Clay Napkin Rings

A kid-made project to add to your Fall table!  

Materials

• Craft tray or table cloth
• Clay board (*optional)
• Air dry clay
• Rolling pin
• Yarn
• BBQ skewer (have an adult cut the sharp tip off) or thin dowel
• Yarn
• Tape
• Old knife
• Paper roll (s)

We always find a smock helpful too:

Directions

• Don your smock.  Knead and roll out your clay to an even thickness.  We went with a thickness of an 1/4 inch or a little less than a centimetre.  We rolled it into a rectangular shape.

• Cut your rectangular piece into long strips about 2 inches in width/ 5 centimetres, using your knife carefully.

• Wrap it around your paper roll to assure that your strip is the right size (overlapping one side over the other as seen in the photographs).  Cut off any excess.

• Use your BBQ skewer or thin dowel to make holes in your strips.  We went with holes on the edges, but you could decide your own placement.

• Then wrap it around the tube (s) and then overlap one side over the other, gently compressing the pieces together.  We made 4 rings for a gift, but go with how many you would like for your table.

• Allow to dry according to the product directions.

• Once dry, gently slip the rings off the tube.  Allow the inside of the rings to dry throughly as well.

• Cut your yarn into manageable strips (we go with the length of our children’s arm).  Knot one end and then wrap a small piece of tape on the other (like the end of a lace- in fact young children could use a lace!).

• Lace your yarn through the holes in your napkin rings making whatever designs you like.  Be sure to start inside the ring to hide your knot.  Once finished, knot the end and trim off any excess.  Repeat with all your rings.

• Roll your napkins and gently insert them into your rings.

• Add your rings to your fall table!

Purpose

• Getting involved in celebrations.
• Developing one’s fine motor skills (kneading, rolling, lacing etc.)

Safety Notes

• We suggest that you wear a smock and use a craft tray or table cloth to protect your clothing and surfaces.
• Use scissors and a knife with care and adult supervision.
• Cord, yarn etc. can be a strangulation hazard, therefore be sure to use with direct supervision and for its intended purpose.