How to Make a Thanksgiving or Christmas Napkin and Utensil Holder

During the holidays Crafts Using Pine Cones are very popular as they make very good table decorations. It is not all you can do though and here is a pretty craft that can be used as a holiday centerpiece. It is easy to make and the kids can help you. So, whether you prefer Crafts Using Pine Cones or these pretty utensil holder, the kids will have a ball helping you with them.

How to Make a Thanksgiving or Christmas Napkin and Utensil Holder

An occasion such as the Thanksgiving and Christmas deserves some special table décor. This napkin and utensil holder has Christmas Motif that everyone is sure to love, and provides an attractive and convenient way to store your knives, forks, spoons and napkins.

Supplies

• 4 short cardboard tubes (about the size of bathroom tissue rolls, or slightly longer; but make sure they’re not so long that it will be difficult to remove plastic utensils from them)
• Construction paper in red, green and gold
• Gold chenille stems
• 5 ½ inch square of corrugated cardboard
• 4 plastic milk jug lids
• Craft glue or glue stick
• Gold Glitter
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Cut four strips of green construction paper wide enough to cover 2/3 of a cardboard tube and long enough to wrap around it. Cut four strips of red construction paper wide enough to cover 1/3 of a cardboard tube and wrap around it.

2. Use a thin layer of craft glue or a glue stick to cover each tube with a strip of green construction paper, starting at the bottom. Then glue a strip of red construction paper starting at the top.

3. Draw a star on gold construction paper and cut out. Use the star to trace and cut as many starts as you would like to use

4. Glue the stars onto the rolls, spacing them equally.

5. Glue the glitter onto the rolls, as you wish, you can also use different colors of glitter if you wish

6. Using the hot glue gun, glue a plastic milk jug lid into the bottom with the flat end to the outside.

8. Arrange the tubes on the cardboard two by two, with the ends containing the lids on the cardboard base. Leave an inch or so in between the rows for napkins. Glue the tubes down. Let dry.

9. Using the hot glue gun, glue a piece of gold chenille stem around the top of each tube. Glue gold chenille stems around the edges of the base.

10. Place utensils in each tube, and stand napkins up in the middle for a beautiful and useful Thanksgiving or Christmas centerpiece.

Have fun with this craft or go and have a look at the Crafts Using Pine Cones, making pine cone turkeys for Thanksgiving!

Holiday Crafts - How to Make Festive Indian Corn Napkin Rings

 Holiday Crafts - How to Make Festive Indian Corn Napkin Rings

Holiday Crafts making something for the dinner table is always popular. These Festive Indian Corn Napkin Rings will really make your table look festive!

Autumn is a beautiful and colorful time of year. Fall flowers, the changing leaves, and seasonal crops all contribute to the vibrant colors of nature. These items provide the inspiration for a variety of crafts.

One of the most interesting of fall crops is Indian corn. Unlike most corn, its kernels come in lots of different colors. This makes it a welcome addition to cornucopias and other fall centerpieces. But you don't have to have the real thing to incorporate its unique look into your Thanksgiving table decorations. These napkin rings bear a striking resemblance to Indian corn, and they are easy and inexpensive to make.

What You Need

• Construction paper (ideally orange, brown or another fall color, but any color will work)
• Pencil with an eraser
• Scissors
• Tissue paper in yellow, orange and burgundy
• White craft glue
  

Instructions

1. Place a piece of construction paper lengthwise. Draw a line about 1 ½ inches from the top to make a strip. Cut out.

2. Cut the strip in half.

3. Cut a piece of each color of tissue paper into 1-inch squares.

4. Spread a thin layer of the white craft glue over a 1-inch section of the construction paper strip.

5. Twist a square of the yellow tissue paper around the eraser end of the pencil. Push the twisted paper down onto the top corner of the glued section, and carefully remove the pencil.

6. Repeat step 5 with another piece of yellow construction paper placed next to the first one, and then with a piece of orange or burgundy tissue paper. Continue using two or three yellow pieces followed by an orange or burgundy piece until the glued area is completely covered.

7. Cover another 1-inch section of the construction paper strip with a thin layer of craft glue, and continue adding pieces of twisted tissue paper. Repeat until all but ½ inch of the strip is covered.

8. Bend the strip into a circular shape, with the tissue paper on the outside. Glue the ends together. Let dry completely before using.

Tips

* Each strip of construction paper makes two napkin rings. You should be able to make enough for all of your guests with a piece or two of construction paper.

* For best results, store the napkin rings empty and lying on their side until ready to use. This will keep the tissue paper from getting flattened.

* Be sure to roll napkins tightly so that they will fit easily into the napkin rings. If the glue does not hold, and you don't have time to glue them and let them dry again, try stapling the ends together.

Holiday Crafts really get everyone in the mood for the Holidays. Enjoy these Corn Rings!