T Stands For Let's Talk Napkins, ATCs, and T Tuesday's Ninth Anniversary.

 

We're in my kitchen tonight because it is nighttime and I'm trying to get this ready before the deadline.  The past three T Tuesdays, I've almost been late getting the post finished.  Sadly, this is the brightest room in the house at night, and even it has lots of shadows. 

As an aside, I spoke with my foodie friend and neighbor, Sally who got a text on her cell phone from Evergy, our electric company.  Seems they are having a power failure in the neighborhood they keep trying to fix.  Every time they fail, they send text messages to anyone in the affected area who request updates.

I'm going to walk you through the types of napkins I own, and the way to prepare them for swapping. I cannot emphasize this enough.  It is helpful to purchase a package of napkins, because some may tear as you prepare them for mailing.  From left clockwise are tissue napkins, guest napkins, beverage or cocktail napkins, a cocktail napkin, stacks of cocktail napkins, and luncheon napkins.  I have dinner napkins, but didn't bring one out, since they are huge.  All my napkins are three ply.

Let's compare napkins.

As a rule, cocktail napkins are 5 inches X 5 inches (12.7 centimeters X 12.7 centimeters).  The dye used is usually food grade.  Luncheon napkins, shown below the cat napkin (which is one of my entries for T), are 6.5 inches squared (16.51 centimeters squared).  The dye used in these napkins is also food grade.

I looked everywhere to see what these small napkins are called.  One company sells similar ones they called party tissues.  They look a bit like a tissue to wipe your nose.  I can't believe these would use food grade dye.

Once fully open, you can see they are smaller than a cocktail napkin.  The only thing I can think of that these would be good for would be ATCs, where each image, in this case the Santa on a rocking horse, would be used in the foreground.

Napkins this size are called guest napkins.  They are usually found in restrooms and places where people can dry their hands without using a cloth towel.  These do not have to contain food safe dyes.  They are often paired with other napkins of the same design for elegant parties or weddings.

You can see they are much larger than the cocktail napkin.  They are also heavier in weight.

This is a cocktail/beverage napkin that has been opened and laid flat.  It is also my second drink entry.

When I created my napkin tutorial, I spent hours and hours removing the bottom two layers from the decorative napkin top.  I was watching an episode of Quilting Arts where a woman uses napkins in her quilts.  She showed how to remove the bottom two layers using transparent tape.  I have not tried this until now, so we will find out together if this works or not.

It's hard to see up close but place a length of tape on the back side of your napkin.  Be sure to press it firmly, which I did as soon as I took the photo.  Leave enough unsecured tape to grip easily.

Pull backward.  Success.  It worked.

Of course I had to choose the most difficult napkin to use as a demonstration.  I pulled the white layer back and kept the rest of the napkin on the table, ensuring if anything tore, it would be the white layer, not the decorator layer.  You will be able to peel the excess layer left behind with your fingernail.

Do the same with the middle layer.  Be extra gentle with the decorator layer.

Note how some of the dye bled through to the second layer of this napkin.  It doesn't always happen, but don't be surprised if it does.  I noticed the thickness of this napkin's decorator layer was much thicker than most, too.

If you have done it correctly, you will now have three layers, the top one complete and unblemished.  This is the layer you will send.

For the swap, send a minimum of TWO napkin tops for each person in the swap. I will be sending four to each participant.  So far, those who have said they would join the swap are Sharon, Jo, Lisca, Nancy, and Deb.  If, for some reason, you no longer want to be in the swap, let me know.  

 

If you want to be in the napkin swap, now is the time to let me know, so we can plan how many napkins to send.  The reason I need to know this week is so those who live in countries other than the states can get their swaps here by Friday, July 8.  All swaps must be in my hands by then.  It will give me time to complete the swap and have it ready to send on July 12, our official 9th anniversary date (or Week 468).  When this post goes live, it will be Week 462.

Those who have confirmed they do NOT want to be in the swap are Elle and Linda.  

 

As for the ATC swap to go along with the napkin swap, I have reconsidered that.  I promised that the napkin swap would only require ONE first class postage stamp from your country.  However, if we add ATCs to the mix, it will be more first class postage.  Therefore, we will have our PIF or Pay It Forward swap again this year.  Rules are as before, but I will go over them well before the swap will take place.  One thing I might add is, I was recently in an ATC swap at WOYWW (What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday) and over 3/4 of the participants swapped ATCs.  I would LOVE to see that kind of participation here.

One thing I want to mention about the napkin swap.  I want to see real postage stamps on your envelopes you send me.  If you send an envelope with metered mail, I will return it to you unopened.  This swap is about art exchanges and metered mail is NOT an art exchange.  More info next week on the swap exchange.  Hopefully by then we will know how many will be exchanging napkins.

In the interest of brevity, by now you know the rules.  Please add your drink related link below.  Be sure the link goes to your T post and NOT your blog in general.  BTW, THIS post will only be valid until midnight my time on Thursday, June 2.

Please don't forget to dig up your Second on the 2nd post which will go live at midnight my time on Thursday, June 2. 

Don't forget to let me know if you want to join the napkin swap by leaving your answer in this week's comments.  I am not a mind reader, so you must tell me Yea or Nay.