Napkin rings are one way to show off your paper crafting skills at the dinner table without drawing away too much attention from the main attraction – the meal itself! They also make a thoughtful gift for a friend or family member who loves to entertain at home.

You will need (for one napkin ring):

* Cardstock or thin cardboard, 6-1/2 inches by 1-1/4 inches
* Decorative paper, 6-1/2 inches by 1-1/4 inches
* Vellum, 6-1/2 inches by 1 inch
* Sheer metallic ribbon, 12 inches by 1/2 inch
* White stamp pad
* Rubber stamp with flourish design
* Ruler
* Pencil
* Scissors or paper trimmer, or craft knife and cutting mat
* Decorative scissors
* Double-sided tape

Measure and cut the cardstock, decorative paper, and vellum to the specified sizes. Take the cardstock and form a ring by sticking the two short ends together with double-sided tape, making sure the ends overlap each other by about half an inch.

Now wrap the ring with the decorative paper, securing the paper to the ring with double-sided tape on the short ends and the center of the paper.

Trim the sides of the vellum with decorative scissors. Randomly stamp on the vellum with white ink and let dry to avoid smudging. Wrap the vellum around the ring and secure it with a bit of double-sided tape at the short ends.

Take the ribbon and tie it in a bow around the ring. Trim the ends of the ribbon diagonally. Now make five more napkin rings to complete a set.

Tips
Here are some tips for designing your own napkin rings.

Cardstock. Recycled cereal boxes and Manila folders work just as well. You can also use a paper towel roll cut into 1-1/4-inch wide rings, but this takes more effort.

Decorative Paper. Experiment with layers of different papers, patterns, and color schemes, depending on the mood you want to achieve. For a Chinese or Japanese dinner, for example, you may want to use red, black and gold paper. For a modern feel, try magazine pages with big bold text and colors.

Trim. Try a variety of ribbons for the right effect. You can also use lace, satin cord, ric-rac, or other fiber.

Embellishments. In addition to the ribbon, you can top off the napkin ring with a brad, a button, beads, a silk or paper flower, or a jewelry charm.

Double sided tape. This is recommended because it's less messy and holds really well. If you want to use craft glue, you may have to use paper clips or clothespins to hold the cardstock or paper together as it dries.

White stamp pad ink and flourish rubber stamp. You can also draw freehand swirls or flowers on the vellum with a white gel pen.

Have fun!