Rosette Napkin Rings

Tags

autumn, beading, creative, DIY, fall, flower, napkin, napkin ring, ring, rosette, setting, table, thanksgiving

Ahhh Thanksgiving in Southern California… what a beautiful thing it is! The leaves have changed color, the air has just developed the slightest chill, causing Californians everywhere to burrow into a pile of blankets, and the freeways are bejeweled with innumerable headlights… a string of beauty (unless you are trapped in it) to admire as holiday travelers make their way to visit friends and family.

Those of us hosting the feast, however, must claw our way out of the blanket pile and begin the preparations. Ah well, at least it’s an opportunity to blare the Christmas music and- if you need some time to mediate before the onslaught of family begins to interrogate you about you about your failure, yet again, to bring a date to dinner- indulge in a quick project.

Enter:

These are soooo easy to make, I had all these materials on-hand, and I bet you will only have to buy the wire… and it’s cheap.

Level of difficulty: Easy

To make the ring, wrap the wire around a hard cylinder shaped container three or four times. I used a thicker medicine bottle.

Depending on the look you want, you can wrap it around without crossing (a cleaner look), or wrap the metal across itself for more of a bird’s nest look. Cut the end with pliers. Keep in mind that if you haven’t worked with this material before, you may want to use gloves and goggles- the metal can be sharp. Also be sure to tuck your ends in really well, you wouldn’t want your linens to catch on exposed metal. If you use pliers to loop the metal to itself and squeeze it really hard, you wont have this problem.

Take your completed rings outside and spray paint them in your chosen color.

While you are waiting for them to dry: heat up your glue gun and get your fabric ready. There are many ways to make fabric flowers, and many tutorials on the web, but I’ll include a quick version here.

Cut out four large circles, about 3″ in diameter; two medium circles, about 2″ in diameter; one small circle, you guessed it, 1″ in diameter; and one thin strip about 1/2″ by 1 1/2″. I would freehand the circles, perfection is not an issue here and whatever sticks out can be trimmed off at the end. This is where you will be using the button too so have that handy.

Fold the first circle in half, then half again to make a rounded triangle. glue this to one quarter of the button. Do the same with the other three large circles, so that the button is covered. Fold the two medium circles the same way and layer them on top of the large circles, with the tips at the center of the button. I off-set my layers just a tiny bit so the edges don’t line up. This step is not in the photos, but it’s important: take the small circle fold it up the same way, then place a dollop of glue on the tip and stick it vertically in the center of the flower. Finally put a line of glue on the back of the long strip, roll it up like a taquito, chop off one end at an angle (the one that you don’t want facing out), and glue this straight in the middle of your flower. Trim any excess from the flower, and round out any sharp angles.

Take the old jewelry or beads that you have collected (if you are stringing the beads yourself, I suggest using plastic string or wire to get the best look) and loop them around three your fingers about three times. Mess with them until you are happy, then glue them to the back of your flower, right on the button.

Do the same thing again with another string of beads and glue, slightly overlapping with the first loops.

Now, arrange your adornment and ring until you are happy with the way it looks. Keep in mind how the beads will fall with the napkin pulled though. Place a large dollop of hot glue on the button and press and hold the ring until it is set.