My friend Jan constantly inspires me with the creative ideas she comes up with for her grandchildren. Her latest project reminded me of the story of Rumpelstiltskin, who spun straw into gold.

Jan fashioned a bridal gown for her almost eight-year old granddaughter from a roll of white tablecloth paper left over from a backyard party.

Jan and Kyah were putting away the art supplies after a session on the dining room table. As she put the box on the garage shelf, Kyah wrapped the red plastic table cloth, used to cover the dining room table, around her body and asked: “Grandma can we make a dress out of this for me?”

Jan said “no” because the kids were going to be with them overnight and she knew from experience the art box would be out at least one more time before they went home and she would need the plastic cover to protect the table. It was obvious Kyah was disappointed. Then Jan spotted the roll of white tablecloth paper and the idea for the dress was born.

“She wasn’t sold on the white paper until I started gathering the paper for the skirt,” Jan told me. “She thought the gathers looked like roses and was quite impressed with my skills!”

“Grandma how do you know how to do this?” Kyah asked her. (Ah, the magic of grandma creativity!) Jan wrapped her torso in paper, fashioned straps, and then connected it all with clear packing tape. She wrapped the gathered skirt around Kyah’s waist and taped her up.

“The paper was stiff and had a pattern embossed on the edges so it puffed out perfectly and rustled and swished just right when she walked. She barely fit through the door into the house from the garage to show Grandpa! While she was gone, I used some scrap paper left from the bodice of the dress to make a veil. We grabbed some flowers from a vase on the counter and we had our “bride!”

“It was the best 15 minutes I’ve spent with a roll of paper and packing tape in a long time—and a great memory for Kyah and me to share!”

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