Creative Diy Napkin Rings For Your Wedding Day

Napkin rings are a great way to add a decorative element to a dining table and can be a perfect, inexpensive, handmade gift. There are many ways to make your own napkin rings, from using leather, cord, wire, clay, or even recycled paper towel rolls. You can also decorate them with beads, rhinestones, pearls, or paint. Making your own napkin rings is a fun and easy way to add a personal touch to your wedding table settings.

DIY Leather Napkin Rings

To make your own leather napkin rings, you will need the following materials:

• Leather scraps
• A rotary cutter
• A self-healing mat
• A leather hole punch

First, use your rotary cutter and self-healing mat to cut the leather scraps into strips that are 7.5" long and approximately 1" wide at the base and 0.3" at the top. Next, cut the top of each strip at an angle to create a pointed tip. Then, use your leather hole punch to punch three overlapping holes at the end of the strip, creating a slot for the pointed tip to fit through. Finally, wrap your cloth napkins with the DIY napkin rings, pulling the pointed tip through the slot until snug. And that's it—you now have beautiful leather napkin rings to decorate your table!

If you want your napkin rings to have a stiffer, more substantial look and feel, choose a thicker or heavyweight leather. For a tighter fit and a more delicate appearance, go with a thinner, lightweight leather. You can also get creative and use glossy-finish leather if you prefer.

You can find affordable leather scraps at craft stores like Hobby Lobby or online at Amazon. Alternatively, you can upcycle old leather bags and coats from thrift stores by cutting them apart and using the leather for your napkin ring project. So get crafting and add a unique, handmade touch to your wedding or dinner party!

Floral Napkin Rings

Materials:

• Flowers of your choice (fresh, paper, or silk)
• Wire or twine
• Ribbon or twine
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Napkins

Instructions:

• If using fresh flowers, carefully remove the flowers from their stems, ensuring that the petals and leaves remain intact. If using paper or silk flowers, you can skip this step.
• Cut a piece of wire or twine that is long enough to wrap around your napkin and form a ring.
• Wrap the wire or twine around the napkin, twisting the ends together to secure it in place.
• Using hot glue, attach the flowers to the wire or twine ring. You can also add leaves or other embellishments at this stage.
• Cut a piece of ribbon and tie a bow around the wire or twine ring to hide any sharp ends and add a delicate touch.
• Repeat these steps for as many napkin rings as you need.

For a more natural and rustic look, consider using twine or jute string instead of wire and ribbon. Fresh flowers will also add a lovely scent to your tablescape, enhancing the overall ambiance of your wedding reception.

Clay Napkin Rings

Materials:

• Air-dry clay: Air-dry clay is a versatile and budget-friendly option that doesn't require baking. You can find it at most craft stores.
• Craft knife or clay pottery tools: These tools will help you cut and shape the clay.
• Alphabet stamps (optional): If you want to personalise your napkin rings with names or a special message, alphabet stamps are a great way to do so.
• Cardboard tube: This will be used as a mould to shape the clay into a ring.
• Clear varnish (optional): A coat of varnish will give your napkin rings a shiny finish and protect the clay.
• Paint (optional): You can paint your napkin rings before varnishing them for a personalised touch. Acrylic paint works best.

Instructions:

• Take your air-dry clay and knead it until it's soft and pliable.
• Use a rolling pin to roll out the clay to a thickness of about 3mm.
• Use a craft knife to trim the clay into a rectangle shape.
• If you're using alphabet stamps, stamp your desired word or name onto the clay.
• Wrap the clay around the cardboard tube and trim it to size, leaving a 3-4 cm overlap.
• Score the clay and add a small amount of water to the overlap to help it stick together.
• Leave the clay to air dry completely. This can take anywhere from 24-72 hours, depending on the humidity and temperature.
• Once dry, use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges or sides.
• Wipe the napkin rings with a damp cloth to remove any dust.
• (Optional) Apply a thin layer of varnish and let it dry. This will give your napkin rings a shiny finish and protect the clay.
• (Optional) If you want to add colour to your napkin rings, use acrylic paint to paint them before applying the varnish. Avoid using watercolour paint, as it can make the clay tacky.

Feel free to get creative and experiment with different colours, textures, and decorations. You can also try using polymer clay and glaze for a faux ceramic look, as suggested by Almost Makes Perfect. Your guests will surely be impressed by your handmade clay napkin rings!

Wire Napkin Rings

Materials:

• Wire (gold, copper, or silver)
• Cloth napkins

Instructions:

Start by measuring and cutting your wire to the appropriate length. You will need enough wire to wrap around a rolled-up napkin with a little extra for securing the ends. Once you have the desired length, use a pair of pliers to create a small loop at one end of the wire. This loop will act as a stopper for the other end of the wire to hook onto.

Next, carefully wrap the wire around a cylindrical object such as a marker or a small bottle to create a spiral. This will give your napkin ring a beautiful, elegant shape. Ensure that the spiral is tight and secure, and use the pliers to adjust as needed.

Now, take the end of the wire and carefully thread it through the loop you created earlier, forming a circle. Use the pliers to bend and secure the end of the wire so that it doesn't unravel. You can also wrap any excess wire around the base of the ring to give it a cleaner look.

Finally, slip your cloth napkins through the wire ring, and you're done! These wire napkin rings are a quick and easy way to add a touch of sophistication to your table. They are perfect for weddings, dinner parties, or even just a weeknight meal with your family.

Feel free to experiment with different coloured wires and even add small decorative elements like beads or charms to make them more personalised.

Napkin Rings from Recycled Paper Towel Rolls

Making napkin rings from recycled paper towel rolls is an easy and eco-friendly craft project that can add a decorative element to your wedding table. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating these DIY napkin rings:

Materials:

• Paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls
• White paint (acrylic or spray paint) and a paintbrush
• Washi tape in colours or patterns of your choice
• Matte Mod Podge
• Scissors
• Glue gun (optional)
• Burlap ribbon (optional)
• Scrabble tiles (optional)

Instructions:

• Start by cutting your paper towel rolls into rings. You can cut them into halves or thirds, depending on the desired width of your napkin rings. Each paper towel tube should yield 6-8 rings. Don't worry if the tube gets slightly squished during cutting, as you can reshape the rings later.
• Paint the inside and outside of the rings with white paint. Allow the paint to dry completely before proceeding to the next step.
• Cover the rings with washi tape. Choose colourful or patterned tape to add a decorative touch. It's okay if the tape extends beyond the edges of the rings, as you will trim the excess later.
• Use scissors to carefully trim off any excess tape that extends above the top of the paper rings.
• Apply a coat of Mod Podge to the inside and outside of the rings. Let the rings dry completely, then apply a second coat of Mod Podge for a more durable finish. Leave the rings to dry overnight.
• (Optional) To add a personalised touch, you can attach a Scrabble tile with each guest's initial to the napkin ring using a glue gun.
• (Optional) Instead of using washi tape, you can wrap the paper rings with burlap ribbon, spreading Mod Podge on the ribbon to help harden the rings as they dry.

By following these simple steps, you can create beautiful and eco-friendly napkin rings for your wedding or any other special occasion.

Frequently asked questions