DIY Gingerbread Nutcracker Napkin Rings

Are you looking for a dose of cuteness for your holiday table? Well, I have the best and easiest DIY for you today! These DIY gingerbread nutcracker napkin rings add a bit of whimsy and is a great way to bring the trendy gingerbread look to your dining table.

Ever since I created the gingerbread houses from the thrifted houses, I’ve been loving how easy it is to create gingerbread themed holiday decor in minutes. I’ve been wanting to do a gingerbread nutcracker for a while, but hadn’t found the right size of nutcrackers for the look.

gingerbread nutcracker being held without napkin

I had almost given up the search when I found the perfect sized nutcrackers at Walmart! I immediately bought two packs and got to DIYing my gingerbread nutcracker napkin rings. Be sure to catch the video tutorial on my Instagram or TikTok for all the steps and styling tips.

How to Make Gingerbread Nutcrackers

You can gingerbread-ify any item with my favorite can of Rustoleum spray paint in Warm Caramel. I used two coats to cover the nutcrackers and allowed the first coat to dry before spraying the second.

mini nutcracker ornaments and can of spray paint

I had considered removing the glitter portions of the nutcrackers before painting them, but I’m so glad I didn’t! The glitter on the nutcracker gave the look of texture which I absolutely adore. It breaks the satin finish look from the rest of the nutcracker too.

After the paint had dried, I was ready to add the details using a white Sharpie oil based paint pen. This paint pen dries so fast that the first batch of nutcrackers were already dried by the time I had reached the last one. The entire set was ready for the next steps in less than 5 minutes.

DIY Gingerbread Nutcracker Napkin Rings

This project is a great way to update old or thrifted napkin rings. You can even grab a few rings from the dollar store to give them this sprucing.

gingerbread nutcracker napkin rings on a placesetting

To create your Gingerbread nutcracker napkin ring, start by gluing a small portion of winter greenery. I just yanked some of an old garland, but you can also find several greenery picks on sale at Joanns and Michaels right now.

gingerbread nutcracker napkin ring being placed on to christmas table setting

After securing the greenery, add more glue to the center area and add your nutcracker. You may need to hold in place a few seconds depending on how thick your greenery is.

Then, snip off any end connector pieces from the faux greenery. These are those small tubular ends that are used to attach the greenery to a faux stem. You don’t need those showing on your napkin ring.

Add you napkins and set on your table for a whimsical nutcracker tablescape! Bonus points if you add gingerbread houses to the table as well!

I would love to know what you think about these gingerbread nutcracker napkin rings. Share if you want to create a set for yourself in the comments below or on Instagram today.

Happy Holidays!