Napkin Rings

Set a pretty table with some cloth napkins gathered with these sparkly Napkin Rings. You can easily customize this project to match your table linens by varying the beads you use. These would look lovely at a wedding, too—the bridal party could make them together and guests could take them home as a favor!

You will need:

* Power drill with ¹⁄₁₆" bit

* Corks with interesting prints

* 1mm elastic jewelry cord (about 6" per napkin ring)

* Assorted sparkly beads, size and color of your choice

* Craft glue, if desired

1. Drill a ¹⁄₁₆" hole in the middle of each cork, as shown in the illustration. Use a toothpick if necessary to push out all of the dust and crumbs from the holes.

   

2. Thread corks onto elastic and add beads to cover about 1.5" of elastic on each side.
3. Cut the elastic, leaving a few inches extra on each side.
4. Tie a strong double knot to close the circle. (Don’t pull as hard as you can or the elastic will break. It is strong, but don’t get crazy!) If it makes you feel better, you can dab a tiny bit of craft glue onto the knot and let it dry. If the holes in the beads are large enough, you can tuck the knot right inside one of them. If not, don’t worry about it!

How Are Wine Corks Made?

The techniques used to produce wine corks have changed little over the years. Workers remove the outer layer of bark from the tree and leave it outside for about six months to season. This process allows the wood to dry out. The wood is then boiled to remove contaminants and to increase its flexibility. Next, the wood is cut into strips and the individual corks are punched out of them. The corks are then sanitized, usually with a hydrogen peroxide solution, before being assessed for quality and stored. Only the best cork is used for wine closures; most of it is used for floors and bulletin boards.