RE-cycling: Curtain Rings to Custom Napkin Rings

ADORABLE RECYCLING CRAFT.  I went over to my friend Martha's house and she showed me this adorable craft she had just finished.  She wanted napkin rings to go with her dining room and kitchen table settings, but her color combinations are not trendy and she couldn't find ones to work.  She decided to try to make some and found the idea of using old plastic curtain rings, string and glue to turn them into custom napkin rings.  The supplies ended up being a little less than $1 a ring which was a good deal for getting napkin ring that match her setting *EXACTLY*.

GLUE FOR THE ENDS.  All Martha did was wrap the string around the ring and secure the ends with the fabric fushion liquid above.

HER FIRST COLOR COMBO.

HER SECOND COLOR COMBO. 

I told Martha these were great color combinations in general for summer and I happen to have a pack of plastic curtain rings around so I think I will be trying this project myself. 

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. THE POST THAT INSPIRED THIS PROJECT:
http://www.thesweetestoccasion.com/2012/02/diy-colorblock-napkin-rings/


WRITTEN BY ELDAROSE

Our Western Tables Settings can be seen HERE

RE-cycing projects for a Greener Christmas are HERE

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Camp Half-Blood Kids Party discussed HERE

St. Patrick's Day Table featuring lots of RE-cycled items/crafts is HERE

LINK PARTIES:

See more Tablescapes HERE

RE-ceiving guests: Outdoor Dinner Party

GIRL'S NIGHT UNDER THE STARS.  Last Fall, I had my book club over for dinner outside in the cabana.  We all contributed to the meal.  My contributions were drinks and appetizers.  Sorry, I didn't take pictures of everything, but here's the place setting. 

BURLAP & LINEN.  I am mildly obsessed with burlap and I have been for years.  My husband doesn't get it, but I love how burlap adds an earthy quality to any setting.  I used it above over the white linen table cloth.  For my last birthday, I asked my husband to buy me succulents instead of the rose bouquet he normally gets me.  I am into succulents right now.  I like their shape and color.  Plus, it was very practical because they will last awhile (fingers crossed) whereas cut roses would have died in a week. 

OPPOSITE VIEW.  I bought gray wicker kooboo chairs at World Market on a tip from Joni at Cote De Texas' blog.  I also found these great gray wicker outdoor trays online.  Restoration Hardware had some, but for much more, plus the sizes I saw were too large for my setting.  I am very happy with both the wicker chairs and the wicker trays as purchases.

FLOWERS & TWINE.  I placed the white napkins in napkin rings I made from paper towel holders.  I cut the paper towel holders into 1 inch rings and wrapped twine around them and secured it with hot glue.  To glam it up a bit but still stay with the outdoor theme,  you can tuck fresh flowers or a single bloom into the napkin ring as I did above.  Simple flowers will do fine for this. 

CONTRAST.  I pulled out my silver knife rests for the party.  They, along with the sterling silver, were a nice contrast to the simple natural elements (burlap, succulents, wicker, pebbles) on the table.

DOLLAR STORE CRAFT.  Between the succulents, I placed the above candles.  The glass containers, the twine, pebbles and candles are from the Dollar Store. 

GIFTS.  My girlfriends admired the candles and asked me where I got them.  When I told them I made them, they asked if I would make some for them and I did so.  I gave them out as Christmas gifts along with tamales I helped make this year. (See: RE-ceiving-guests: A Tamalada & a Tamale Recipe )  I believe they were very happy with them.  I used them on a RUSTIC CHRISTMAS MANTEL this year to hold nuts and I already have another table setting where I plan on using them.

SUCCULENTS.  I LOVE them individually or in groups. They are so interesting looking.  They were the perfect low-key element I wanted for the center of this very laid back evening.  I wanted the setting to feel like a treat, but still very relaxed. 

NAPKIN RING.  I plan on using the napkin rings for another setting soon.  I already used them also for a Western Table setting.  They have a lot of versatility and are very easy to make.   Plus, they are basically a few pennies each because the base is a recycled material (paper towel holder) and $1 worth of twine would probably make 20.

EVERYDAY SERVICE.  I used my every day crystal, Mikasa French Country for the dinner. I also used white ironstone plates I bought at Target.  I wanted it to be a casual evening, but I pulled out the sterling because I felt the table needed some elegance to give it a little drama.  It seemed like an easy addition and cost me nothing.  Plus, it seems whimsical to use something formal outside in a casual setting which I like.

CHEESE PLATTER.  I bought these cute chalkboard picks at World Market for the cheese tray.  I am sure someone could make them, but these were only $5 and they are on white porcelain so it hardly seems worth making them.  I like to put out a cheese ball and 3 cheeses, walnuts, cranberries, crackers and a sweet sauce on a cheese tray.  My book club friends and I are cheese lovers. Brie especially disappears whenever anyone offers it. 

REFINISHED TABLE. The table is a $100 Craigslist find that I restained.  I will do a post on that project  later.

BEVERAGE TUB.  I realized I needed a drink tub for the cabana. I found a red one on mega sale at Lowe's and spray painted it green to match some plastic ware I am using outside.  I bought the stand from World Market, also on sale. I tied a bottle opener to the side of the tub with a green and white polka dot ribbon to keep it handy for guests.

LONG VIEW.  This picture makes me realize how much I need an outdoor rug.  It also makes me grin about the mirror. I got it at a 50% sale at Hobby Lobby.  I wanted to add decorative elements to the cabana to make it feel more like a room and a mirror was my first idea. I think it works well.

STORAGE. I may get something different, but for now I am storing entertaining supplies in Pottery Barn baskets  that use to be in our family room  in a tall black metal case.  It is a work in progress but for this dinner party, it worked fine.

WRITTEN BY ELDAROSE

If you would like to see my Backyard Remodel progress click   HERE

Linking this post to:

Cuisine Kathleen
http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/2012/04/tweet-tweet-happy-earth-day-let-dish-5.html

Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll thru life
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