Keep things organized: How to make an Easter-chick napkin ring

They may look soft and cuddly, but these chicks are made from inexpensive wood balls. Each chick holds a napkin in place and welcomes guests to the brunch or dinner table. As sweet as these chicks are, you can use the same crafting techniques to make any animal desired for any occasion, not just Easter.

For Halloween, paint the ball green, use brown thread and draw a bumpy nose for an ogre. Using bright-red thread and rainbow colors for the face results in a clown for birthday parties. Paint the ball pink, add pink thread, draw a pig nose on the front and a corkscrew tail on the back, and you've got a napkin holder fit for a luau or outdoor barbecue.

Materials
- Wood ball with hole drilled through, 1-inch diameter
- Yellow acrylic paint
- Small bowl
- Artist's paintbrush
- Black permanent marker
- Orange permanent marker
- Yellow cross-stitch thread
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Hot glue sticks
- Leather cord, flat
- Cloth napkin(s)

1. Squirt yellow paint into the bowl. Paint the wood ball. Let it dry. Apply a second coat, and let it dry.

2. Draw two black eyes on the front of the ball. Draw a small, orange, upside-down triangle slightly below the eyes.

3. Pinch one end of the thread between your fingers. Make three small loops in an accordion pattern, no higher than 1/2 inch. Keep the loops pinched together. Cut off the thread.

4. Turn the thread upside-down so the loops are on the bottom. Apply a dab of glue to the top of the head. Press the loops onto the glue.

5. Open the loops by cutting them. Trim the thread tuft.

6. Measure how much cord you need to wrap around a folded or rolled napkin. Add 4 inches. Cut the cord and run the piece through the ball's holes. Tie the cord under the napkin.