How to Create Napkin Rings

These homemade napkin rings are fun, easy, inexpensive and super quick to make; the style and finish are only limited to your imagination. Read on to see how easy it is to create napkin rings.

Things You'll Need

• empty paper towel cardboard roll
• ruler
• pen
• exacto knife
• cutting board
• vinyl electrical tape
• hole punch
• plain white glue (dries clear)
• assorted buttons, washers, trims, twine
• hot glue gun
• water base polycrylic
• foam brush

Instructions

1. 

   Place the cardboard tube on top of the cutting board. Flatten it with the palm of your hand. With a ruler and pen, make a marking every 1 1/2". This will be the width of your finished napkin ring.

   Lay head of ruler flush with edge of flattened roll and aligned with your first mark. Hold ruler firmly with one hand and cut along ruler's edge with the exacto knife. Finish cutting desired quantity of napkin rings.

2. 

   Cut 9 strips of electrical tape at 3 1/4" long. Center your first strip of tape over the middle of your cardboard ring. Smooth tape.

   One edge at a time, tuck in the ends of tape so they meet inside center of ring. If done correctly, there should be no cardboard showing.

   With your second strip, slightly overlap the first tape as you place it on cardboard ring. Finish applying tape until entire cardboard ring is covered with the vinyl tape.

3. 

   Applying the vinyl tape on the cardboard makes it sturdy and protects the napkin ring from liquid spills. Finish the napkin ring with your choice of materials.

   Hot glue a string of purple Mardi Gras beads. Dab a bead of glue on the outer ring to start, set tip of strand in hot glue, wait a few seconds and wrap the beads around your napkin ring. Secure at end.

   With your hot glue gun, adhere colorful buttons or even small metal washers. Another fun finish is to punch random holes in the napkin ring with a hole punch. Thread a length of ribbon through the holes and tie in a bow when the ends come together.

4. 

   You can also choose to leave the cardboard base as is. Cut off 3 ft of natural twine. Dab a bit of hot glue inside the cardboard ring. Begin your twine at this spot and continue wrapping until you've covered the entire ring. Secure at end with another dab of hot glue.

   Make a decoupage napkin ring with the Sunday comics or how about a crossword puzzle? Drizzle a little hot water into some white glue and mix well. Tear newspaper into small pieces and apply glue mix with a foam brush, beginning your layering from the inside out. Dry overnight. Apply a coat of water base polycrylic to finish.

5. 

   Save your empty cardboard tubes and bits and pieces of trim and other materials. On your next rainy afternoon, you can recycle and create napkin rings with the kids. Have fun!

Tips & Warnings

• Electrical tape (vinyl tape) comes in these colors: standard black, white, red, green, yellow and blue. You can use any of these colors as the base for your napkin rings.

• You can make napkin rings with an initial stenciled on the outer ring, one for each member of your family.

• Change the colors and trims to make napkin rings for the different holidays.

• Your cardboard will pop right back into shape after the cutting process in step 1.

• I've written two other articles that deal with the decoupage method I use. See the links under Resources for more detailed instruction.

• Use caution while working with a hot glue gun. Older children should use only when under direct adult supervision.

Resources

• How to Make a Card Box for Weddings or Funerals
• How to Make a Faux Leather Kraft Paper Treatment