Make Painted Napkin Rings

These colorful painted napkin rings make setting the table fun! All you need to get started is a cardboard tube, paint, and a little imagination. This activity will help your preschooler practice color recognition.

What You Need:

• Cardboard tube (from paper towels or toilet tissue)
• Scissors
• Tempera paints
• Brushes
• Art tissue paper
• Liquid starch
• Clear contact paper
• Clear gloss enamel (optional)

What You Do:

1. Help your child cut the cardboard tube into rings about 2" (5 cm) long with scissors.
2. Paint the rings with a single color of tempera paint to coat. Let dry, then apply a second coat.
3. When the second coat is dry, decorate the rings by painting designs on them or by attaching pieces of art tissue to them with liquid starch.
4. Let the rings dry. You can slide the rings onto a dowel or the neck of a bottle to dry if desired.
5. When dry, cover each ring with a strip of clear contact paper. This will protect napkins from paint or tissue stains.

At mealtime, slip the completed rings onto napkins and enjoy the beautiful presentation! For a little variation, you can also use felt pens to decorate the rings, or cover the rings with papier-mâché and paint then them when dry. Or instead of using contact paper, try coating the rings with clear gloss enamel for a hard, clear finish.