Hello there, how are you doing? For the past few months I’ve been hoarding saving our empty paper towel rolls. They always come in so handy and we’ve built up quite a collection. This weekend seemed like the perfect time to dig into that stockpile and turn them into these bird’s nest napkin rings.
Aren’t they just so adorable and they couldn’t be easier to make.
Okay, before we get to the “bird’s nest napkin ring” tutorial, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
What You need to Make Bird’s Nest Napkin Rings
For the Napkin Rings
- empty paper towel roll
- scissors and glue
- pretty scrapbook paper and burlap
- a few twigs from the garden
- some feathers
To Make the Bird’s Nest
- Spray adhesive
- Coconut fibre/coir
We had a whole bunch of coconut fibers leftover from when we made our wine glass planters a while back, but you should also be able to find some at your local garden center or even pet shop. Just ask for natural nesting material.
How to Make The Base Napkin Rings
There are tons of tutorials on how to make napkin rings from empty towel rolls, so I won’t bore you with another one. Just cut the rolls into 5 cm (2″) sections, wrap them with a strip of burlap, and then a strip of scrapbook paper. I cut the burlap strips a little wider than the rolls so the frayed edges would peek out from under the scrapbook paper.
Finish off by gluing a few small twigs onto the covered rolls for the bird’s nest to rest on. Now to make the little bird’s nest and eggs.
How to a Miniature Bird’s Nest in Less Than a Minute
I know you can buy small bird’s nests at craft stores, but they are so easy to make, take less than a minute, and cost next to nothing too. All you need to do is take a small clump of coconut fiber and twist it out to form a strand about 10 cm (4″) long.
Spray the coconut fiber with some spray adhesive. Not too much, just enough to make it tacky, and then wind or twist the strand around your thumb to form a circle.
Keep a small “tail” of fibers and tuck it underneath to seal the bottom of the miniature bird’s nest. Squish the bottom of the nest so it’s nice and tight, and voila, the nests are done. Easy, right?!!
Putting it all together
I couldn’t find any egg-shaped beads, so I used a few flat oval beads instead. Just glue two of them together to form tiny little eggs. You can also make some clay eggs if you can’t find the right beads.
To finish off, glue the eggs inside the nest and then glue the nest onto the twigs.
Add a feather or two, if you like, and the bird’s nest napkin rings are done.
I’m real happy with how they turned out. They add such a lovely rustic and natural touch, and the only thing I had to buy were the beads. You can use the same technique to make larger nests too. Just wind the fiber or some grass around a round bowl instead of your thumb, and you’ll end up with a life-sized version like this one I used here.
All in all, it probably takes about 5 minutes to make each napkin ring once you’ve gathered all the materials. Not bad for a quick and easy craft that looks so cute.
Oh, and you see those biscuits? Well, I was planning on doing all these creative shots that involved the biscuits and the little nest but ended up eating them, so the photo above was the only shot I got 😀
Do you eat your props too? I would love to know what you think of the napkin rings. Is it something you’d try? It’s a great craft to do with the kids, and the little bird’s nests can even be used in your fairy garden too. They’re pretty weather resistant.
And don’t forget to share it with your friends and/or save it to Pinterest.
Sharing is caring 😉
Oh, and just in case you want to make a few for your next brunch, I’ve saved you the hassle of trying to find some of the materials. Disclosure: If you click on the links below, we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry, it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us fund our crafting habit ?
As always, wishing you a lovely, creative, and blessed week.
Last update on 2026-04-23 / Source Amazon Affiliates
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