Creative Ways To Make Wedding Napkin Holders

Napkin rings are a great way to add a decorative element to your wedding table, and they can be made at home with a variety of materials, from leather to wire, rope, and even cardboard. Making your own napkin rings allows for endless customisation and is a fun, creative process. You can choose to make simple, inexpensive designs or more intricate, elegant ones, depending on your style and budget.

When creating your own wedding napkin rings, it's important to consider the type and size of napkins you'll be using, as well as the overall table décor. You can add ribbons, greenery, or flowers to enhance the design and coordinate with your wedding planner to ensure the napkin rings complement the rest of the table setting.

There are many online tutorials and ideas available to help you create the perfect wedding napkin rings for your special day.

Leather napkin rings

Firstly, you will need to gather your materials. For this project, you will need leather, a rotary cutter, a self-healing mat, a leather hole punch, and cloth napkins. You can find scrap leather at Hobby Lobby or on Amazon, or you can repurpose old leather bags and coats from thrift stores. Choose a thicker or heavyweight leather for stiffer napkin rings, or opt for a thinner, lightweight leather if you prefer a tighter fit around the napkin.

Once you have your materials, start by cutting the leather scraps into strips. The length of the strips will depend on the size of your napkins, but a standard length is around 7 to 7.5 inches. The width of the strips should be approximately 1 inch at the base and 0.3 inches at the top. Use a rotary cutter on a self-healing mat to get a precise cut.

Next, cut the top of the strip at an angle to create a pointed tip. This will be inserted into the hole to secure the napkin ring in place.

After cutting the strips, use a leather hole punch to create the slot. Punch 3 overlapping holes at the largest hole setting to create a wide enough slot for the pointed tip. Be careful not to punch too many holes, as you want the slot to be snug to hold the leather in place.

Finally, wrap the leather strips around your cloth napkins and insert the pointed tip into the slot. Pull it through until it is snug, and your DIY leather napkin rings are ready to decorate your wedding table!

You can further customise your napkin rings by adding embellishments such as wooden hearts, rhinestones, or charms. Leather napkin rings are a perfect addition to a casual outdoor wedding or rustic-themed wedding table setting.

Clay napkin rings

Materials and Preparation

First, gather your materials. You will need polymer clay (e.g., FIMO Soft in Sahara), baking/parchment paper, metal baking/pastry rings or foil-covered cardboard tubes, adhesive for gold leaf ("size"), thin silk ribbon (approximately 1/2" width), an acrylic roller, a clay cutting blade, and a pointed clay tool.

Before you begin, preheat your oven to 230°F / 110°C and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Clean your work surfaces and lay down baking paper to prepare for clay handling. It is important to ensure that no dust or fibres from fabrics or other sources come into contact with the clay.

Shaping the Clay

To make rolling the clay easier, break up and divide your block of clay into smaller chunks. Use the acrylic roller to roll out the clay until it is about 1/8" thick. Once you have the desired thickness, use the clay cutting blade to cut out rectangles of about 1.5" long. Avoid making the rectangles too wide, as they need to fit standard dinner plates, and not too thick, as this may affect baking.

Piercing and Shaping

Use the pointed clay tool to pierce a hole at each end of the rectangles. The holes should be large enough to accommodate the ribbon. Gently drape the clay pieces over the metal pastry rings or foil-covered cardboard tubes to give them a soft curve. Place the rings on the prepared baking sheet.

Baking

Bake the clay rings for about 30 minutes at the temperature specified on the clay packaging. To prevent the pastry rings from rolling around, weigh them down with an ovenproof item like a metal fork. Keep a close eye on the clay as it bakes, especially if you have a fan-assisted oven, as the baking time may be shorter. Polymer clay is done when it still has some flexibility and will harden as it cools.

Detailing and Assembly

Once the clay rings have fully cooled, it's time to add some shimmer! Apply a thin layer of "size" (gold leaf adhesive) with a small paintbrush to the areas where you want to add gold leaf. Allow the adhesive to dry for about 10-15 minutes. Tear off small pieces of gold leaf metal and carefully press them onto the adhesive using a soft, dry paintbrush. Don't worry about perfection; the organic look is part of the charm!

Finally, cut a piece of ribbon for each napkin ring, about 7.5" long. Thread the ribbon through the holes in the clay rings and adjust the tightness to fit your napkins. Tie a simple knot to secure each ring, and your clay napkin rings are ready to use!

Floral napkin rings

Materials and Tools

• Faux flowers in your choice of colour and style (such as peonies, hydrangeas, dahlias, or roses)
• Napkin ring bases (you can use materials like metal, wire, ribbon, or wood)
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors
• Optional: leaves, berries, or other embellishments

Step-by-Step Guide

• Prepare your napkin ring base. You can make this from scratch using materials like wire, ribbon, or wood, or you can purchase ready-made napkin rings. If you're feeling creative, you can even upcycle everyday items like cardboard or toilet paper rolls.
• Cut the stems of your faux flowers to a suitable length, leaving enough to attach them securely to the napkin ring base.
• Using your hot glue gun, carefully apply glue to the stem of each flower and attach it to the napkin ring base. Hold it in place for a few seconds to ensure a strong bond.
• If desired, add leaves, berries, or other embellishments to give your napkin rings a more natural and vibrant look. Again, use hot glue to secure them in place.
• Allow the glue to dry completely before handling the napkin rings.
• Repeat these steps until you have created enough floral napkin rings for all your wedding guests.

Customisation Ideas

• Choose flowers that match your wedding colour palette to create a cohesive look.
• Mix and match different types of flowers and colours for a whimsical, eclectic feel.
• Add greenery, such as leaves or eucalyptus sprigs, for a more natural, rustic appearance.
• Incorporate other decorative elements like pearls, rhinestones, or lace for extra glamour.
• For a personal touch, add small charms or accessories that reflect your wedding theme or your interests.

Wire napkin rings

Materials:

You will need wire (in the colour of your choice – gold, copper, or silver work best), wire cutters, and a ruler or measuring tape. You can also use some ribbon or twine for added decoration. If you want to get extra creative, you can add beads, charms, or other embellishments.

Step 1:

Start by measuring the width of your napkins when they are rolled up. This will give you an idea of how big to make your napkin rings. A standard size for napkin rings is around 1.75" to 2" in diameter.

Step 2:

Using your wire cutters, cut a piece of wire that is about 6" long. You can adjust this measurement depending on the size of your napkins and the desired looseness of the ring. Bend the wire into a circle, overlapping the ends by about 1".

Step 3:

Twist the overlapping ends of the wire together to secure the ring. You can add a small bead or charm at this joint to hide any sharp edges and give it a more finished look. If you like, you can also wrap the twisted wire with ribbon or twine for a more rustic or colourful look.

Step 4: (Optional)

If you want to get really creative, you can add some extra embellishments to your napkin rings. Beads, charms, or other decorations can be threaded onto the wire before you twist the ends together. You can also wrap the wire with ribbon or twine and secure it with a small drop of hot glue.

Step 5:

And that's it! Your wire napkin rings are now ready to be used. They are a simple and inexpensive way to add a touch of elegance to your table setting, perfect for any occasion, including weddings.

Beaded napkin rings

Materials and Tools:

• Beads of your choice (pearl, wooden, or any other type that suits your wedding theme)
• Wire, ribbon, or string
• Pliers
• Scissors
• Tape measure or ruler
• Glue (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Choose your beads: Select beads that complement your wedding colour palette and theme. You can opt for classic pearls, wooden beads, colourful glass beads, or any other type that suits your style.
• Measure and cut the wire: Use the tape measure to determine the desired length for your napkin rings. Cut the wire accordingly, leaving a little extra for making a loop at the end.
• String the beads: Begin stringing the beads onto the wire. You can create different patterns or colour combinations to make them more interesting.
• Secure the ends: Once you've reached your desired length, use pliers to create a small loop at one end of the wire. Then, wrap the other end around the loop a few times and cut off any excess wire.
• Add a decorative touch: If you want, you can glue a small charm or embellishment to the napkin ring for added sparkle.
• Repeat: Continue making napkin rings until you have enough for all your guests.

Tips:

• You can also use stretchy beading cord or ribbon instead of wire for a different look.
• If you're using wire, consider wrapping it with ribbon for a softer appearance.
• These napkin rings can double as bracelets for your bridesmaids or guests, adding a unique and memorable touch to your wedding.
• For a cohesive look, try to match the colour or style of the beads to your wedding theme, flowers, or table décor.

With these simple steps, you can create elegant beaded napkin rings that will impress your guests and add a special handmade touch to your wedding reception.

Frequently asked questions