Six Ideas for Making Your Own Napkin Rings

Napkin rings have an important decorative function in addition to their practical use during a meal. They're all about adding a personalized touch to a gastronomic get-together. There are many ideas to make your own, so learn all about them in this article!

Napkin rings have a double function at the table. On the one hand, they allow you to keep your napkins tidy. On the other, they’re an important decorative element. Thus, an original napkin ring will add an attractive touch to any table. Furthermore, making your own will also add a more personal emotional touch to your environment.

So, what kinds of materials can you use to make your own napkin rings?

Well, the ones you use will depend on the model you want to make. Thus, you can use almost any kind of material. The idea here is to make this activity as enjoyable you can, as it’ll improve your results.

Some ideas to make your own napkin rings

First, you must think about the type of table decor you’re planning on integrating your napkin holders into. They must be in harmony with it and with the rest of the elements that’ll be present.

Here are some ideas.

1. Napkin rings with cardboard rings and washi tape

They are for cloth napkins but can also adapt to paper ones.

Materials:

• Cardboard tubes such as those of toilet paper or paper kitchen towels
• Scissors
• Decorative paper tape such as washi tape
• Glue, silicone, or any other contact cement

How to make it:

• First, cut the cardboard tube into rings into 3/4 inches wide.
• Then, paste the decorative tape (your decorative tape must match the color of the napkins).

2. Napkin rings made of natural fiber rope

Materials:

• Thick natural fiber rope
• Cardboard
• Scissors
• Glue

How to make it:

• First, cut some cardboard rectangles about 2 inches wide by 3 inches long.
• Then, join the shorter ends to form rings and glue them.
• Also, cut the thread into 3-inch pieces.
• Carefully glue the thread to the ring until you cover it completely.
• Finally, decorate with plant elements such as small leaves, flowers, and branches.

3. Braided napkin rings

Another option to make your own napkin rings with natural fiber rope is to make 3-inch long braids. Form a loop with each one of them and then join three or four to form a bigger hoop.

The thread will hold on its own if it’s hard. If it’s too flimsy, you can work any piece of wire you might have laying around into the braids.

4. Wire napkin rings

Materials:

• Medium thickness wire (flexible)
• Pliers
• Also, beads for decorating
• Also, find a tube about 1 1/2 – 2 inches in diameter, you’ll need it to shape the napkin rings

How to make it:

• First, form a spiral by winding wire in the tube, three or four loops will suffice
• Then, fold one of the ends away from the ring, you want to stretch that inch of wire on each side; the idea is for it to protrudes a little from the spiral
• Finally, glue a bead or some other decorative element on the tip

5. Napkin rings made of leather or burlap fabric

Materials:

• Strips of leather or burlap, 2 inches wide by 3 inches long
• Scissors
• Glue

Elaboration

• First, form rings with the strips.
• Then, join and glue the shorter edges, you can decorate it with a sprig of rosemary or pine, or with a wildflower.
• Then, you can add a rustic label with the name of the diner if you’re assigning the places. (The measurements may vary and you can also cut the strips more or less wide or long.)

6. Clay

Clay is a versatile material and it’s also easy to use. So, you don’t need to have special skills to make your own napkin rings with this material.

Materials

• Polymer clay (the kind you can cure in your oven)
• Acrylic paint and a brush

Elaboration

• First, stretch the clay until it is five millimeters thick. You can use a rolling pin or a smooth bottle to do this.
• Then, cut 1 1/2 inch wide by 3 inch long strips.
• Now, form the napkin rings by joining the sides and allow them to dry for a few hours.
• Then, decorate with acrylic paint; choose your design, and then try to reproduce it.
• Finally, another practical idea for finishing this kind of material is to spray paint them in the color of your choice.

Other materials and ideas

You can transform almost anything into a napkin ring: flexible branches, nuts, mechanical metal rings, etc. It’s just a matter of using your imagination and creativity.

Yes, you could just buy them, but why not create your own special ones at home and add your personal touch?

We truly hope you enjoy these ideas for making your own napkin rings!