Make your own creative chalkboard napkin rings for a creative housewarming gift. Using a few small items, you can create a housewarming gift that is so creative and fun you will need to make an extra set for yourself. This project is for adults, as children should not handle the chalkboard paint.
The Museum of Modern Art in New York carries a set of chalkboard napkins ring in their museum store. If you like the style, but don’t want to pay the price ($65 for a set of four), you can make your own.
Arts and Crafts Supplies Needed for Homemade Chalkboard Napkin Rings
There are some very basic and inexpensive arts and crafts supplies you need to make homemade chalkboard napkin rings. Some may be found in the home improvement section of the local hardware store or Wal-mart.
One can of Rustoleum (or equivalent brand) Chalkboard Paint – Select the spray can type or the paint on type, depending on which application you method prefer for paint.
A piece of fine sandpaper
Newspaper
A set of wooden napkin rings – Four is good, but eight is better. If you can find untreated wood napkin rings those would be ideal. If not, you can use some inexpensive wooden napkin rings from the dollar store, a flea market, or any clearance rack in a local Homegoods store.
One small can of latex primer and a brush
A dry cloth
One face mask (optional)
Prepare the Chalkboard Napkin Rings
Sand the wooden napkin rings first. Make the napkins rings as smooth as you can. This works best with napkin rings that do not have a lot of ridges.
Safety tip: you may want to wear a mask if you are sensitive to wood dust, or to paint chemicals.
Set down some newspaper to collect the dust and to protect the area from the paint.
Once the wooden napkin rings have been sanded, wipe them off with a dry cloth.
Place a piece of masking tape over the open end of the napkin ring. Do the same on the opposite side. This will keep the outer edges from picking up any chalkboard paint. It will also keep the paint from going inside. Keep the masking tape longer than the napkin rings, to make it easier to pick up and move the painted rings.
Applying the Chalkboard Paint
Paint the exterior of the wooden napkin rings with the chalkboard paint. Use a brush to apply the chalkboard paint. When applying the paint with a brush, use thin, even strokes, trying not to overlap the paint. It’s better to add a second coat later than to over-apply the paint and make it look lumpy.
An alternative method is to spread out some chalkboard paint on some cardboard and roll the napkin ring once through the paint. Stick a long brush though the masking tape. Make big enough holes for the ring to be able to roll. Use the brush to smooth the paint.
Tip: If you are using chalkboard paint from a spray can to make this creative housewarming gift, set up the rings and newspaper outside.
Let the chalkboard paint dry. After four hours you can apply a second coat if it’s needed.
Final Touches
After a full three days, Rustoleum says that the surface can be prepared with some chalk. Take a piece of chalk and run it over the entire chalkboard paint surface. Use an eraser to wipe the chalk off the chalkboard napkin rings.
Additional Items to Give with the Creative Housewarming Gift
Add a small eraser which the gift recipient can use to erase the chalk.
Include a white or gray chalk pencil with the housewarming gift. These can be found in the arts section of any store. Look for the section with drawing pencils.
Alternatively, a colorful box of non-toxic chalk would work as well. Add a chalk holder if you go this route.
Corral the napkin rings on a large recycled metal ring used to organize shower curtain hooks. Or, tie a pretty ribbon around the set of napkin rings.
Sources
MoMa Store, http://www.momastore.org
Rustoleum, Rustoleum.com
