Craft a set of elegant Christmas Napkin Rings with vintage images and colored paper.

(click here for a larger Christmas Napkin Rings image)

Dazzle your guests with hand-crafted Christmas Napkin Rings that give your holiday table a vintage look! Ever since we introduced our Thanksgiving Napkin Rings we have received dozens of requests for vintage images for a Christmas version. Well, we got a little carried away and came up with four unique designs. These pop up paper creations are easy to make, with only some paper, glue, and tape. Oh, and that remarkable invention, decorative edge scissors.

Our four designs can grace any table: twin cherubs singing carols, a golden bell, Father Christmas and star-struck children, and the traditional Santa Claus.

Gather you family and whip up a set for your holiday table!

Materials for Christmas Napkin Rings

• Vintage images (FREE PDF download) printed on heavyweight photo paper (one for each napkin).
• Matting paper. Any medium weight paper will work. We used 4 1/2" X 6 1/2" pieces of red, brown and gold construction paper for each ring (see Tips).
• Scrap paper.
• Craft glue or glue stick.
• Transparent tape.
• Decorative edge scissors.
• Scissors or paper cutter.
• Craft knife.
• Self-healing cutting mat.
• Optional embellishments: glitter, ribbon, sprigs of holly, evergreen or dried flowers (see Tips).

Instructions

1. Trim the vintage image with scissors or paper cutter.
2. Cut a 6" X 1/2" strip of scrap paper. Secure the image to a cutting mat. Position the strip of paper vertically down the exact center of the image (2 3/4") and secure it with tape to the mat. With a craft knife, cut around the outline of the central image, except for the 1/2" at the top and bottom that is covered by the paper strip.
3. Glue the image to a piece of matting paper (we used 4 1/2" X 6 1/2" construction paper), applying glue around the outside edges only and carefully avoiding the cut-out section. Let the glue dry.
4. With decorative edge scissors, trim the mat around the image, leaving a 1/4" border.
5. Gently curl the image until the short sides slightly overlap in the back, and secure them together with a piece of transparent tape. Adjust the sides of the cut-out section until it stands out from the ring.
6. Fold your napkin and roll it into a tight tube. Slide it into the napkin ring, and fluff it up a little.
7. Repeat the above for each guest at your table. Be prepared for the question "Can I take this home with me?"

• Here are photos of the other three designs: singing cherubs, Santa Claus, and Father Christmas. With each one, we folded the napkin differently to show you a rolled napkin, an accordion fold and just pulling the center of the napkin up through the ring.
• if you choose to use the Santa Claus image, be aware that the artist got a little confused when drawing the bottom of the frame around Santa. You will have to incorporate part of the "Merry Christmas" scroll when cutting.
• Any kind of medium-weight paper can be used for the decorative matting paper behind the vintage image. You can choose paper to match your image, your napkins, your tablecloth or the cranberry sauce.
• These Christmas napkin rings lend themselves to all sorts of embellishment, if you want to make the project harder. Slip some sprigs of holly, evergreen, or dried flowers under the pop up image from both sides. Instead of securing the back with tape, go classy and thread a wide ribbon under the image and tie it in a bow at the back. Add glitter highlights to the picture.
• Personalize each place setting by leaving a 1/2" mat border below the image and handwriting the guest's name on it.