Napkin technique idea heart tray bowl

Step 1: Preparing the tray
Start by carefully cleaning your tray to remove dust and dirt. This will prevent these particles from affecting the colour or finish.

Once the tray is dry, paint the inside surface and the narrow edges of the tray with white paint. The colours of your napkin motif will stand out particularly well on this light background. Use an antique green colour for the outer surfaces. This is ideal for the vintage look. It is best to apply 2 to 3 coats of paint. This will give you good coverage and an even finish. Allow each coat to dry well before applying the next.

Step 2: Preparing the napkins
While the tray is drying, you can get to work on the napkin technique. Carefully remove the top printed paper layer of the napkin from the bottom layers. You will only need this thin layer of motif for your design. Place it in the tray and mark the required size with a pencil. This will help you to fit the napkin perfectly into the tray. Cut the napkins according to the markings.

Step 3: Applying the napkin technique
Coat the base of the tray with a thin layer of napkin varnish. This acts as an adhesive and ensures that the napkins adhere well. Then carefully place the cut napkins on the base plate. Make sure that the napkins do not have any folding stars: work from the centre to the edges to avoid air bubbles. Then coat the designed napkin motif again with the varnish for final fixing.