DIY Napkin Rings

When I was little I was lucky enough to attended a “fancy grown-up party.” Women dressed in floor length gowns, while men donned bow ties and cufflinks. The rooms was elegantly decorated with flowers and twinkly lights. Tables were adorned with exquisite centerpieces, white table cloths, heavy stainless steel cutlery, and the most delicate cloth napkins all wrapped up in beautiful gold napkin rings.

From that day forward a party was only considered “fancy” if it had napkin rings… and that meant every tea party, birthday gathering, Christmas celebration & weeknight dinner had to have napkin rings.

These days I am a little more practical, only bringing out the napkin rings when the occasion calls for them. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching I wanted to create a simple yet eye catching napkin ring. This particular DIY comes together quickly using oven-bake polymer clay. Follow these simple steps to create your own:

Step 1 // Gather the tools need to make your napkin rings: Sculpey (in white), rolling pin, parchment paper, exacto knife, toilet paper roll, letter stamps and baking tray.

Step 2 // Divide clay into four sections. Roll each section out to form clay roll, about 6-7 inches longs.

Step 3 // Flatten clay roll using rolling pin. Continue flattening until clay is about 3/4 inches wide.

Step 4 // Wrap clay around toilet paper roll, placing the ends above and below one another. Lightly press them together to create a bond.

Step 5 // Once secure, press the letter stamps into the clay to write your message (I chose “Eat Food” as my message!).

Step 6 // Gently remove the ring from the toilet paper roll. Be careful as the clay is still malleable at this point. Place on parchment lined baking tray and bake in a 275°F (130°C) oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool before using.

It’s amazing how this simple decorative accent can bring a table together… and even fancy it up a bit! Why not give it a try for your Thanksgiving table this weekend?