When I was 9 years old, my parents decided they were going to take my brother's, sister and I to my mother's birth place for a family vacation (England). They wanted us to learn to eat European style so they sat us down one night at dinner to a nicely set table and instructed us how to use our napkin, fork, and knife etc. I thought it was such a fun dinner and ever since then I have loved place setting, the ways other cultures eat and set their table settings and fun party place settings. I know a lady who has a new table setting with beautifully folded napkins on dinner plates set out each night before her family sits down to dinner the next night at their dining room table. It is a great way to keep your dining room table clean and clear of junk piles if you always have it set for dinner ahead of time. Also saves you time setting the table while you are frantically cooking dinner if it is already set ahead of time. Napkin folding doesn't need to be done just for parties or formal events either. If you let your children set the table, then teach them some of these fold or get them printed/picture instructions on how to fold fun napkins. This is a great way to have fun doing chores and also learning to set the table properly. Here are a few ideas on how to use your fun folded napkins for everyday meals or different events.
The Shirt and Tie Origami Fold-
Use this for a Father's Day meal, father, son or grandpa's Birthday, missionary farewell/homecoming/or when missionaries come for dinner, a son's baptism dinner/ordination/baby boy blessing lunch or special date night dinner for you husband/boyfriend.
The Rose Folds, Water Lily, Swan, or Heart Shaped Fold-
Use this for a Mother's Day meal, mother, daughter or grandmother's Birthday, girls baptism/blessing or YW accievement, little girls tea party, bridal/baby showers, Valentines Day or a romantic dinner with your spouse/date.
Candle Fold, Crown Fold, or Carnal Hat Fold-
Use for Christmas, Birthdays
Turkey Fold-
For Thanksgiving or pilgrim party harvest party, child's birthday party at Thanksgiving
Bunny Fold-
Use for Easter, little girls party, spring garden party, or baby shower
Fish Fold, Bird of Paradise Fold or Ship Fold-
Use for fish/Pirate boat theme Birthday (check out my jello cup post for a fun dessert too), fish friday dinner, tropical theme party, or at the beach house. Don't forget a button for the fishy eye.
Pocket Napkin Fold or Place Card Napkin Fold-
Use the pocket napkin fold with your utensils or print out your menu in a fun font on card stock paper and insert into the pocket fold of the napkin on the plate. If you have a child who is learning their ABC's, then use a small fridge magnet letter placed where the center edge fold is for some fun and learning. You could even use the letters of everyone's first initial to mark their place at the table as well by using the magnets or cut out lettering. If you are doing a fun party then you could fill the pocket with a fun little toy, flower or item with If you use the Place Card Napkin Fold then this is a great place to teach your children their names or for guests to find their setting.
Here are some websites with instructions on how to fold these fun napkins I mentioned and more:
http://www.napkinfoldingguide.com/
http://www.delish.com/archive/recipes/napkin-folding/
http://www.roterochs.de/english/napkins/harenapkin.html
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.e28a2ad6d3341f8836eb9e2bd373a0a0?vgnextoid=42cacf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD&rsc=search_home&autonomy_kw=napkin+folding&x=0&y=0
Go to your local library to find more napkin folding books or purchase this fun napkin origami fold book (pictured above)
Napkin Origami- Edited by Brian Sawyer
No comments:
Post a Comment