Inside: The most adorable little DIY rustic modern napkin rings that will also act as place cards.

A few weeks ago the guys down the street were trimming the trees so of course I pulled over at the sight of a pile of logs. What can I say, I’m crafty like that!

I knew I wanted to make something with wood slices so I brought them home and sliced them up. Then I stalled.

Fast forward a couple of days and my mom was over. We were messing around with the styling of a few projects and setting up for my very simple fall table (that I’ll show you the details of in a few days) and an idea came flying into my head.

It went like this…

Napkin rings. With names on them. Chalkboard paint. Wood slices! Yes!

So here you have it. The most adorable little rustic modern napkin rings that will also act as place cards. Perfect for not so fancy fall entertaining.

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These are so incredibly easy, you are going to be stalking the gardeners in your area for sure.

The slices I used came from a branch of a tree. At first I was disappointed that they weren’t bigger. But once I came up with this idea they turned out to be the perfect size. (They are about 2 inches in diameter.)

What you’ll need:

• Small wood slices. If you aren’t into finding them around you can buy them here.
• Chalkboard paint. I had this kind left over from a project, but you can buy it in small batches too.
• A small paint brush
• Chalk
• Ribbon
• A staple gun or hot glue gun.

How to make wood slice chalkboard napkin rings:

Step 1: After cutting your wood into slices about 3/4 inches thick let them dry out.

Step 2: With a small paint brush apply your chalkboard paint. I started out making perfect circles, but decided instead to follow the natural curve of the slice leaving a border of wood showing through. I think it looks a lot better and adds to the organic feel. (Plus, trying to paint a perfect circle is too hard!)

Step 3: Cut a ribbon for each piece that is long enough to fit your napkins when it forms a circle and add a little bit for overlap. (I found this felt ribbon at Michael’s.)

Step 4: Flip each slice over and attach the ribbon using a stable gun.

You will want the ribbon to overlap at least an inch. Place it on the back of the slice and use 2 staples on each one to secure it. If you don’t have a staple gun, you could use hot glue, but I think a staple will work better with the tugging that is bound to happen when taking the napkin out.

Step 5: Season each little chalkboard. (All that means is take the side of a piece of chalk and rub it on each chalkboard surface, then rub it with an eraser or a paper towel. The chalkboard will loose its very black appearance and look more like a used chalkboard.

Tip: To write each name (since it is such a small space) rub a piece of chalk on a rough surface like the sidewalk turning it as you go to create a sharp point.

And that’s it! Such a cute and unique little addition to my fall table!

I’m not one to do a lot of rustic, but this little addition is just perfect for fall! Especially since I’m going much more simple this year than I did with last year’s fall tablescape.