Step 1:

Start with making the base (i.e. where the napkin has to come) lighter in colour. Choose a colour that goes with the napkin: a dark paint will make a light napkin change in colour. Therefore we use acrylic paint, which is appropriate for porous bases.
Should you want to work with napkins on a coloured base, we refer to our section NAPKIN FOIL.

Step 2:

Tear or cut the pattern out of the napkin.
Pull the layers apart and use only the upper layer.

Step 3:

The place where you want the napkin to come has to be rubbed with special napkin glue.

1st possibility: apply the napkin onto the glue (that is still wet) and rub with your fingertips or with a sponge brush from the middle to the sides until the napkin sits neatly and smooth on the object.

Apply another layer of glue onto the napkin; the best way to do this is by using a sponge brush, as you will easily tear the wet napkin apart with a normal brush.

Let everything dry.

2nd possibility: especially used with flat objects, but can just as well be used for e.g. little flowerpots.

Let the glue dry. Put the napkin on the object and put a piece of baking paper onto it.

Heat the iron and iron the napkin (+ baking paper). Because of the heat the glue will melt and the napkin will be smooth on the object.

Step 4:

Although the napkin glue is as well a finishing coat, the object still has to be varnished for use outdoors.

Objects that will only be used indoors obviously don’t need to be varnished.