Napkin Rings

Difficulty Level:  Easy

All you need for this simple craft is:

• cardboard roll from paper towels
• glue gun or craft glue
• exacto knife
• double ruffle ribbon from Over the Moon Ribbons ($8)
• ruler or tape measure
• pen, pencil or other marker

Step 1.  Measure the interior length of the double ruffle ribbon (the part that isn't the ruffle).
Step 2.  Mark the same length on the paper towel roll creating 4-6 rings.(Make 1 extra)
Step 3.  Use your exacto knife to cut the paper towel roll into rings.

Step 4.  Take the extra ring and cut it lengthwise to measure.
Step 5.  Once you have that measurement, cut 4-6 lengths of the double ruffle ribbon.  Attach to cardboard rings with craft glue.  If using a glue gun, place small beads of glue on the cardboard rings and not long lengths of glue. 
Step 6. (Optional).  Dress the rings up further with a contrasting ribbon as pictured above.  (be sure it is thinner than the double ruffle ribbon of course). 

Voila.

My Visit to Mackenzie Childs

Be still my heart!!!

My friend Donna needed some help moving to her summer home, so I volunteered. She lives in Auburn NY.

Being from the hills of Pennsylvania I only knew we would be going north, I will follow, NO map NO map quest, NO GPS. After 3 hours of absolutely gorgeous driving, we arrived in Auburn. (What a charming town, looks like a Norman Rockwell painting.)

My friend Donna asked while we were having lunch Would you like to visit MACKENZiE CHiLDS?  It sounded like a pleasant idea so my answer was yes! (I'll leave you guessing what or who this is so you'll visit the link).

OMG!! I had no idea what a treasure trove existed in Aurora NY.

I was so charmed, and as a ribbon lady, I saw so many great uses of ribbon, and wonderful combinations of patterns that work so well together.


If you aren't familiar with MACKENZie- CHiLDS please visit at www.mackenzie-childs.com, or better yet take a trip to Aurora NY, you will be enchanted.

Make a Matching Placemat and Napkin Ring

Ribbon Lady Craft Level: Easy

I love to set a pretty table almost any time of the year, but Christmas time is a time to pull out all the stops. Whether you are Celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or Quanza, ribbon is an elegant and cost effective solution that adds a special touch.

PLACE MAT SUPPLIES

• purchased place mats
• 1-1/2 inch width ribbon (approximately 2 yards will complete 1 "setting" place mat plus napkin ring)
• Stitch Witchery (available at any craft or fabric store)
  
• hot iron
• scissors
  

NAPKIN RING SUPPLIES

• an empty paper towel cardboard
• exacto knife
• ribbon (width and amount explained above except variation 3-use a bit extra)
• glue gun or fabric glue (I like Tacky brand)
• (optional) embellishments such as silk berries, leaves or flowers
  

Place mats

1. Simply follow directions on Stitch Witchery to affix the ribbon with iron to the place mat either against the edge or just slightly in from the edge. I used Frazer Tartan from our Tartan Collection and mitered the edges.

For the napkin rings, I'll show you three variations

Variation 1-napkin ring

1. Using an exacto knife cut the width of the napkin ring you wish to create slightly smaller than the width of the ribbon.
2. Simply use fabric glue or glue gun to attach the ribbon to the cardboard rings.
   
3. Use your imagination to trim with any decoration you would like

Variation 2- flat ribbon

1. Use fabric glue or glue gun to attach ribbon to itself.
   
2. Add embellishments.

Variation 3- ribbon bow

You may want to tie a bow of contrasting ribbon, or the same ribbon you are using, or glue on little trims such as artificial holly leaves and berries.

A trip to you local craft store should be all the stimulation you need. Nothing could be simpler.

I'm taking these to my daughter and son in law's home for Christmas. Their last name is Frazer so I'm hoping they appreciate the Frazer Tartan ribbon. --I'll take a photo for the blog.

Other Table Setting Tips

Another suggestion to “dress up” your table would be to simply use strips of a 2 ¾ or wider ribbon to create a design on your table.

If you use a floral centerpiece, ribbon loops and or bows and streamers could coordinate your flowers to your place settings.

During this holiday season enjoy all the wonders the season can bring. Look for new and exciting ribbon crafts in the New Year.