You can use construction paper. Get some clear 'contact paper' that is used for shelves and put on one side. That way you can glue on a design before you 'laminate it. That is what we did in Sunday School for kiddies to use for a special meal. My GSs still have many of them for different holidays. You could also get a ream of little heavier paper for about $3 at WM.

Our church uses rolls of table paer or thin plastic,and then sprinkles all those glittery things on it to fit the theme. A centerpiece at each table. They look so pretty.No need for place mats....just an idea.

The kids are going to make centerpieces. I wanted to add a little more color pop. This is going to be in the school cafeteria. It's hard to decorate a room like that without spending a lot of money. I don't want to buy the laminate or contact paper because I think it'd be too expensive for this group. I may just save the money and buy colored plastic plates and a contrasting napkin.

Thanks for the help.

How about just using pretty rolls of foil or glossy wrapping paper and cutting out placemat sized pieces to use? That should be pretty affordable and would add lots of nice color. Be sure to go to the Dollar Tree or 99 cent stores for your paper plates and napkins too. Luvs

Too bad about the laminate.. I used that machine all the time in my school to make various table runners and placemats. What you could do is Buy Clear Plastic Table Cloths (cheap at $ store) and put something colorful..like have the kids cut spring flowers out of colorful construction paper...glue them down on white runner paper,or individual white construction sheets for placemats, then cover the whole thing w/the clear plastic. It would be colorful and cheap, and the paper flowers would be protected by the clear plastic.
jane

How about the first leaves of spring? Collect several varieties from different trees and glue on construction paper. To give them a longer lasting life, give them a couple of coats of decoupage medium. ;o)