Do you collect acorn caps on your walks? I do. I’m always on the lookout for different ways to repurpose them. After all, there are only so many times I can use them as bowls in my miniatures. These DIY acorn napkin rings are a lovely way to give those tiny treasures a new purpose.
Each one starts with a real acorn cap and a body of clay. Copper wire loops hold everything together, while old book pages become soft little leaves.
They’re easy to make and don’t need a fancy table to look warm and inviting. Slip them over a simple cloth napkin for a cosy autumn meal. Or use them to add a rustic touch to a special gathering.
No two will look quite the same. For me, that’s part of their charm.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make some for your next get-together. But before we get there, do me a favor and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. And don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss a post!
What you need
- Acorn caps
- Jute twine
- Craft clay (I used brown polymer clay)
- Old book pages
- Glue
- Scissors
- 9-gauge craft wire for the napkin ring, or a paper kitchen-towel roll
- 18-gauge craft wire for the acorn and leaf stalks
About the wire: 18-gauge wire is about 1 mm thick. It is sturdy enough to hold the clay acorns and paper leaves, but still easy to bend. You can read more about wire gauges in this post.
How to make acorn napkin rings
There are three parts to this tutorial:
- Turning caps into acorns with clay
- Making book page oak leaves
- Using the leaves and acorns to make napkin rings
We’ll start with the clay acorns. If you have real acorns handy you can skip this step.
Making clay acorns
Pick the best-looking caps and drill a small hole in the top.
Cut a 10 cm (4”) piece of 18-gauge wire for each acorn. Twist one end into a small loop, then push it up into the cap.
Grab a hunk of clay and roll it between the palms of your hands to form a little egg-shaped ball.
The eggy ball needs to be small enough to fit snugly inside the acorn cap.
Bake or cure the eggy balls according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once dry, glue them inside the caps. I used brown clay to make my balls eggs acorns so there was no need for painting. If your clay is a different color, it’s easier to paint them first. Next up, the book page leaves.
Making book paper leaves
Before making the leaves, give the book pages a coat or three of mod podge or varnish. It makes them more durable.
Confession time. While I was making these napkin rings, I came to the shocking realization that I didn’t have a cooking clue what oak leaves look like. I had to Google it. Anyhoos, I choose to make white oak leaves to accompany my clay acorns. They’re basically just elongated, wiggly woggly shapes.
Snip out the leaf shapes, then cut a 15 cm (6”) piece of 18-gauge wire for each leaf.
Add a small line of glue along the middle of the leaf shape and glue the wire down to make a stalk.
Put them to one side to dry completely.
You’ll need two acorns and three leaves for each napkin ring.
Making the acorn napkin rings
We’ve done all the difficult bits, now we just need to make some rings. You can do it in two ways; either cut a cardboard roll into thin 1 -2 cm (1/2” – 1”) strips or wrap 9-gauge craft wire around the roll a few times.
I chose the second option.
Place the wire stalks of two acorns and three leaves on the wire (or cardboard) roll.
Cut a generous length of twine and wrap it around the ring and stalks to join everything together. Hold the acorns and leaves in place with a small piece of tape while you begin wrapping the twine.
Use a small dollop of glue to secure the twine end. And that’s it. Easy, right.
Each one will turn out a little differently, depending on the caps you find and the book-page leaves you add.
For me, that’s what makes them feel so special. Pop them around cloth napkins for a cosy autumn get-together or use them to add a small woodland touch to any gathering.
If you like the idea of making acorn napkin rings, don’t forget to pin the tutorial for later.
Sharing is caring.
FAQ
Can I use real acorns instead of clay?
Of course you can. If you have whole acorns (lucky you), skip the clay step and attach the wire to the cap before assembling the ring.
How do I clean acorn caps for crafts
Brush off any dirt and check the caps for small holes or signs of creepy crawlies before using them. If they’re muddy, rinse them in warm, soapy water. Leave the caps to dry completely before crafting. To speed things up, pop them in a low oven at 175°F (80°C).
Can I make the leaves from other paper?
Sure. Old book pages give the napkin rings a lovely aged look, but sheet music, brown paper, or printed scrapbook paper would work too.
More napkin ring ideas
If you enjoy making a table feel a little more special, here are a few more DIY napkin ring ideas to try:
- Bird’s Nest Napkin Rings – sweet little nests for a spring table
- Acorn Napkin Rings – a rustic autumn craft with book-page leaves
- Fall Napkin Rings – another handmade idea for autumn gatherings
- Fantasy Napkin Rings – a magical craft that uses a bath sponge
- Clay Gnome Napkin Rings – a quick craft using clay and paper napkins
- 10-Minute Pebble Napkin Rings – an easy nature-inspired make
Oh, and if you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered. Disclosure: Clicking on the links below means we may receive a commission from Amazon. But don’t worry, it won’t come out of your pocket, and it helps us make more amazing crafts to share with you.
Or if you prefer to buy rather than DIY, then here you go.
And as always, I wish you a wonderful, crafty week filled with lots of love. Thank you for popping in for a visit.
Last update on 2026-10-12 / Source Amazon Affiliates