I was out doing some Christmas shopping at Pier 1 the other day and I came across some cute little jingle bell napkin rings. I stood beside the little bowl of them and jingled one in my hand and they seemed so festive, I just had to have them! Until I looked at the price – $5.95 each! Yikes! I’m not paying that for one napkin ring!
So I inspected one carefully and made it my mission to make my own. My first stop was the trusty dollar store, where I found metal wire and multi-coloured tiny jingle bells in red, green and gold. And then I continued on to Michael’s where I got the silver jingle bells.
I racked my brain for what I could possibly use for the metal loop part of the napkin ring. I considered just using wire and wrapping it around a paper towel roll, but that didn’t seem classy enough. Shower curtain hooks were slightly too big. But then I thought of curtain rings! I checked the drapery section at Walmart and found the most perfect rings for my jingle bell napkin rings! About $6 for 7. Perfect!
I used needle nosed pliers to take the clip off the curtain ring.
Then I looped the metal wire around the ring several times. I attempted to make a knot, but I couldn’t figure out how to make it work with the wire, so I just crossed my wire loops to make it stick.
I threaded 6 jingle bells at a time onto the wire and then wound the the wire around the ring 3 times to keep them in place.
I continued the process of threading 6 jingle bells and winding the wire around the ring 3 times.
Until I had made it the whole way around.
I actually like my jingle bell napkin rings even more than the ones at Pier 1!
And they were just a fraction of the price!
And they make the coolest, most festive jingle when they move. Project success!
Jill says
Beautiful and so festive! How much did they end up costing per ring in the end?
Anonymous says
I think they worked out to between $1.50 and $1.75 each. Way better than $5.95 each!
dlvchapman says
Thanks! I think they worked out to between $1.50 and $1.75 each. Way better than $5.95 each!
Debbie says
Thanks! I think they worked out to between $1.50 and $1.75 each. Way better than $5.95 each!
Linda says
Very sweet. Could also be a musical instrument… lots of fun at the dinner table! And a conversation piece. Wow. Score!! Your friend, Linda
TaMara_ImplausiblyBeautiful says
I love these soo much! I’m pinning and sharing with my FB followers tomorrow!
Debbie @ One Little Project says
Thanks TaMara! I’m so happy to hear you like them! 🙂
Marguerite says
Love these!! Which $ store did you get the small bells?
Debbie @ One Little Project says
Hi Marguerite – I live in Canada so I got them at the Dollarama. They are likely only available during the holiday season though. You might be able to find them online now, but they’ll be more expensive. Good luck!
Marguerite says
Debbie,
I ordered them onine via Ebay and made them today. I tried your technique, but ended up using green pipe cleaners instead, only because it was quicker and easier for me to do. I got too frustrated trying to work with the wire. They look really cute on the napkins and with the close out placemats I got from Pier 1! Thanks for your idea.