Every once in a while, that magic, life-changing event happens … you know the one I’m talking about. The event where you have said to yourself, “I could make that”….and later on you ACTUALLY DO! I haven’t experienced this sort of phenomenon much in my life, I admit, but how I cherish the memories (and the pieces) of when I have!!!
Let me tell you about this most recent happening …
We received a fabulous gift card to Crate & Barrel for Christmas. I love this gift because it was the first time in a long time I didn’t feel like I was skipping school to roam around the store. I was there LEGITIMATELY! We had already purchased a rug online, so while I went to pick up my “ship free to store” purchase, I roamed around to figure out what to do with my remaining $60.
Isn’t it crazy how having NO money = I’M LICKING EVERYTHING IN THIS STORE BECAUSE I WANT IT SO BADLY.
Yet, having ACTUAL money = I CAN’T LET GO OF MY GIFTCARD. NOTHING IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
Well, among several things … my heart was divided between chalkboard placemats and these darling Napkin Rings:
These are regularly $4 each… on sale at this moment for $3.15 each. Not expensive .. but say it with me, “I-can-make-that!”
I mean really, aren’t these just so cute. This photo from the store website doesn’t do them justice. They’re large, burlap-looking, and so fresh and happy. (I think these are actually hemp, but I like to pretend they’re burlap)
So, I took a picture, put it in my phone, bought some burlap. Then I let 3 months pass by. Then…. last night, the impossible happened. I MADE THEM!
Here is mine. I am completely smitten. If it wasn’t burlap, I’d lick it for sure!
Alrighty…for those of you who also like the looks of these, please read on for how to make them yourself!
Cut your strips. Mine were approximately 3″ and I cut across the full width of the burlap. Remember – it’s burlap! Don’t overthink it or try too hard. Just cut that stuff up!
You’ll also want to cut out felt circles whatever diameter you’d like your flowers to be. Mine are probably about 3″-4″ in diameter. I used the lid to a container jar as my template.
Now you’re going to fold this in half and serge the two sides together. If you don’t have a serger, use your overcast stitch … or, worst case, a zigzag stitch. But come in closely … you really should use a serger! (good excuse to return that shirt you borrowed from your friend with a serger!)
Your strips will look something like this.
Now you’re going to start forming your rosette. Have your glue gun ready, heated, and lots of extra glue sticks ready. You’ll use about 1 stick per rosette. Start by tucking one end in just a bit and gluing. Now fold that over again and glue. Third, start tucking just a bit and glue. Fourth, begin wrapping and glue as much as you can.
Now, put a HUGE dollop of hot glue right in the center of your circle. Place your rosette as it is right down in it an press. Hold it for long enough for the glue to secure to the burlap. From there, just place a line of glue, twist and stick the burlap. repeat until you get to the end of your circle.
Clip your burlap, leave about 2″.
Fold the tail in and in again then glue to the back of the rosette. All along the way, just glue glue glue. Wherever it needs it, GLUE it!
And here is what you end up with! AAAHH. dreamy. Of course, you can do a million things with this… headbands, curtain tiebacks, wristbands, etc…but I’m making napkin rings, so keep reading for the rest.
Crate & Barrel used a small strip of hemp plus a dab of velcro for their version. SHUH, as if! That takes WAY too long. So, I got some rick rack. Cut it into 8 equal strips. I think it looks nice and farmhousey, which is what I’m going for in my home. You can use something fancier if you want.
Place a dab of glue right in the center of the back, then place the rick rack on it. Top it off with a heavily glued small felt circle. YOU’RE DONE! Hug yourself.
Here is your new place setting … compliments of YOU!!! Are you kidding me?!? i love these!
I am speechless. Okay, that’s never true. But if ever oh ever I were to be speechless, it would be now! (Did you notice that by making these myself, I was able to get BOTH the napkin rings AND the chalkboard placemats!?! It’s good to be a sewer… in this case, a gluer!)
And see how the tiebacks don’t even show.
I hope you’ll make these! You won’t regret it!!! And seriously… they’re on sale for cheap. I won’t judge you for buying them as long as you make the napkins they will hold! =)
Here’s the breakdown:
TIME: I got lost in a conversation with the young gal that lives with us … but I’m thinking about 10-15 minutes each. I easily made 4 in an hour, so probably even less.
COST: $3/yd for the burlap. I bought 1 yard. About $2.50 for the rickrack and I got all 8 completed with one package. So total cost for all 8 napkin rings…. $5.50! A great saving compared to the $32 I would’ve spent on these in January!
That’s all I’ve got for today y’all … I’m about to make dinner and let’s just say there’s a reason I don’t write a cooking blog!
