Effortless Napkins for Thanksgiving

Turn everyday cloth napkins into something special for Thanksgiving. Place an ear of Indian corn on top of a folded cloth napkin and wrap a length of braided cord around it. Tie in a knot to secure.

These crafty baubles pack a two-for-one punch as both napkin rings and place cards. Print guests' names on decorative paper and cut to fit on metal pendant frames. Glue paper tags to the back of the pendants and string onto lengths of thin hemp (both pendants and hemp are available at jewelry supplies at crafts stores). Tie the tags around rolled napkins and tuck a wheat shock or two behind the tag.

Wrap a length of wide ribbon around a rolled napkin. Secure the ribbon ends with double-stick tape. Hot-glue an artificial berry sprig to the ribbon for a touch of texture.

Present your napkins wrapped in something special. For best results, use napkin rings with flat exterior surfaces. Wrap napkin rings with strips of paper or ribbon; secure the overlapping ends with double-sided tape. Hot-glue buttons or metal charms (available at crafts stores) to the rings.

Add a formal touch to a buffet with these simple napkin-roll sleeves, which secure a cloth napkin wrapped around silverware. Place rolls in a basket at the end of your buffet table for dinner guests to grab as they go through the line. The all-in-one silverware and napkin package is a convenient way to carry the meal necessities from the buffet to the table.

Editor's Tip: Repurpose the napkin sleeves for different holidays, using red napkins and silver ribbon for Christmas, for example.

If your Thanksgiving decorating style is more understated, simply roll cloth napkins and tie with a piece of twine. The result is an effortless look, but the texture of the twine reflects the nature of the season.

For napkins that are versatile yet unique enough for holiday celebrations, customize plain white cloth napkins with your monogram. The elegant white napkins can be used for any celebration -- from Thanksgiving to Christmas to Easter. Print your monogram on iron-on transfer paper and transfer to napkins, following the manufacturer's instructions on the package.

A simple fall leaf looks striking against a crisp white napkin. Roll napkins and wrap a piece of white ribbon around the middle. Tie the ribbon ends in a knot around the stem of a leaf.

Layer a cloth napkin on top of a dinner plate and charger. Use a small, shallow leaf-shape dish to anchor the napkin in place. Fill the dish with fall-color candies as a Thanksgiving favor for guests.

Decorate your holiday dinner table with napkins and napkin rings that match the season. You can be creative and combine unexpected items or go for a more traditional look. Give your table settings a personal touch by tying napkins with ribbon printed with a seasonal message. Use a permanent marker to handwrite names on dried or fresh leaves for place cards.

SOURCE Personalized ribbon: namemaker.com

Create napkin rings that echo other materials used on your tabletop. Here we've fashioned small rings made of artificial wired berries -- the same decorations that also grace the centerpiece.

Here's a simple garnish for a place setting. All you'll need are 12-inch lengths of ribbon and stalks of wheat cut to about 8 inches. Fold or roll the napkins, loosely tie a ribbon around the center, then slip three stalks of wheat under the knot -- the perfect Thanksgiving look.

Embellished with a tiny sprig of fragrant rosemary, this napkin forgoes a fussy treatment in favor of casual simplicity.

This napkin idea can be adapted to suit any celebration or season. Tie pretty red silk ribbon in a simple knot, then adorn with a sprig of greenery.

Though crafters may want to make their own beaded napkin rings, you can also look for hair baubles or wire bracelets that can be used as creative napkin rings.

Bring nature to the table with a pretty do-it-yourself napkin tie by embellishing velvet ribbon with twigs and acorns.

For a beautiful fall treatment, fold a napkin into quarters, then bring the two corners toward the center. Fold the top third down toward the back. Tie a brown silk ribbon around the middle to act as a napkin ring.

Leave a little "present" on each guest's plate with this clever napkin fold. Top it with a miniature pumpkin.

Cinch a linen napkin with an inexpensive bracelet that looks like a crystal napkin ring for a glamorous table setting.

Make enchantingly-scented rosemary rings up to four hours before use.

For formal and informal dinner scenes alike, fold napkins into candlestick shapes and display them in stemware.

Make napkin "roses" by folding a napkin lengthwise in several folds, then rolling it up to form a rosebud. Set these in little bowls and garnish with a place card cut in a leaf shape.

Add texture and color to place settings by wrapping velvet leaves around napkins.

Let the flower napkin inspire a water theme for the table -- continue the theme with a low centerpiece of floating flower petals.

To make this table accent, fold a napkin in half, then begin to roll it -- starting with a diagonal that begins at the center of the folded edge. Cinch with a napkin ring, ribbon, or silk leaves about 4 inches below the top, then set in a glass or on a plate.

Treat your guests to a special holiday place setting. Embellish a plain linen napkin with brown buttons, then rest a tiny wrapped gift in the center of the napkin.