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DIY Ruffled Plastic Streamers From A Plastic Tablecloth

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Looking for some easy and cute party decorations? These DIY Ruffled Plastic Streamers are the BEST! Grab a plastic tablecloth and make a bunch of inexpensive streamers to add pizzaz to any party theme.

If you love entertaining at home, you’ll love this simple idea.

A wall sign that says "HBD" with ruffled streamers from plastic tablecloths on the wall next to it.

A Cheap Party Decoration to Make at Home

These homemade party streamers are super inexpensive and add tons of color and texture to your party decor!

When my kids were younger, I used to LOVE throwing big parties! I would get crazy with decorations and DIY tons of projects.

I loved my parties to have a big visual impact but I also wanted things to be inexpensive.

And then I figured out that I could make ruffled plastic streamers from cheap disposable tablecloths!

This tutorial is YEARS old and the photography is not super great, so just bear with me. The photo above is a newer photo of the tablecloth streamers.

Why This Tutorial Works

It’s just a meeting if there aren’t party streamers, am I right?!

Plastic tablecloth streamers hung on a wall by a party table.

I LOVE using these streamers to decorate. These are really light and easy to hang with a little bit of washi or masking tape.

They are a great way to make a party look festive without much effort which is awesome! (Just like using big balloons).

Because plastic tablecloths come in so many colors and patterns, you can make these work for any party color scheme.

These plastic party streamers add a little bit of texture which I love. And they don’t show flaws that may happen during the DIY process.

If you tear one a little too much, no one can see it! Unless they were inspecting each inch of each streamer.

Related: The Best Places Online to Buy Party Supplies

Which would be odd. And you should probably ask them to leave your party.

So with just a cheap plastic tablecloth (around $2.50), you can create bunches of them. I estimate you can get about 15 long plastic streamers out of one tablecloth.

These ruffles can be made quickly so they’re great for last-minute celebrations (like when they spring teacher appreciation decorating on you the night before…).

Supplies

Plastic tablecloths on a table with scissors sitting on top of it to make plastic tablecloth streamers.

Ok, you don’t HAVE to have a rotary cutter I guess but it sure makes it super easy.

In the video above, I used scissors and it worked fine. There’s no need to make a super straight line since the edges will be ruffled.

But if you are super type-A, especially when it comes to crafts, use the rotary cutter.

How to Make Plastic Streamers

Cut plastic tablecloths to make into party streamers.

These instructions sound more difficult than it really is. If you get confused, review the images in the post or watch my tutorial video on YouTube.

(Somehow the link already gets broken when I try to share but you can get to my YouTube page by clicking on the 3 horitzontal lines at the top left and then click the YouTube icon farthest to the right.

Step 1

Do not fully unfold the tablecloth once you take it out of the package.

Find the side with the free ends of the tablecloth, not the fold, and cut a strip approximately 2″ wide.

Cut as many strips as you want/need.

By leaving the tablecloth folded up, you are able to cut through multiple layers at once.

This means you will cut more ruffle strips at one time and be able to keep the edges relatively straight.

You should get a strip with two free edges but depending on how the tablecloth is folded, you may end up with a super wide strip with a fold in the middle.

Just cut down the fold to make two separate strips.

I make this sound so confusing, but I promise it’s so simple. Watch the video in this post if you haven’t already.

A woman's hands showing you how to warp a strip of plastic tablecloth to make it look like a ruffled party streamer.

Step 2

Separate the strips that you cut.

Start at one end of the strip and hold the side edge of the plastic in both hands, between your thumb and pointer fingers (see image above).

The warping motion is kind of two motions in one, you’ll pull your thumbs gently away from each other while at the same time rolling your pointer fingers toward your body and up. (see video)

Continue down the length of the plastic strips until the whole side is ruffled.

Step 3

Then flip it over and do the other side.

You can fold the strip/s in half (long ways) so you have several layers of plastic to warp at once and you can do both edges at once. It makes it quicker and makes it harder to rip them.

I prefer to do 2 layers at a time, but you still can tear it pretty easily if you pull too hard. But of course, you could do just one plastic streamer at a time too.

I tried this with 4 layers of plastic and you have to pull pretty hard. I wouldn’t do more than 4 layers at once.

If you do several layers of plastic at once, it works best to keep the strip close to a table so it stays in line and you don’t have to stop and keep readjusting it.

When I made the video, I was hovering above a table and it was hard to keep it controlled.

But this might just be the world’s most forgiving DIY party decoration so you really don’t’ need to worry about doing anything wrong.

Plastic tablecloth party streamers that have been ruffled.

Also, you WILL tear the plastic a few times. As long as you haven’t torn it clear through to the other side, you don’t need to worry about it.

The tears kind of look like ruffles too so they blend in easily.

I wouldn’t point the tears out to my party guests but I would totally still use the garland.

If it does tear all the way through, you can easily knot the two pieces together.

I just trimmed the ends of the knot down so they didn’t stick out and it blended right in with the rest of the plastic streamers.

Warning: If you make a ton of these, just know you may give yourself a blister…

But they go away pretty quickly. And what is a little pain for the cutest party streamers ever? ;)

Ruffled streamers from plastic tablecloths to be used as party garlands.

These plastic tablecloth streamers are an easy DIY party decoration that you can make while watching TV.

Ruffled party streamers used to decorate a wall for a party.

I hung a few of the finished plastic party streamers up, along with my easy knotted yarn garland, for a quick party look so you can see how fun they are.

Plastic streamers on a wall for party decorations.

Because these are made from plastic tablecloths, they are perfect for outdoor parties!

And they absolutely won’t fall apart in a little moisture like paper streamers would. And if they get wet, the color won’t run.

How to Hang Plastic Streamers

Party streamers made out of plastic tablecloths

When I used the plastic streamers outside, I put them up with a staple gun.

When I use them inside, just a little tape is all you need!

Boy holding ruffled streamers made out of plastic tablecloths or trash bags.

I also wanted to see if you could make them with trash bags. And you totally can!

Black utility trash bags are a little bit shiney whic adds a nice touch and they ruffle really easily.

What I like most about this plastic streamers DIY is that they are really cheap to make but look super cute. They make a great wall decoration behind a food table or as a photo booth backdrop.

I’ve had people email me to tell me they used them as plastic seaweed for underwater themed parties. So get creative and use these for all kinds of parties!

Tips

  • This ruffle technique also works on the edge of a full plastic tablecloth. It adds a super girly ruffly touch.
  • You can also skip this ruffling technique and use plastic tablecloth streamers to make other party decorations like tassels, photo booth backdrops and so much more.

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58 Comments

  1. I made these in purple for a 50th birthday party. Everyone loved them and wanted to know where I bought them! I had the blisters to prove that they were homemade though. Thank you for the tutorial.

    1. Yeah! Thanks for making them! I’m so sorry you got blisters! Glad everyone loved them though!

      1. Melissa Drainville says:

        hello, i cant see the tutorial video. do you have a other adress for this ?
        Thank you

  2. I just found your site and I’m in LOVE with these ruffled table cloth streamers!! I’m just a little confused as to how you actually get the ruffle part? Do you get the ruffle by ripping the tablecloth or by pinching the edge of the tablecloth and pulling the tablecloth through your pinched finger and thumb? Thanks again for sharing this!!

    1. Hi! Yes, these streamers are pretty awesome! To get the plastic to “ruffle” you basically need to stretch it out. To do that, hold a strip of table clothe between your thumb and the side pointer finger with your left hand (thumbs facing up to the ceiling, pointer finger kind of curved). Hold the same strip with your right thumb and pointer finger almost touching your left hand. Then gently pull your hands away from each other, stretching the plastic. Does that make sense?? I need to have my husband help me take a photo of this step so it’s easier to understand!!!

      1. That made perfect sense! Thank you thank you I cant wait to try this

  3. These would be great to use at Young Women Camp since we always get at least a little bit of rain or dew in the morning that ruins anything paper. Thanks for sharing a great idea!

  4. Wow!!! We are planning on making giant pumpkins for our school hallway, and these would be PERFECT for the pumpkin vines!! Thank you for sharing your idea!!

  5. Condo Blues says:

    I think you get mother of the year because your son is wearing a Ramones t-shirt! I named my dog Blitzkrieg after Blitzkrieg Bop :)

  6. This is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing! I just ruffled a pink cloth for my daughter's 3rd birthday party. I've got a darker pink cloth that I'm going to (somehow) turn into a runner/overlay. This is such a great idea!

  7. Cupcakes and Cutlery says:

    Thanks MeganM! I have to be honest. I'm a very lazy crafter and only tried this once before I did the tutorial, never expecting people to be SO in to them. :) I need to update the post as, I too, found it better to double up the tablecloth. Thanks for sharing! I'd love to see pictures…
    Sharon

  8. I have been making these for my son's 1st bday party and for a bridal shower that I am hosting. After a few trial and errors and I found that if you just unfold the table cloth twice and then do your stretching/pulling of the table cloth to make the ruffles you will be less likely to rip the plastic. It also just seems to look better, but that maybe be just my opinion. It take a LOT LESS time this way too so it is at least worth a try! LOVE them!

  9. tickledpinkwithrosesandpearls.com says:

    ADORABLENESS!!!!
    I need to run not walk out to get plastic tablecloths now! No, I'm not having a party, I just HAVE to try this!
    Thanks!

  10. Deb Plapp says:

    I also think the streamers are great. Thanks for your nice comment about my blog. Deb

  11. sarah @ life {sweet} life says:

    Okay, I LOVE this and can't wait to try it!! It is a great tutorial, despite what you might think. Just found your blog & love it & your fun writing style!

  12. Very creative! Much prettier than plain streamers! And plastic tablecloths are so cheap!

  13. Asa 100% ruffle Queen, this made my day (trust me I needed it!) Lori

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