Last week my brother and his wife Ali came to visit us (well, mainly Clara, haha). They live up in NYC where John & I met and fell in love, so it’s always a treat to have them in our neck of the woods and it was actually their first time seeing our new house. Since it was almost exactly their one year wedding anniversary I thought I should DIY something sweet, and since I was an accidental kleptomaniac at their wedding (where John’s long arm snapped the pic below), I knew at least one material that I’d be using: a pilfered napkin.
Wait, let me explain. I had a three month old daughter who pretty much wanted to nurse the entire time. And somehow amid feedings and meeting & greetings a napkin from the table migrated into my purse/diaper bag. It probably got caught up in a blanket or was somehow mistaken for a bib. Total mystery. But the end result is that I accidentally took a cloth napkin from my brother’s wedding reception. And I’m the weirdo who actually called the venue to tell them what happened and offered to mail it back to them, to which the sweet man laughed and told me to that shipping it would be far more than it’s worth and to “consider it a gift.” So I did. And it sat in our full-of-junk-that-we-need-to-do-something-about playroom until Dan and Ali’s impending visit. At which point I said “ooh, I’ll use the stolen wedding napkin to make them an anniversary gift!”
John and I brainstormed all sorts of options for using it (making a fabric mat to display a framed photo from their wedding, dying it and cutting it down to make little fabric coasters, formally monogramming it and starching it to the bottom of a serving tray, etc). But for some reason the idea of needlepoint kept popping into my head. I knew I didn’t trust myself to actually needlepoint it (maybe someday, but with their visit fast approaching and lots of desk/office projects going on, I decided I’d rather “cheat”). And I actually liked the slightly off-kilter idea of hand-drawing a needlepoint inspired design right onto the napkin and then framing that. So first I trolled Pinterest and Google for needlepoint inspiration (most of which was far too advanced for a fake-needlepoint project like mine) and sketched out a few possibilities on graph paper.
Update: I just learned that needlepoint is the wrong word and I actually mean “cross-stitch” – so pretend I’m saying cross-stitch everywhere that I use the word needlpoint below.
John and I decided that this little drawing on the right was our favorite.
I worried how it would transfer onto the napkin (would it bleed? would it run? would it just look terrible and drawn on?), but luckily the Ikea frame that I had on hand (thanks to this Ikea run where we stockpiled a few for random projects like this) had a 5 x 7 ” opening, which meant that I could cut my stolen napkin into fourths so I’d have the option for three do-overs. There was definitely comfort in the fact that the first, second, and third attempt could fail and I’d still have one more shot. I figured the best method of transfer would just be to lay the cloth napkin over the card stock sketch and see if the design was visible (aka: traceable) through the fabric. And it was. Booyah.
Incidentally, if it wasn’t sheer enough I planned to tape the napkin and paper up to a window so the sun would shine through and make it easier to see, but I was glad to skip that step.
Then I just used a fine pointed marker to trace my little faux-needlepoint Xs all around the heart and the arrow and just freehanded the little dashed letters from the original design. Since I’m a detailed-oriented gal, I’ll take a moment to mention that the specific fine pointed marker that I used was a LePen (purchased on sale at Michael’s a few months back in teal because I loved it and couldn’t resist). Did the marker bleed? Yes. Was it slight? Yes. Did I like it? Surprisingly, yes. But it took me a second to realize that.
Since I had four shots at this (thanks to cutting my napkin into fourths), I tried my Le Pen first. And I wasn’t sure I liked how not-super-crisp the slight bleed made things. So then I tried tracing the same design onto a second fourth of the napkin with a ballpoint pen (which didn’t bleed at all). I did it in blue, and black, and even used a red Pilot rolling-ball pen too, just to exhaust a bunch of options.
I learned that I actually didn’t like the sharp lines as much as the softer and more charming slightly blurred lines from the Le Pen. For some reason it just looked more homemade and sweet and sort of timeworn and imperfect – as opposed to sharp and doodled with a pen. Does that make sense?
So I popped my favorite first attempt into my already-on-hand Ikea frame.
Here it is hanging on our frame wall so you can get a feel for how it might look when hung with a few other things at Dan & Ali’s place:
It’s kinda plain-jane on its own, but it’s a nice little frame for a grouping since it plays so well with other busier things.
Total spent: $0. But if you count the original cost of the frame, the price of a Le Pen marker, and a scrap of fabric/cloth napkin (if you don’t accidentally steal one like my frazzled-mom self) this project might be around twelve bucks or so. And when it came to time spent, maybe it took me half an hour from start to finish? Unless my brother Dan is reading this, in which case it was $100 and took me five grueling days to complete.
Speaking of the one-year-anniversary lovebirds, Dan and Ali seemed to be genuinely charmed by it, so… score. I think they especially loved that it was a stolen napkin from their venue (which was hilarious/meaningful), so perhaps using something special like a swatch from a wedding table runner (or even a non-fabric item like a paper menu or seating card?) could help you create something sort of handmade and personal to commemorate someone’s big day in a new way?
So there’s the story of a napkin that I accidentally stole, kept around for a full year, and then hunted down in our crazy playroom full o’ junk. Please tell me I’m not the only one who has inadvertently taken something that wasn’t theirs. And that I’m not the only one to have a giant mountain of odds & ends that desperately need to be sorted/garage saled/repurposed/donated. Oh well, at least I was actually able to locate the napkin without calling in a search crew. That means the playroom can’t be too bad, right? Right?
Wrong. It’s bad.
What have you sketched/framed lately? Any other accidental kleptomaniac stories? Feel free to make me feel less alone in my little napkin-caper incident.
Psst- After many requests we’re spilling the beans about our approach to feeding Clara over on BabyCenter. With our doc’s blessing, we tried a method called Baby Led Weaning which meant no purees and no babyfood (instead she got the same healthy foods that we were eating, tweaked so she could safely eat them right along with us). More on the whole shebang here.
Elisabeth@SimpleGreenishLiving says
Okay, this comment has nothing to do with your post (sorry), but I just HAD to share before I lost any of the details! You’ve recently shared some of your strange Donald Trump, Beyonce dreams, right? Well, here’s my Young House Love dream…SO random! Last night, I dreamed that you invited us over (my husband, baby, and I – and some other random people). We were all very excited for a tour of your house. So, here are some of the gems your home included (in addition to the lovely pictures we see here on your blog):
1) A large, in-ground pool in your sun room (the sun room was ginormous and had some sort of mesh/mosquito netting all along the walls, window, ceilings…very classy).
2) A film-editing room for John (because apparently that’s one of his hobbies in my dreams) complete with about 12 old fashioned looking TVs on a wall and carnival themed decor.
3) His and her log-cabin-esque closets on the exterior of the house that held mostly brown, leather shoes, including one pair we both agreed Lady Gaga would approve of.
There was SO much more, but these are the details that are still standing out in my memory. Thought you’d get a kick out of them :)
Elisabeth@SimpleGreenishLiving says
I should add that the Lady Gaga shoes were like Alexander McQueen’s 10 inch stilettos, but they were just tan, crocodile skin (no jewels or sequins, because in my dreams, Sherry is just too practical for that kind of nonsense – 10 inch stilettos however are perfectly normal).
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, hilarious! The funny thing is that John studied film editing in college and loves it. I think he would actually want a room like that. But ten inch stilettos, hmm. Might not be coordinated enough for those! Haha.
xo,
s
emma says
yay ithaca!
Jadie says
That is adorable and such a thoughtful little gift!! You have inspired me to get out my kid’s Christmas stockings and finish them before Christmas this year!
Anna says
I love doing cross-stitch. You should try it sometime. It’s fun and easy, and the repetition is soothing. But I hate finishing projects because then I’m sad that it’s done (is that weird or what?) so I NEVER finish my cross-stitch projects. That reminds me that I have one unfinished one hiding under my bed. Maybe I should actually try to finish it…
Also, my best “accidental kleptomaniac” story is kinda the other way around. My mom ordered me a cashmere sweater from J. Crew for Christmas a few years ago, and when I opened the box a strapless summer dress fell out with the sweater. I was like “hey, cool! this is a great dress!” and she was like “what? I didn’t order you a dress.” J. Crew accidentally sent me a free dress and it fit me PERFECTLY! I called to let them know and offer to send it back, but they told me to keep it. I suppose it was a Christmas gift from them :]
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- that’s pretty amazing!
xo,
s
Ami says
I am a sucker for meaningful/great story projects, especially given as gifts.
My hubs was an accidental klepto. We were at Lowes and put a hose (on clearance) on the bottom of the cart and went to check out, telling the checker we didn’t want it bagged and she could just scan it with her little gun. Well, week or so later we were thinking we should have gotten a different size and hunted down the receipt to find, you guessed, she never rang it up. We called the store and they no longer carried it, so just said oh well, it’s on us! Woohoo. Free hose!
Shady says
I once totally honestly and accidentally walked out of a bookstore with a book I’d been looking at but hadn’t paid for. I realized it pretty much instantly when the more awake part of my brain kicked in and I developed massive anxiety of being caught ‘shoplifting’. I immediately went back in to pay for it and asked the girl why the alarm hadn’t gone off when I’d left with it. She looked at me as if I had 3 head and cautiously thanked me for my honesty.
ann says
Love your faux cross stitch! So much easier that real stitchery and it looks just right. I’ve accidentally “lifted” things from time to time and my guilty conscience makes me go back and pay. Note-this is an extremely good lesson for your children to see you make good on a mistake.
Marla says
I love that you actually took the time to call the venue about the “stolen” napkin. Such a small thing but it says a lot about your integrity. And what a thoughtful gift. I’m a big home-made/personalized gift-giving person. There’s so much value in those gifts, even if you didn’t spend a dime.
We once came home with a wash cloth from the cabin we stayed in. We called them and had the same response. I think I called more so bc I was afraid they were going to figure it out and charge us a fine :)
Jessica says
This is a really cute present. Especially since the UK Traditional One year Anniversary gift is cotton. So a napkin from their wedding (even though it might not be all cotton) is a perfect gift. I love it! Great work!
YoungHouseLove says
Oooh I love that! It was accidentally on UK-theme!
xo,
s
Ali Miller says
I love this, and you say it is plain jane, but if Dan and Ali (I’m Ali too, YEY!) wanted to make it pop on it’s own, they could always put it in a brightly colored frame (or perhaps even paint that frame the same color as your pen).
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah- I love that idea!!! They could even spray paint the one it’s in.
xo,
s
em says
Babies definitely make us accidently steal stuff. I was at target with my baby in a carseat in the cart and my toddler in the child seat at the front and packed the cart with stuff all around the baby and next to the toddler. I paid, got out to my car, strapped the kids into their carseats, and put the purchases in the car. It was then that I realized a birthday card had slipped under the carseat and I had not paid for it. By that point, the baby was tired and crying and the toddler was hungry, so I briefly thought about just keeping the card. But, then I decided it was morally wrong and would set a bad example for my kids. So, I unstrapped each kid, put them back in the cart, and went back to pay for the card. The clerk looked at me like I was crazy, but I’m glad I did it. That being said, I blame Target for having stupid carts that you can’t put stuff under (stuff like giant packs of diapers should not have to go into the main compartment of the cart!)
Brandy says
I keep staring at it, I can’t believe it’s faux! It looks sooooo real!
Steph Connor says
So cute (as always)! Can you tell me where the silhouette of Clara (in the frame right above the needlepoint) is from? I need four of those :)
YoungHouseLove says
We actually made that. Here ya go: https://www.younghouselove.com/2010/10/head-shot/
xo,
s
Claire says
i don’t know where you get the energy for all of these projects! and to top it off, i don’t know how you have the talent for all of these projects, too!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw you’re sweet. Remember we do this stuff all day and all night because it’s a full time job thing. And because we don’t have a life… so painting rooms on a Friday night is our idea of a good time. Haha.
xo,
s
catherine says
that was a cute way to use the napkin – gotta love sentimental, even if it was accidentally stolen. :)
and i’ve been on a framing frenzy, but the most recent thing was a 16×20 large format print from a art photographer friend of mine. it depicts a solitary g.i. joe, laying on his belly about to shoot a gun. just for my gun loving hubby. i think that it is the only way any sort of gun will end up on my walls (or in the house). not dissing on gun owners, but i am freaked out by them. hence, the g.i. joe print.
oversharers ftw. :)
Beth C says
I was shopping in a fashion accessories store at the mall once, and after I left I noticed a package of earrings stuck to my sweater. I turned around, brought them back and explained what happened. The clerk was very nice about it!
Amanda says
What a neat, and thoughtful idea!
Jen @ The Decor Scene says
Love how the project turned out! Very cute!
Kim @ Yellow Brick Home says
Ha! Love it and the story behind it!
If you’re ready to tackle a thread and needle, we created our own template from a site we found – using a phrase from a reading in our wedding:
http://www.yellowbrickhome.com/2010/12/08/in-stitches/
YoungHouseLove says
LOVE IT SO MUCH I PINNED IT!
xo,
s
Erin says
I love your blog! Aside from this being a really sweet post (and such a good idea!), I love that you guys show pictures of your junk room and house on an average day. My husband and I are not bloggers, but we are renovating our 1926 house…the reality is that it’s a slow, expensive process and it doesn’t always look pretty! Thanks for keeping it real. I love reading about all your adventures! :)
Paula says
I totally stole a napkin, in nearly the same way, from my cousin’s wedding in May.
We had our 6 month old son with us, and we’d used it as a “blanket” for a little bit at the reception. Somehow it came home with us. For now, we’re calling it Zack’s napkin.
But, I love the idea and maybe Ian and Sarah will be getting something “cloth” for their first anniversary. :)
Jen N. says
I know how you feel! We just got back from a weekend out of town and as I was unpacking I found a small towel from the hotel. oops! must have grabbed it along with a handful of my things when I was rushing to pack my suitcase so we could check out on time. lol!
Savannah says
I sewed about 120 napkins in color coordinating Amy Butler fabric for my wedding in May, and only about half actually made it back home with me. So don’t worry you are not alone in the napkin pocketing, although I’m pretty sure most of thievery involved at my wedding was intentional. It’s okay though, what would I do with 120 napkins?? Maybe I’ll get a sweet anniversary gift made from one of them next year!
YoungHouseLove says
Wow- it’s amazing that you sewed that many! I hope at least one comes back to you in gift form!
xo,
s
Hillary says
This is kind of the cutest thing ever. I want to do it for my best friend’s wedding next month!
Nora says
Aw what a cute idea! My BF was reading over my shoulder and he thinks you guys look super young. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, good. Maybe we can keep our “Young” House Love name a little longer. We worried we were getting too old for it. Haha.
xo,
s
Sarah W. says
After making a mental note to “steal cloth napkin at next reception” I remembered that since my husband was a groomsman in our friends’ wedding he bought the handkerchief for his tux to match the wedding color. I am going to use this idea for their 2nd anniversary gift since its cotton! :)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s such a cute idea!
xo,
s
Pam says
We have taken home a few restaurant napkins that hid away in the diaper bag. We have also had to return to the store to pay for items hidden under the car seat in the shopping cart.
On a totally separate note, yay for baby-led weaning!
Eileen says
When I was a teenager my mom was in a wheelchair and whenever we would go out to eat she would accidentally leave the cloth napkin on her lap as she left the restaurant. When we’d get to the car she’d realize her mistake and just toss it into the car. We had quite the collection of cloth napkins and still to this day I’ll find a random unmatched napkin and laugh at my mother the klepto.
Katrina Gelino says
Here’s what I framed yesterday…your nursery wall inspired me. Current I used scrapbook papers as placeholders for future photos. Enjoy!
http://katrinagelino.tumblr.com/
YoungHouseLove says
So charming!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Such a cute idea! I’m also glad to see that even you guys have a room full o “junk”! It makes me feel not so bad about ours. :)
kit @ DIYdiva says
I think my new favorite thing is drawing on things that technically shouldn’t be drawn on. Although really, what’s the point of being an adult if you cant scribble with markers on everything in sight without getting in trouble. I recently started tearing pages out of a book to use as canvases (framed with matboard and hung with clothspins):
Sarah says
Ok, so not technically a kleptomaniac story but…yesterday, I was at Michaels getting some last minute things for a party I’m hosting (they’re having great sales btw). I grabbed a 12 pack of tea lights in pretty glass holders to place all around the table. No idea what they cost but they were in the clearance section…they rang up as $.1! Yup, that’s right…a penny! I paid a penny for a pack that usually costs about $7.99. Needless to say, I was pumped.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh- amaaaazing!
xo,
s
emily says
Excellent job! Nice frames, from where did you get them?
YoungHouseLove says
Ikea!
xo,
s
Molly P-H says
Inspired by YHL (again :), we finally got around to framing 10 or more Broadway show window cards (14×22″ posters promoting broadway shows). Some date back to the early 90s when I was first going to NYC every year (love. that. city.). We used framing coupons from Joanns/Michaels/Hobby Lobby since we wanted simple black metal frames and no mats. So, we hope the lower cost framing turns out okay in the long run. Molly in Florida
YoungHouseLove says
Love it! Sounds cute!
xo,
s
Hannah says
This inspired a gift for the bride whose wedding I’m in this weekend. Thank you! I’m having all us bridesmaids write meaningful words on a handkerchief for her. I dunno if it’ll be framable afterwards but there’s potential!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s such a great idea!!!
xo,
s