THIS POST WAS SPONSORED BY ORIENTAL TRADING AND MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. SHOPPING FROM THOSE LINKS HELPS SUPPORT THIS BLOG AND MY CUPCAKE ADDICTION.

I’m going to let you guys in on a little secret…. I am really really bad at setting a table. I’m more of a buffet kinda girl. Like… here is the food and plates and plastic ware, you’re on your own. On top of all of this, I never saw a reason to have napkin rings. Seriously guys? Why? They’re just going to take up space in a drawer or box.

Okay, so maybe I have something against napkin rings, but for my Galentine’s Day Brunch I decided to bite the bullet and get a bit classy… but not too classy. I also decided that these wooden bead diy napkin rings needed to have a dual purpose for guests to take home after brunch because I did not want them sitting round my house. As a result, these can double as fun statement necklaces. The best part of this DIY, aside from multiple uses, is that it is something you can personalize to the colors of your party or to each guest’s favorite color. I partnered with Oriental Trading for all of my supplies for this project and the rest of my Galentines Day Brunch. If you’re also throwing one or at a loss for what to do for Valentines day, check out Oriental Trading’s Valentines Day shop!

Galentines Day Wooden Bead DIY Napkin Rings
Cost: $10 or less
Time: 1 hour or less
Ways to use them: at least 3

What you’ll need:
Unfinished Wooden Beads
Wooden Skewers or chopstick
Washi Tape
Choice colors of paint
1 inch Foam brush
Paper Plate (optional)
Brightly colored cord
Valentine Gold Tassels

Painting wooden beads is ridiculously easy. If you’re using a wooden skewer, washi tape about 1/4 of the way down the skewer to keep the bead from slipping. You probably won’t have to do this if you are using a chopstick since they have more of a cone shape.

Use your foam brush to paint on the base coat of your chosen colors. I used light blue, purple and pink. Once you’ve painted them, gently slide each bead off the skewer hole side down onto a paper plate or piece of cardboard. This will keep them from rolling all over the place. Do this for as many beads as you think you’ll need and let dry for at least 10 minutes. I used 5 painted beads for each of my Wooden Bead DIY Napkin Rings.

To get the marbled/splatter look for your beads lightly paint each color you’d like on each bead onto a paper plate. If you use really big dabs your beads will get stuck and well… it won’t be pretty. Once you’ve painted small sections swirl the beads around on the plate until they’re covered they way you like and set aside to dry for about 15 minutes.

To create the dual purpose napkin rings/necklaces cut a 3 foot length of cording. Place the tassel in the center of the cord then thread BOTH ENDS through one wooden bead.

From here you’ll add beads to each side of the cord in whatever pattern you like.

Wrap the cord around your napkin wrapped plastic or silverware 2-3 times and tie a loose knot in the cord. Its okay if you’ve got some cording hanging out, just tuck it under the wrapped cording or just call it a stylistic choice.

As your guests sit down for brunch, make sure to tell them to save their napkin rings because they also double as fun statement necklaces!