It's so easy to inject some colour into your home with simple craft projects – and these stencilled napkins are a lovely way to brighten up your table ahead of your next dinner party.

This is such an easy project with lovely results – our instructions involve creating your own stencil, meaning the napkins you create will be completely personal to you. But if you'd like to make things easier, you can buy stencils to transfer the paint onto your napkins.

These napkins would also be perfect for a wedding breakfast. We love the idea of stencilling the initials of your guests onto the napkin to double as a place setting.

You don't need any previous crafting experience to create these napkins – but be warned, it can get messy, so make sure you cover any surfaces!

What you need to make stencilled napkins

• Pencil

• Thick plain card or stencil sheets

• Tracing paper

• Craft knife and cutting mat

• Iron

• Plain cotton napkins

• Fabric paint

• Stencil brush

How to make stencilled napkins

1. Draw out a pattern and decide how many stencils you will make – you'll need one for each colour. For a two-colour print, transfer the final design (right way facing) onto two pieces of card using tracing paper and a pencil. You could also use stencil or acetate sheets instead of card.

2. With a craft knife and cutting mat, cut out the designs – here, we cut the leaves and stem from one and the petals and buds from the other.

3. With the ironed napkin flat, stipple thin layers of fabric paint in one colour using a stencil brush over the first stencil and repeat in several places. Leave the napkin to dry before lining up the other stencil and printing the second colour.

4. Fix the paint to the fabric paint instructions.

TIP: Make this even easier by using stencils from Annie Sloan or Nicolette Tabram

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