HOW TO CREATE A TURKEY NAPKIN RING THAT WILL MAKE YOUR TABLE LOOK AMAZING
Don’t you just love Thanksgiving…that time of year when you usually spend time with family and close friends. Well, to celebrate that we’re going to make a Thanksgiving Turkey Napkin Ring?
But first…
It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it? We really deserve to celebrate this time of year. Even though we can’t all be together this time, we can definitely celebrate the fact that our friends and family are still healthy. And that is saying a lot given the current situation.
How did I come up with the idea of a Turkey Napkin Ring?
I wanted to come up with a project that would celebrate this wonderful time of year. So what would represent Thanksgiving better than a turkey! And napkin rings are a beautiful addition to the table! It gives that special touch of family tradition.
Since I’m a “more-often-than-not” paper crafter, what else could I make this napkin ring out of than paper! I even added a really cool paper braiding technique. But don’t freak out, it isn’t that hard. 🙂
DISCLOSURE: Some links in this post may be affiliate links. I may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these, but it will not cost you a penny more. Read my full disclosure.
Supplies & Tools:
- Turkey SVG Cut File – **FREE DOWNLOAD (fill out form)
- Bazzill 300944 Cardstock 12″X12″-Carob/Grass Cloth 25 per Pack
- Bazzill Cardstock 8.5″X11″-Classic Red 25 per Pack
- Bazzill Cardstock 8.5″X11″-Classic Yellow 25 per Pack
- 12 x 12-inch Black AC Cardstock Pack by American Crafts | Includes 60 sheets of heavy weight, textured black cardstock
- Uni-Ball UM 153 Signo Broad Point Gel Pen – White – Pack of 3
- Ranger Ink Inkssentials Glossy Accents Precision Tip 2 Ounces GAC17042 (3-Pack)
- Red Ink Pad (I used a Stamping Up Red)
- Yellow Ink Pad (I used a Stamping Up Yellow)
- 3-Pack Bundle – Zig Memory System 2-Way Squeeze and Roll Glue Pen (fine ballpoint tip)
- Crafter’s Square 3D White Pop Dot Adhesives, 0.25 in.
- Art C Feathers & Hope Stamp & Die Set
- We R Memory Keepers – Sticky Piercer
- Scrapbook.com – Exclusive Sizzix Big Shot Machine Die Cutting Bundle – Nested Circles OR Sizzix – Tim Holtz – Alterations Collection – Vagabond 2 Die Cutting and Embossing Machine
- We R Memory Keepers – Score Board
- Silhouette White Cameo 4 w/ Advanced Blade Pack, 38 Oracal Sheets, Siser HTV OR Cricut Maker Bundle with Vinyl Sampler and Basic Tool Set, Champagne
Paper Cuts:
Brown Cardstock:
- 2 inches x 10 inches
- 2–4 x ½ inch strips
- ½ x 12 inch strip
- 1 ½ x ½ inch piece
- 1 x 1 inch piece
- Small piece of brown for cutting out turkey
Red Cardstock:
- Piece of red to stamp feathers on & die cut out
- Small piece of red for cutting out turkey
- ½ x 12 inch strip
Yellow Cardstock:
- ½ x 12 inch strip
- Piece of yellow to stamp feathers on & die cut out
- Small piece of yellow for cutting out turkey
Black Cardstock:
- Small piece of black for cutting out turkey
Step 1: Score Brown Cardstock For Turkey Tail
Score brown 2 x 10 cardstock at ½ inches then every 1 inch after that (1 ½, 2 ½, etc.).
Turn cardstock over.
Now score at 1 inch and at every 1 inch after that (2, 3, etc.).
TIP: The correct way to fold your paper is against the raised side [see instructions from LCI Paper]
Fold scored paper into an accordion (see below).
Step 2: Glue Together Base of Turkey Tail
Take 2 brown 4 x ½ inch strips and glue together.
Now glue the ends of the accordion piece to the brown strips (side by side).
Glue middle of accordion down to the base.
Step 3: Stamp Feathers
Stamp red feathers with red ink.
Stamp yellow feathers with yellow ink.
Step 4: Cut Out Die Cut Feathers
With your die cut machine, cut 7 larger feathers out of red cardstock.
Then cut 7 smaller feathers out of yellow cardstock.
Step 5: Glue Feathers Together
First glue red feathers together.
Next, glue yellow feathers together.
Step 6: Attach Feathers To Turkey Tail
Glue red feathers onto accordion piece.
Now glue yellow feathers onto accordion piece.
Step 7: Use Silhouette Or Cricut To Cut Out Turkey
Use your Cutting Machine (Silhouette or Cricut) to cut out the free turkey SVG you can download. When you open the SVG it will be the smaller turkey that we are cutting out. So separate your layers, and cut your pieces out.
**I’m assuming that you know how to cut out SVGs.
Step 8: Assemble Turkey’s Pieces
These tools below are a huge help when you are putting the small turkey pieces together. The Zig has a fine ballpoint tip for gluing those tiny pieces. The WRMK Sticky Piercer is perfect for picking up those tiny pieces.
Glue together body pieces.
Glue together head pieces.
Draw on the eyes with a white gel pen.
Glue body onto tail and pop dot head onto body.
Step 8: Create Napkin Ring (Paper Braiding)
Now we’re going to do a paper braid…
Take your 3–½ x 12 inch strips (red, yellow, brown) and glue them onto the brown 1 ½ x ½ piece.
Start with the small brown piece facing you.
Take the yellow strip and fold straight across.
Put red strip over the top of the yellow strip.
Now fold yellow strip straight down.
Take the brown strip and fold straight across, and under yellow strip.
Now fold brown strip straight down.
Fold red strip straight across, and under brown strip.
Fold red strip straight down.
**Repeat above steps till you have come to the end of the strips.
Make the whole strip straight by cutting off the corner of the small piece (1 x ½ in brown piece) that you started with.
Take a 1 x 1 inch piece of brown cardstock and glue the ends of the strips to it.
Step 9: Assemble Napkin Ring
Now form your braided strip into a ring that is about 2 inches in diameter and glue together.
Then glue the turkey onto the ring.
You have now completed your Turkey Napkin Ring! How adorable is he, right!?
You can repeat all of these steps depending on how many napkin rings you need.
Turkey Napkin Ring Table Setting
When you’re ready to set your festive Thanksgiving table, all you have to do is get out your cloth napkins. You can either just gather up your napkin and thread it through your napkin ring, or make a turkey tail from your napkin.
**PLEASE NOTE: The tail will probably work better with a 20 inch napkin. I only had a 17 inch.
To make the turkey tail, first fold your napkin in half leaving the edge about 1 1/2 inches away from the other edge.
Take the napkin from the side, and accordion fold it.
Then fold the bottom end about 2 inches up and secure with an small elastic.
For the final touch just place the turkey napkin ring on each dinner plate and place the elastic end in the ring. The rest of the napkin will fan out to form the big tail.
Voila!!! Isn’t it the absolute sweetest? He’s so darn cute! And you made him!
I also have a great group of other “Festive” crafts for you to check out from some fellow bloggers. These additional projects are amazing!
The Country Chic Cottage – DIY Burlap Table Runner
Coastal Kelder – Pumpkin Pie Place Cards
Dukes and Dutchesses – Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas
Craft Room Time – 3D Turkey Centerpiece