Wooden Napkin Holder

With some scraps of wood, clamps and glue, you can make a beautiful, wooden napkin holder.

Find scraps of wood at least 13 inches long. Plane or cut them down to 1/2 inch thick. Use small widths of different kinds of wood for a more interesting design. The total width should be just over six inches. Put a small bead of glue along each edge and spread it with your finger or glue spreader. Line the pieces up so they are even across the top and bottom and clamp them together tightly. Leave it for at least an hour.

Cut the glued board into two pieces, each six inches high. Put symmetrical slants on each side at the top. Cut another piece of 1/2 inch stock 1 1/2 inches wide by just over six inches long. Router or use a plane to make a bevel on the outside face of the six by six pieces. Plane and sand all surfaces, going from 80 grit up to 220 grit.

The sides of the bottom piece need to be exactly 90 degrees to the bottom or the sides of the napkin holder will end up on an angle. Glue the bottom piece in between the two side pieces so that they are flush at the bottom. Clamp it tightly and wait for at least one hour.

Put on two coats of varnish. Sand with 320 grit sandpaper when the second coat is completely dry then put on the final coat of varnish. Apply four thin, felt pads to the bottom.