did their own printing (they don't anymore) I went there and got "roll ends" for nothing. It is unprinted newsprint on the roll and the printer won't take the ends of the rolls. Usually had 10-15 feet on them.
I use now SU grid pad which I LOVE but before that I cut open brown paper gro bags and used one for each lady at my table. Works great and if they were not too messy I would re-use them.--But you need to say paper not plastic at the store.
Butcher paper! Especially if you teach a lot of classes. $20 at Sam's; I think it's 24" wide and 1000 feet long - you'd get a lot of mileage out of the roll.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
How about a half of a "posterboard" sheet (cost about 30 cents at walmart) topped by an 11x17 sheet of paper.
My upline has been using that for years and it works great. She uses the grid paper from SU, but you could use newsprint from the roll ends, or office paper, etc. The paper is just to keep us from getting adhesive and ink on the posterboard.
I bought a big roll of discounted wallpaper for like $3.00 I use it to cover the craft table at church for the 4 year old class. Nothing goes through that paper.
Something you can also use is shower curtains from these places too. If you spend a couple dollars more, then you can get shower curtains and/or plastic table clothes from Big Lots. You could wipe them down and use them again the next time you do something like this.
My sister also gets these cool clear overlays from Joanns, hobby lobby, and even big lots. Lots of places to get lots of different types of coverings.
I havee the old fashioned oilcloth that I bought by the metre . It covers my table when fully extended. It is harder wearing than plastic table cloths and is easy to clean.
I teach a lot of classes and I use a couple of different things but I stopped using the plastic table cloths because they aren't recyclable once they get messy and they wrinkle under the scrap paper.
I use a roll of newsprint paper found in the kids section at Ikea and you can find sheets at hobby stores but my fav is freezer paper because not much will soak through onto my tables and it can be recycled. I cover the entire table and tape it down with masking tape. Another reason I like paper is that I don't like the cushion that comes on the back of some tablecloths as things tend to tip over on a padded surface.
I buy 18 inch by 12 inch pads of 200 sheets of white newsprint from Walmart, and place them on my dollar store pastic tablecloths ($2). Some newspapers also sell their end rolls of newsprint for a couple of dollars, and they will last a very long time.
I bought a tablecloth liner and use it to cover the table. It has a felt-type backing which is good for the table, and the vinyl top wipes right off. Each guest then has her own SU grid paper on top of it. Love those grids for lining up layers while working on a card.
I hold cardclubs and find using the packing paper sold at UHaul is great for placemats. Large and if you want thick you can use more than one. They charge ten dollars for a large box and I find a box lasts me forever!
I'm with RiverIsis.............when I host a club I always use the $1 plastic tablecloths from Dollar Tree. They come in loads of colors and now I see even a few prints. Roll up all the "boo-boo's" with any scraps with the table cloth and toss. Couldn't be easier!!!!
__________________ Mary ~~ QFTD #152, FS#514CC Guest Design Team 2012, 2013, 2017 & 2022 2014 CAS Spring Design Team MemberSC Guest Design Team 2015 & 2022 SU Consultant "Life's greatest adventure is finding your place in the Circle of Life" - Lion King
Not sure if you would like something you could use over and over and over but QVC sells a 72" x 24" sheet of silicon baking liner. It is gridded and can be cut with scissors. It will withstand ink, heat guns, glue, etc. The only thing that will hurt it is piercing without a piercing pad. One 6 ft sheet runs about $30 after S&H and tax but it is just about indestructible. Swipe clean and use it again. Plus, it's heavy enough you really don't need a foam pad for stamping. In case you're interested it's QVC item # K40992.
I buy 18" x 24" sheets (in bulk) of buff manila paper. Someone gave me 500 sheets at least 2 years ago and I'm just finishing up using them. I teach large classes at least monthly all the time and use 5-10 in a pile at each person's chair. They can stamp on them, distress on them, get adhesive stuck on them, etc. and just turn it over or use the new one underneath. Also if a sheet only has a few trial stampings on it, I re-use it again and again. The 5-10 sheets pile gives a nice pad for better stamping for my students, also. Since I'm nearly out, I went to Dick Blick on line and ordered these Blick Economy Buff Manila Drawing Paper - BLICK art materials
You might even have a teacher supply story or a Blick store near you and can save the cost of shipping. I don't.
I also like to protect my good wood tables (or cover rips or stains on my craft tables), so I also buy flannel backed plastic table cloths (because they are reusable for a LONG, LONG time) -- usually Christmas ones or change of seasons ones when they go on sale for next to nothing. WalMart is usually my source, or sometimes I find some good ones at second-hand stores or department stores. As a result, my good dining table stays that way even when I have to use it for classes! Hope YOU find what's just right for you within everyone's suggestions!
I have a 100 ft x 4 ft roll of white plastic sheeting to put on table-tops for parties etc. I have also used very large laminated montages that have been made for special occasions eg 80th birthday party - just turn them over. While I was travelling last year I really wanted to use some new inks that I had purchased on the go but hadn't packed much by way of craft gear, and went to a $3 store for a couple of pet feeding mats - they worked well too.
When I can use laminated table tops, like cafeteria tables, then the whole table doesn't need to be covered and I use old computer paper (11x15). A friend gave me a whole box of it, which will last me more than a lifetime. At home on my kitchen table, I used an oil-cloth tablecloth and then laid down the computer paper for each person. However, my tablecloth does have sever "melted" spots from overzealous heat gun users, so I was glad I had that to protect the wood table top. My stash of computer paper is my go-to regardless of what else is underneath as some tables can easily be wiped down and not have to deal with a tablecloth.
Most of the time I can buy a pad of paper placemats at the dollar store. They are approx. 12" x 18". You can either leave the whole pad attached, pull off one or use a chunk of them.
Help Please!!
