DIY Thanksgiving Napkin Rings + Tabletop Idea
These Gold Leaf DIY Napkin Rings are a modern take on napkin rings (that you can also use as place cards)
I have a little confession to make. I’m kind of a fan girl over Alana Jones Mann.
It’s a love affair I’ve been meaning to tell you about since I met her at a blog conference last year.
She handed me a business card that was a slice of cake made out of a makeup sponge. I practically asked her if we could be best friends right on the spot.
Somehow I convinced her almost a year later to help me create a Thanksgiving tabletop idea I’d been dreaming up (since she is the queen of cupcake toppers, after all).
And the result is kind of blowing my mind! To bring a little extra handmade action to the table,
I created Gold Leaf DIY Napkin Rings to go along with Alana’s edible DIY Thanksgiving dinner cake toppers.
And speaking about gold leaf, this DIY gold leaf photo backdrop is sure to wow your guests at your Thanksgiving holiday party.
Materials and Tools Needed to Make Gold Leaf DIY Napkin Rings
Air dry clay – We love working with air-dry clay since you don’t need a heat source, and there are so many creative things that you can make with it.
Fresh leaf
Rolling pin — Or caulk tubes, in my case!
X-Acto knife or straight edge
Super glue
Thanksgiving Tabletop Idea | How To Make Gold Leaf DIY Napkin Rings
Step 1 — To get started making the napkin rings, roll out a piece of air-dry clay that’s about a quarter of an inch thick.
Step 2 — Place a fresh leaf on the clay and use a rolling pin over the top to press the shape into the clay. Old leaves will just flake under the pressure of the pin.
Step 3 — Use an X-Acto knife to cut the leaf shape out.
Step 4 — Peel the fresh leaf away from the clay and let it dry completely.
Step 5 — For the ring, use the X-Acto knife to cut about a one-inch wide strip of clay that’s a bit thicker than the leaf and roll it around a rolling pin.
You could just use a similar object to a rolling pin if you don’t have one. We used caulk tubes from the studio construction to hold the round shape.
Step 6 — Once both clay pieces are completely dry, glue them together with super glue.
Step 7 — Then, spray or paint them metallic gold.
If you’d like to use the DIY Napkin Rings repeatedly or as place cards for guests’ names, you can coat them with high gloss Mod Podge to make the surface erasable and a bit sturdier to consistent wear.
DIY Cake Toppers | Edible Thanksgiving Dinner Toppers
Be sure to check Alana’s blog for the full tutorial on how to make her edible DIY Thanksgiving dinner toppers!
Sources for Our Thanksgiving Tabletop Idea
— Styling by Sugar & Cloth
— Cake toppers Alana Jones Mann
— Table runner Oh Joy! from Target
— Cake stands from World Market, Macy’s, and Minted, but you can check out our favorite list of cool, chic, and functional cake stands for you to choose from
More Thanksgiving Ideas
- Thanksgiving Table Decor Idea + Sparkling Pumpkin Cider Recipe
- 10 Disposable Thanksgiving Tabletop Items
- DIY Thanksgiving Turkey Macarons
- Thanksgiving Punch – An Easy Pumpkin Punch Recipe
DIY Thanksgiving Napkin Rings
Equipment
- Rolling pin
- X-Acto knife or straight edge
- Super glue
Materials
- Air dry clay
- Metallic gold spray paint
- Fresh leaf
Instructions
- To get started making the napkin rings, roll out a piece of air-dry clay that’s about a quarter of an inch thick.
- Place a fresh leaf on the clay and use a rolling pin over the top to press the shape into the clay. Old leaves will just flake under the pressure of the pin.
- Use an X-Acto knife to cut the leaf shape out.
- Peel the fresh leaf away from the clay and let it dry completely.
- For the ring, use the X-Acto knife to cut about a one inch wide strip of clay that’s a bit thicker than the leaf and roll it around a rolling pin.You could just use a similar object to a rolling pin if you don’t have one. We used caulk tubes from the studio construction to hold the round shape.
- Once both clay pieces are completely dry, glue them together with super glue.
- Then, spray or paint them metallic gold.
Don’t forget to share your DIY napkin holder with us on Instagram using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more interior design inspiration? You can find them all of our home decor tutorials and ideas right here!
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