Make your table setting extra special by incorporating these nature-inspired napkin rings. Not only will adding a handmade touch make your table unique, but it will also spark conversation among your guests. Furthermore, using elements of winter nature will infuse a lovely seasonal feel, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.
Whether you buy, harvest or forage the elements for your napkin rings you can create something that is unique and special to you.
Store bought elements for napkin rings.
If you choose to go down the store bought route then the options available to you will be a lot more varied.
What is nice about being able to buy what you need for the napkin rings mean that finding some different elements is a lot easier. Stores tend to have some really different flowers and greenery that you just can’t always find out in nature.
Another thing to mention is that not everyone will have access to a garden or even parks and forests where they can go foraging. So being able to still make these napkin rings with store bought materials is really nice option.
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Garden inspired napkin rings
If you are fortunate enough to have a garden to choose your materials from then you are very lucky. Seeing the different seasons change your garden landscape and what is available at different times is pretty cool. It enables you to be very creative and adaptive.
Winter does tend to limit what is available but that is part of the fun. In my garden I have bamboo, red twig dogwood, seed pods from an array of plants and some evergreens just to name a few. At this point its a matter of getting creative with what you have in your garden.
Wild foraging
This is my favourite way to make my napkin rings. They have a more of a rustic feel to them bringing the natural world we are surrounded by in our own area into our home. Plus it gets you outdoors immersed in it for a while what could be better.
Obviously if you choose to go this route then I would recommend making sure that where ever you forage from you are allowed to do so. Don’t go cutting plants your not allowed to.
Also use the foraging rule of thirds which means do not take any more than a third of the plant. This leaves two thirds to nature and the ecosystem, in some cases it also helps the plant itself to stay alive.
Whichever method you go for what you will end up with something beautiful.
A few tools you may need for making napkin rings
- Glue gun an essential tool for any crafter. Use care when using your glue gun it is very hot and can burn easily.
- Floral wire this wire along with the floral tape is very handy when working with greenery
- Floral tape.
- Crafting mat or surface. it is always good to protect your surfaces
- Scissors
- Wire Cutters, if you are using wire
- Garden Snips/Secateurs
Five nature inspired napkin rings. The winter edition
Here are a few combinations that I was able to put together using items I found in my area. In addition, I employed a variety of techniques to create these unique arrangements, showcasing both creativity and resourcefulness.
Dried oranges, Star anise and Fir
This is a very easy napkin ring to make. Dry the oranges ahead of time in the oven here is a how-to that I found if you would like to dry your own, I love to use blood oranges and small navel. Twist wire around the fir and mold into a ring. Using wire through the orange attach it to the ring then glue gun the star anise to the center of the orange hiding the wire.
Bamboo, Pines cones and Fresh Cranberries
Bamboo tends to be tough to bend so try to use the thinnest stems. Then either use floral tape or glue to hold the ring together. Take your pine cones you can use more than one variety here and the cranberries and glue them to the bamboo. The glue is hot so obviously take caution when you are using a glue gun.
Red twig dogwood, Billy balls (Craspedia) and Black Privet berries (Ligustrum)
This is my favourite napkin ring. The yellow from the Billy balls is stunning adding colour to any winter table scape. I found these flowers at my local florist. Again using wire I twisted it along with the redwood trigs around and made a ring. At this point I would probably just glue the balls and berries on but I wanted to try the wire and floral tape instead which worked fine but I would say glue might be tidier looking.
Ivy, black Privet berries and Snow Berries
Ivy is a very easy plant to work with, as it twists around effortlessly. First, tape the berries together carefully using floral tape, then add wire for stability. Next, twist the berries onto the ivy ring. If any berries are lost or if you have extras, simply glue them onto the ring, making sure to hide any exposed wire.
Pussy Willow, Ivy, Pomegranate and Black privet
Carefully bend a thin branch of pussy willow, glue and tape closed. Weave the ivy then around the pussy willow loop. All you need to do now is position and glue the berries and pomegranate to the napkin ring. You could also substitute the pomegranate for red berries, but the pomegranate is just a little different.
I hope you have fun getting creative making your own winter inspired napkin rings this year. Creating a beautiful dining experience for you and your guests.
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