DIY: Playful Suede & Wood Napkin Rings

 

While I love the napkin rings I made last year for Thanksgiving, I wanted something a little more modern and playful this year. Thus the suede and multi-colored wooden bead napkin ring was born. Man, I gotta think of a better name for this.

 

There are two versions of this DIY, a super duper easy one and a "gosh darn it why would you do that" one.

 

Supplies:

 

super duper easy -

• wooden beads in assorted sizes and colors
• colored suede cord (I got mine in the craft section of Walmart for $1)

gosh darn it why would you do that -

• wooden beads in assorted sizes and colors
• colored suede line
• a dremel with a drill bit (or a drill)
• some sort of clamp
• thread

If you are making the easy version all you have to do is:

• choose 7 or 8 beads of various colors and sizes
• cut a length of the suede cord long enough to string the beads on and leave you with excess
• string said bead on said cord, tie the cord together tightly
• then cut off any excess cording (leaving an inch or two hanging out)

 

That's it. . .

 

If you are up for the harder version (the one I did) all you have to do is:

• choose 7 or 8 bead of various colors and sizes
• cut a length of the suede cord long enough to string the beads on and leave you with excess
• take one of your larger beads and drill a hole into the side of it as shown in my lovely little diagram below. . . 

I used a clamp to hold the bead tight so that I didn't mistakenly drill through my hand.

• thread the rest of the beads onto the length of cord
• cut two pieces of thread a few feet long
• thread one piece of the thread (yeah, I just typed that) through the hole you just drilled and out one side of the preexisting hole
• take the other piece of thread and repeat, but this time thread it out the other side of the preexisting hole
• tie each piece of thread to an end of the suede cord
• using the thread CAREFULLY pull the ends of the suede cord through the bead and out the hole you drilled
• pull the cording tight and tie a knot thick enough that it doesn't go back through the bead (I double knotted)
• repeat until you have enough napkin rings for Thanksgiving!

 

Now all you have to do is add a napkin and you are good to go!

 

Oh, and as always when using power tools - BE CAREFUL! Take safety precautions and all that jazz.