Looking for a way to add a sweet touch to your Christmas table without buying a whole new set of chargers? These DIY peppermint chargers are budget-friendly, fun to make, and instantly bring festive cheer to your holiday table.
And the best part? You can use plain placemats, old chargers, or even cardboard rounds you already have—just add a little paint and a peppermint swirl stencil!
what you’ll need
(Note: I had all of these supplies on hand. If you are a crafter/DIYer, these are standard supplies! If not, below are links to the supplies.)
Round placemats or chargers (plain ones work best) (I used what I had and painted over)
White acrylic paint (or leave your base color if it’s already white)
Painter’s tape or a reusable stencil
Foam brush and small paint brushes (The ones with the flat edge and angled worked so well.)
Clear sealer (optional, for durability)
Printable peppermint stencil (keep reading for instructions!)
step-by-step instructions
Prep Your Surface
Wipe down your placemats/chargers so they’re clean and smooth. If they’re a dark color, add a base coat of white first.
Create or Print the Peppermint Stencil
Download the peppermint swirl stencil.
Scale it to fit your charger size (see scaling instructions below).
Print on regular paper or cardstock and cut out the red swirl sections.
Position the Stencil
Lay the stencil on your charger, securing it with painter’s tape so it doesn’t shift, if needed.
Paint the Red Sections
Dab red paint lightly over the stencil openings using a flat edged brush for crisp edges. Let it dry. Apply several coats.
Add Highlights, Gold Stripe and Touch Up
Once the red paint is dry, clean up any edges with white paint for a polished look. Add highlights to the red sections for more depth and interest. And, add gold stripes.
Seal for Protection (Optional)
If you’ll reuse these chargers often, spray or brush on a clear sealant to protect the paint. I suggest spraying.
Style Your Holiday Table!
Layer your peppermint chargers under simple white plates, add red napkins or candy canes, and you’ve got a festive Red, White & Yum tablescape!
How to Scale the Peppermint Stencil to Fit Your Chargers
Measure Your Charger
Use a ruler or tape measure to find the diameter of your charger or placemat (most are about 12–13 inches).
Open the Stencil File
Open the peppermint swirl image in Word, Google Docs, or a basic photo editor.
Resize the Image
In Word/Google Docs: click the image and set the width to your charger size (e.g., 12 inches).
In Preview/Paint: go to Print > Scale or Page Setup and match the width.
Print Full Size
If it fits on one page, print normally.
If it’s larger than your paper, select “Poster” or “Tile” mode in your printer settings. It will print in sections you can tape together.
Cut Out the Stencil
Carefully cut out the red swirl sections with scissors or a craft knife to create your stencil.
