This post will teach you how to make your own seasonal napkin rings and decor out of wood.
Spring is right around the corner! This year, I’m focusing on making my table decor with what I have in my shop. This is a quick, easy project – yes, please!
For this DIY project I will be using:
Scrap wood – I made some bunnies from poplar, oak, and walnut. Use whatever you have!
Scroll saw (similar – a jigsaw or band saw will also work)
Forstner bit (these are hands down my favorite)
To start this project, I found an outline of a bunny and printed it off. Resize it if necessary, and cut it out. I used cardstock so the pattern was a little heavier than regular paper. This is not limited to bunnies – switch up the pattern for different seasons and occasions – Christmas trees, leaves, flowers, birds, etc.
Use the pattern to trace an outline onto the wood.
After I traced my bunny, I used my miter saw to cut the wood just above the ears. Then, I put this smaller piece against a sacrificial piece of wood so when I drill the center hole there is no tear out on the back.
Tear out is when the wood rips or tears, instead of cleanly cutting. This can be caused by a dull blade, cutting against the grain of the wood, and deep cuts. Putting a piece of wood behind the project piece when drilling holes can help prevent tear out. An example of tear out can be seen in the picture below.
Clamp the project piece and the sacrificial board together, and use a 11/4″ forstner bit to drill a hole in the center of the bunny. This doesn’t need to be an exact measurement – I eyeballed each hole.
If you want to use these as decorations, and not napkin rings, skip the center hole.
Next, I used my scroll saw to cut out the bunny. Always, always, always wear eye, dust, and ear protection when working on projects like this!
Sand the bunny. I used a piece of 180 grit and then 220, wiping off the dust in between grits.
Look at all those happy bunnies! This might be my favorite project ever, lol.
After the bunnies were smooth, I applied a food safe finish to several, and also tried painting one. Once the finish is dry, they are done!
Happy Building, friends!
You are my favorite, these are the best. What is a scroll saw? I only know the jig saw.
These are my new faves too! A scroll saw has a really small, thin blade but can be used to cut holes in the center of pieces – think cursive name signs. Similar to what you would do with a jig saw to cut inside a hole, but much more precise.