These no-sew felt napkin rings really brightened up Shane’s Fourth of July Birthday BBQ.

And yep, I realize I’m a bit on napkin rings kick …first the felt leaf napkin rings for Thanksgiving, then recycled napkin rings made from Saran Wrap cardboard tubes, and now these. But they just make such a statement on the table that I say, the more rings the better!

This time I made a variety of star shapes using star cookie cutters and various loose buttons. Here they are all piled up before setting the table…

You’re more than welcome to use this free project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below if you use the template so I can smile when I see that it’s being used.

Supplies:

• Metal star cookie cutters (or freehand your own star shape)
• Blue felt and Red felt
• Red embroidery floss
  
• Disappearing ink fabric marking pen
• Rotary fabric cutter (a DIY staple!)
• Clear fabric ruler
• Self-healing mat
• Good fabric scissors

Table

• White buffet plates
• Buffet silverware

Cut blue rings

Cut blue strips 6″ wide x 1.5″ tall using a rotary cutter, clear fabric ruler and rotary mat.

QUICK NOTE: In this case, I planned to use high-quality paper napkins and plastic silverware so I made the rings 6″ wide. However, if you’re making them for cloth napkins you should make them 7″ — or just roll up a test napkin (with or without silverware), measure around it, and add 1 inch. The good thing about making them 6 inches is that you can just cut strips and cut them in half (see below).

Fold each strip in half and cut with a pair of scissors to make two blue rings.

Cut ring slits

Measure 1/2″ from the left side and cut a slit halfway through (so your slit will be half of the 1.5″ tall). Repeat on the right side, but make sure the slit is opposite like in the photo above.

Cut stars

Trace your star cookie cutter or freehand your own star shape onto the red felt and cut out. Use disappearing ink pen if you can; I am lazy and used a Sharpie so I just cut inside the lines to make up for it.

Cut one star for each ring.

Attach stars to ring with button

Place your star in the middle of the blue ring. Place a small button on top. I like making the buttons and stars off-center because it gives it more energy.

Using a needle and red embroidery thread, sew through the button, star and ring to secure. Tie a knot in the back.

Place on napkins

Roll your silverware in a napkin and secure the tabs to close the ring. As mentioned earlier, I used high-quality paper napkins and plastic silverware for the BBQ, so if you’re using fabric or silverware then you may need to make larger rings.

This is what the back will look like. Bring on the burgers!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this free project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use the template so I can smile when I see that it’s being used.

Every day I fight being a packrat. A few months ago I was getting ready to throw away an empty Saran Wrap box and happened to notice how the cardboard tube inside was oh so strong and sturdy. What useful thing could I make with such a pretty?? It’s round. Not easily crushed. Ah! I could cut it, cover it in fabric, and make napkin rings!

And that is how a cardboard tube ended up in my craft closet for three months. So this rainy-sunny-rainy weekend I sat down, fiddled a bit, and here we go! Cheery fabric napkin rings just in time to brighten up your summertime picnics.

Supplies (for 8 rings):

• 1/4 yard of fabric (you’ll use less but this is the minimum at most places)
• 1/4 yard of n0-sew interfacing (again, you’ll use less)
• 1 yard grosgrain ribbon
• Good fabric scissors
• Zigzag pinking shears
• Invisible tape (optional)
• Fabric glue (or two-sided adhesive)
• Rotary fabric rotary cutter, clear fabric ruler and self-healing mat (Buy a cutter and mat! You’ll use it all the time. Mine is well-loved, as you’ll see in the photos below)

One typical cardboard tube of Saran Wrap will make 8 napkin rings that are 1-1/2″ inches wide and 1-3/8″ diameter. Or you can make wider rings if you only need 6. These rings are best for premium square paper napkins and plastic silverware, but you can squeeze fabric napkins inside with no silverware if you roll them very tightly.

Cut napkin rings from Saran Wrap cardboard tube.

Using your measuring tape, measure 1-3/8″ and mark with a pencil around the circumference of the cardboard tube.

Carefully cut your pencil lines using an Xacto knife. Repeat for up to 8 rings.

Hide cardboard tube markings (optional). I did this step because the striped fabric I used was sort of thin and I wanted to be sure to totally cover up the dark spots of adhesive remnants on the tubes.

Cut 8 strips of no-sew interfacing 1-3/8″ wide x 5-3/4″ tall.

Tape one end of the interfacing to the ring (or use your adhesive). Roll the interfacing around the ring and secure with a second piece of tape.

Wrap napkin ring with fabric.

Cut your fabric in 3-1/2″ wide by 5-3/4″ tall strip (my fabric is shown face down in the photo but it doesn’t matter).

Place the napkin ring in the center of the fabric. Secure one end with invisible tape (or glue it if you’d rather), making sure the tape covers only a tiny edge of the fabric or else you’ll see it in your final product.

Roll the fabric tightly around the ring and secure using a dab of fabric glue, being sure to put some on the raw edge to prevent fraying (alternatively, you could turn a bit of the fabric under to hide raw edges or use pinking shears to make a zigzag edge).

Put a bit of glue on one fabric end, fold inside the ring and glue to the inside of the cardboard ring. Repeat on the other side. Raw edges will meet in the middle of the inside.

Hide raw edges using ribbon.

Using your pinking shears, cut one 4-1/2″ piece of ribbon for each napkin ring.

Spread fabric glue on one side of the ribbon. Curl it up a bit, slip it inside the ring and glue the ribbon on top of the raw fabric edges to cover them up.

You can also use the end of your pencil to roll the ribbon flat inside. Let your napkin rings dry for at least 24 hours before using.

Wrap plastic utensils in a premium paper napkin (folded into quarters) and slip on the ring to secure. Fire up the grill!

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

This is one of those craft projects that I just love. A little throwback, a little whimsical …and totally original.

The idea for Shrinky Dink rabbit’s foot napkin rings that double as keychain favors sprung from a creative volley between me and Heather Crosby. I was hell bent on wanting to use Shrinky Dinks for our ladies’ late night tea party. Heather had created a kick-ass invitation of a tea-stained coaster with a rabbit’s foot. I suggested shrinky rabbit’s feet for keychain favors. Heather loved it and quickly turned out an assortment of different colored feet graphics for me to make and bake.

And voila! A decorative and practical party detail that would be equally at home at a “good luck” wedding/engagement shower or goodbye party as it was at our Alice-inspired affair.

You’re welcome to use these instructions and templates for free for your own personal use. Anyone using the template simply post a comment below or email me to track its usage.

Supplies:

• Free template for Shrinky Dink Rabbit’s Foot Napkin Ring Keychain Favor (PDF)
• Shrinky film ink-jet sheets at Amazon.com or ShrinkyDinks.com
• Good scissors
• Keychain chain and connectors (local hardware store)
• Computer and inkjet printer (can’t use laser printers)
• Dremel tool (highly recommend) or hole punch (if you use the hole punch, do it before baking; the Dremel avoids weird hole shapes)
• Baking sheet
• Brown paper bag or kraft paper
• Stack of magazines
• Oven
• Hot pad
• White cloth napkins (optional)

This time rather than step-by-step photos, I decided to take my new Mac for a spin and make a little “how to” movie. Let me know what you think.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use the template so I can smile when I see that it’s being used.

My friend Heather Crosby and I have creative chemistry. Whenever we get together we build on each other’s ideas until it becomes something totally original.

Heather came over for dinner last week toting stacks of Polaroid pictures that she’d snapped that weekend – bright yellow mums, pumpkin patches, rows of individual pies, Indian corn, orange marigolds, gourds, colorful fall trees against blue skies, and other Midwestern fall finds.

I took a look and immediately thought of turning them into an urban wreath to perfectly accent our Chicago city apartment door.

You’re welcome to use these instructions and templates for free for your own personal use. Anyone using the template simply post a comment below or email me to track its usage.

Supplies:

• Polaroid photos: Pack of five instant film takes 50 Photos
• Styrofoam wreath (I used 12x2x2; here’s one that’s 10X2X1-1/4)
• Scotch double-sided removable foam adhesive
• Burnt orange lightweight denim fabric
• Straight pins
• Raffia
• Wreath hanger

Measure 3 inches from the edge of the orange denim fabric and cut a small slit. Holding on each side of the slit, rip the fabric into a strip …just like they do at the fabric store. Repeat until you have three strips.

Take one strip and pin it to the styrofoam. Wrap the strips around, overlapping as you go around. Secure the ends of the strips with straight pins.

Select your Polaroid photos. We chose pumpkins, mums, gourds, Indian corn, mini-pies, marigolds and fall trees.

Tie one piece of raffia around the top to make a hanger. Lay out your photos onto the covered wreath, overlapping and layering them.

Cut the removable foam adhesive into smaller squares. Remove the backing from both sides and slip under the Polaroids to attach them to the wreath.

And there you have it: The Urban Wreath. While intended for covered apartment or condo front doors, I couldn’t resist hanging it outside over the beautiful 70 degree (!!) November weekend we just had in Chicago.

And in true Heather fashion, I love the back of this wreath just as much as the front.

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this project and pattern for your own personal use. Please post a comment below or email me if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

More decor for our upcoming Fourth of July – slash – Shane’s birthday BBQ. I took Martha’s Fourth of July parasols and turned them into a neat matching Fourth of July waterproof coasters.

Supplies:

• Fourth of July waterproof coaster template (PDF) lovingly adapted from Martha Stewart’s drink parasol pattern
• White paper
• Clear contact paper (get a roll – you’ll use it for lots of other crafts)
• Circle cutter
• Good paper scissors
• Self-healing cutting mat (priceless)
• Color printer

Print out the coaster template. Place it on your self-healing cutting mat. Place the center of your circle cutter in the center of the coaster and cut a circle. You should purposefully cut off some of the outside so the color on the cut circle “bleeds” to the edge.

Lay your cut coaster onto the contact paper. Using a Ruler and Xacto Basic Knife Set (or just your scissors) cut a strip of the contact paper that’s slightly wider than your circle. Cut that strip into squares slightly bigger than your circle.

Peel off the contact paper backing and put sticky-side up on your mat. Place your circle color-side down onto the contact paper and smooth. Peel off the back of another contact paper square and carefully place on the back (I pull it taught, stick down one side, and smooth it across). Your circle should now be encased in waterproof contact paper.

Now you can either cut the final coaster using the circle cutter (photo left) or your scissors (photo right). Be sure to cut your contact paper slightly larger than the printed paper circle so that the plastic edges are sealed to protecting the paper from getting wet. If you use your circle cutter at this point, you can cheat on the ‘cutting paper circles’ step above and just use scissors; you’ll clean it up nice and pretty at this step anyway. Thanks again, Martha!

Shane’s birthday is the Fourth of July so today I started to make some fun decorations for him.

Martha Stewart has a super cute Fourth of July paper napkin ring template on her website. I printed her template, cut out the rings and …well, I had a few issues with her template.

So I decided to re-create her template to fix the usability problems. And voila! Here’s a new and improved paper napkin ring template for you featuring these improvements:

1. Smaller rings. Martha’s napkin rings were too large for my paper napkins and plastic silverware; they just slipped right off. Bummer. My guess is that Martha rightfully assumed the classiest solution (cloth napkins) yet I’m going disposable for this BBQ.

2. More rings per sheet. I try to limit my Paper Source runs so my adjusted template prints 6 rather than 4 rings per sheet.

3. Faster to cut (and straighter edges!). I put the rings touching side-by-side so that you can quickly slice them using an Xacto knife, ruler and self-healing cutting mat. (If you don’t have these tools you should get them immediately – you’ll find a million uses for them and save tons of overall crafting time.)

I also thickened the blue border so there’s less chance of accidentally cutting it off. And I took off the dotted cut lines because I didn’t like how you could see them on the front of Martha’s final ring.

And for people who prefer to not deal with the curves I created an all-square paper ring template that’s even faster to cut.

Supplies:

• Kathy’s improved napkin ring template, six per sheet, also available in an all-square version (all adapted from Martha Stewart)
• White card stock paper
• Xacto Basic Knife Set (this is my kit and it’s great)
• Ruler
• Self-healing cutting mat
• Scissors
• Red plastic silverware
• Red napkins
• Color printer

Print out either template 1 (with curves) or template 2 (all straight) of my new improved template. Place it on your self-healing mat. Line up the ruler on the edge and cut the rings by running your Xacto knife along the ruler’s edge.

On each end, cut two slits half-way. Now I took the cut lines off of the template so make sure that you cut opposite sides (i.e., from the bottom on the right and from the top on the left) and only halfway. Tuck slits together to make a ring.

Roll your silverware in your napkin. Slip the ring on to hold.

Hostess Heather Crosby had a blast from the past throwing a high school themed engagement party for her brother Chad and bride-to-be Shayda who met back in their teens. Starting with a handwritten ‘Secret Passed Note’ engagement party invitation, Heather included these adorable high school inspired details throughout the party:

Prom Flowers. Heather used every vessel in the house, from retro Fiestaware Pitchers to clear glass votive holders, grouping like flowers into short bursts of color spread both inside and out. Bubbles added to the fun.

Guest Interactivity. Inside, Heather created a “hallway of lockers” using posterboard. Guests were encouraged to add items into Chad and Shayda’s individual lockers, turning Chad’s into a Shayda Shrine that also contained early 90′s favorites Drakkar Noir and Big League Chew. Guests also nominated each other for Senior Superlatives (Best Dressed, Most Intellectual, Class Clown, Most Athletic, Friendliest, and more).

High School Touches. Chad and Shayda’s senior yearbook entertained guests while Heather served high school favs including crispy tater tots and extra gooey macaroni & cheese on white rectangular compartment trays reminiscent of the lunch line.

Friendship Pins. Hearts melted when guests received friendship pins as party favors. Heather, Renee and I had so much fun making these throwback treats that it’s our new mission to bring pins back for Chicago Summer ’08. Get your beads and join us!

I love the combination of turquoise and orange that Anne-Marie Rosser and Adam Whipple used for their intimate outdoor wedding reception on a Chicago terrace.

Anne-Marie started with turquoise tablecloths and crisp white linen napkins. Her long table centerpiece alternated orange orchid bunches in square glass containers, small succulents in rocks-filled square glass containers, and clusters of clean white pillar candles.

This look would be also be cute for wedding and baby showers. If you’re looking for candles you can get $10 off $50 or more at CandleBay.com. Enter coupon code CB1050 at checkout to get $10 off (they also offer $3.99 Soy Jar Candles).

Our wedding photographers, Kiri and Brett of PenCarlson Photography, hosted a bright and cheery open house on Sunday for their new Chicago photography studio.

Height is always good with buffets but I’ve never seen anything like these innovative ‘flowers enclosed in glass cylinder’ food risers. This detail would work particularly well for weddings or showers or even holiday buffets.

They also offered tasty individually-wrapped cupcakes as a take home favor. The tops of clear food bags were decorated with a diagonally-cut piece of satin ribbon with a monogrammed ‘P’ sticker hiding the stapled top. And setting the cupcakes on a thin cardboard square help ensure icing stays on the cakes rather than the bag.

One of the biggest challenges of getting married in a “non-traditional” space is that the backdrop might look a too plain or stark during your ceremony.

We got married in a Chicago loft space with exposed brick, glass and steel. So we decided to add warmth and focus by creating an “altar” of our own. Based on our orange, brown and yellow color theme my friend Liz concepted and sketched the idea of having us stand on an orange rug, surrounded by candles on metal pedestals, with an orange floral garland “altar” hanging above.

The wizards at A New Leaf used the sketch to create nine floral garlands made of marigolds, bittersweet and dried oak leaves hanging from brown silk ribbon. While we used a florist to execute Liz’s concept, this project could also be done DIY.

Creating an “altar” in non-traditional spaces gives focus to the room and adds personality to your ceremony and wedding photos.

Supplies:

• Marigolds or mums
• Bittersweet
• Dried oak leaf branches
• Satin ribbon
• Twine
• Scissors
• Floral wire and cutters
• Thumbtacks or ceiling hooks

Cut your twine to the length you’d like for your strand; ours were about 2.5 feet long each. Take 6-9 marigolds or mums, cut the stems about 2 inches from the flower head and wrap them together with floral wire close to the flower heads. Affix the floral bundle to the twine using more floral wire. Repeat until you have the coverage that you’d like up and down the twine, leaving about 4 inches at the top of the twine free to tie to your satin ribbon. Trim any end of the stems that peek out as needed.

Add bittersweet and dried oak leaves in the same way. Affix bittersweet and oak leaf branches sporadically up and down the strand, being sure to balance the branches around the strand so that weight-wise the strand will hang straight down. Refrigerate strands until use, either before or after adding your bittersweet and oak leaves depending on available space.

Cut a long piece of stain ribbon; the length will depend on your ceiling height. Tie the ribbon securely to the twine, making several tight knots. Trim any extra twine.

Hang your altar from the ceiling using thumbtacks or ceiling hooks. We used nine strands and varied the heights to create a seasonally stunning backdrop to our candlelit ceremony.