Place cards are to table tops what cherries are to sundaes…the crowning touch and final detail that pulls everything together. An elegant or whimsical place card can elevate even the simplest of table settings to one that is magazine worthy. If that weren’t enough, they’re also functional for your guests, since they take the guess work out of where everyone should sit.
I found some inspiring and easy (mostly) place cards that anyone can do, and some can even be a great craft for children to help put together.
This place card has it all. Simple, easy and smells good :). Buy or cut out card stock, use a small hole punch and place a sprig of rosemary in it, add the names of your guests and you’re good to go.
Don’t put that hole punch away just yet. For an even easier place card, bundle some cinnamon sticks together, punch a hole through some glittered paper and tie with pretty ribbon.
If your table leans more toward the fun and casual side, here’s one you (and the kids) will love. Click on link below for tutorial.
Source
Though a bit more involved, these pretty ‘leaves’ can be used not only as place cards, but by using long ribbon they look great tied to a chair. For the tutorial, click on the link.
Source
These adorable pilgrim hats are actually made out of small terra-cotta flower pots. So cute!
How about giving each guest their own personalized word search? You can create your own online at Armored Penguin. (Love the rustic pencil!).
Source
I love simple but elegant projects, and I bet you do too. Spray a faux or real leaf with gold, tie a rustic string through a card and you’re done.
Pinecones are a perennial favorite for not only Thanksgiving, but Christmas too. Spray paint them for a more festive look, or keep them natural for a more, well…natural look :).
This one’s for you knitters out there. You better get busy! Cute, Cute, Cute!
I think this one is my favorite. I’ve always loved pears for decorating, and adding gold spray paint kicks them up a notch, making them perfect for an elegant table.
Do you use place cards? I have in the past once or twice, but our family is small so usually there’s no need. The only issue we have is everyone wants to sit next to me ;).
In other news…
YOUZA, YOUZA, YOUZA!! I think there’s a LOT more of you reading my blog than before! In case you missed it, last week I was featured on Kris’s blog and wow, subscribers were coming in fast and furious by the minute. Thank you so much! I know there’s countless blogs out there vying for your attention, so I’m deeply honored you choose mine to see in your inbox.
So you’ll know what to expect, I typically post once a week, usually on Saturdays, but sometimes twice if I have something to share that I KNOW you simply can’t live without ;). And please do take the time to leave a comment. I’d love to know more about you and return the follow if you have a blog.
I attended a ‘Set To Celebrate’ event on Friday, and I can’t wait to share those pics with you. Last year I saw so many beautiful holiday tables I had to write two posts to cover them all! You can see those here and here. Oh and guess what? Sharene was chosen to decorate a mantel this year at the event (that’s a HUGE honor) and she did not disappoint.
Sharing At
Julie says
Hey Doreen,
I love those place card ideas. I love the ones with the leaves. I might use that idea for Thanksgiving.
Enjoy the weekend and next week.
Julie xo
Julie says
Lots of great ideas for placecards, here, Doreen π I really like the idea of using rosemary and think that would be perfect for my Christmas table!
Cyn says
We’re a small group too (unless we gather the whole clan and we become a crowd!) π
I always use place cards anyway, and my favorite has been the large magnolia leaves I bought years ago and have everyone’s first names written in gold on them. The one year I moved them to another spot for safekeeping and they missed the table, everyone actually asked where they were. lol
Might be time for some new ones, so this post has been perfect timing for me. Thanks!
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
Doreen,
One idea is cuter than the next. Love all of these. I think the rosemary in the place card is awesome and would be great for the Christmas table too. Thanks for sharing all this wonderful inspiration with us. Have a great Sunday and wonderful start to the new week.
Kris
Brenda Kula-Pruitt says
They’re all beautiful! But my favorite part of this post was your opening words…Place cards are to table tops what cherries are to sundaes… Loved that!
Brenda
Emily says
Hi Doreen, I love using place cards and I am all over with what i like and use. So many great ideas here, love the mini pine cones and the gorgeous pears. Sill haven’t decided how I’m setting my Thanksgiving table this year but you’ve given me inspiration for place cards.
Sounds like you had fun meeting up with other bloggers for lunch. It is always fun to meet blogging friends.
Happy Dayβ¦β¦β¦β¦.
Mary-the boondocks blog says
Doreen this is such a nice collection of placecards. I would have to say my favorites are the ones that smell good. Brings such a homey cozy feeling to the house when it smells nice. I hope you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in Greece, but I s till try to do something special for this most blessed of days.
DMO says
so sharing this. great piece on fun place cards….nice job Doreen…Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Cindi says
Oh I love them all, but my favorite is the first one!
The simplicity of it and the font. Perfect.
I also like the pinecone one.
I like it natural but I bet a color would look amazing too!
Great post.
My family is super small (I go to my sisters) and she uses her Fiestaware.
I always get the turquoise plate ! LOL! so we don’t usually do place cards.
π
Jemma says
Hi Doreen,
Each and every one of these place cards are wonderful and I love the choices!
I will have to say I have a couple of favorites, that I am going to be using for Christmas, as we won’t be hosting Thanksgiving.
Gilded pears, gold leaves, word search and oh those precious and adorable flower pots! (guess that was more than a couple-so hard to choose)
Thank you for sharing!
Jemma
Sue says
I am gushing over all the nice ideas. One is as fab as the next so thank you to you and everyone you featured. I have a special place in my heart for the small terra-cotta flower pots so they are my favorite.
tammy j says
oh my.
wonderful ideas here house honey!
i especially love the rosemary cards … though i’d use a sprig of fir pine instead maybe… i just love real fresh pine scent!
and those elegant pears. so lovely.
kelly says
gosh, those are all such adorable place card ideas. It would be hard to pick a favorite. I love the pilgram hat idea for a kids table. Then the kids could take it home with them. I also like the simplicity of the painted leaf idea with a card tied to it.
Kim says
I love these ideas! Last year I made puzzle piece place cards and they were a hit. This year, I wasn’t expecting to host the holiday, but surprise, I am now! I need to come up with some cards fast, so your ideas are right on time, thanks! π
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
I feel like having a dinner party just so I can make some of those place cards! Actually, I don’t ever have that many people, either. Maybe I’ll make just three and put them out at the dinner table tomorrow night just to get a rise out of my hubby and son π
Nana Diana says
Doreen- those are all just the best idea. Wish I knew how to knit or crochet to make those cute little pumpkins though! I was just thinking about placecards today-so now I found lots of options here. xo Diana
Nana Diana says
Doreen- those are all just the best idea. Wish I knew how to knit or crochet to make those cute little pumpkins though! I was just thinking about placecards today-so now I found lots of options here. xo Diana
Jane says
All of these are so stinking cute, Doreen! I don’t do place cards–my family would disown me for being too pretentious, but I think so many of these ideas would also work as gift tags, especially the ones with the rosemary and cinnamon sticks. Thank you!
You deserve the visits from those coming from Kris’ blog…you are a gem and you need to be discovered by more!! I love your sense of humor, especially after reading your line about everyone wanting to sit by you! True to form Doreen! π Love ya!
Jane x
Doreen says
You made my day sweet lady! xxx
(And they only want to sit next to me after I bribe them with a $20)
AnnMarie says
I am inspired by this post! I host Christmas at my house and I can easily use the first one, which I love, with the sprig of pine. I also love the leaf sprayed gold and the pinecone. Pinning this so I can read again before Christmas!
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
I like that first one for my grandlittles π They’d have fun making those
Dewena says
Beautiful ideas, I love the simplicity of the first one with rosemary but those leaves on the brown ribbons are gorgeous. We’ll probably end up using the same ones that Zack made for us when he was 9 years old. And then everyone will end up shuffling them around to suit themselves!
Feral Turtle says
What a wonderful collection of ideas. Thanks for the inspiration.
susan says
I love some of these ideas especially the simpler ones. I was thinking of using place cards this year, and may borrow one of your ideas. Loved reading about you over on Kris’ blog.
Amy @ StowandTellU says
They’re all so cute, but I love the gilded pears and the rosemary place cards. Both would work well for Christmas or New Years, too. And I think you’re right, place cards are like the “cherry on top” for a table setting. It just adds that extra oomph, lol. Hope you’re having a great week!
ellen from Ask Away says
These are all such cute ideas!
XO Ellen from Ask Away
http://www.askawayblog.com
Kimberley says
Hi Doreen! π
Loved every single one of these ideas, so many cute ones. Love the crochet pumpkin, now if I could just find someone to make some for me! The pinecones were so simple and so pretty! But…I am definitely using the leaf idea…heck, I painted sticks, I may as well paint leaves too! π
Have a wonderful rest of your week!!
Hugs, Kimberley
Vashti Quiroz-Vega says
Hi Doreen! I’m hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year (I’m freaking out a little bit), so this post couldn’t have come at a better time. I have so many ideas reeling in my head. I love the first place cardsββso simple and elegant. I’m going to go to my neighborhood Kinkos and get those done and then I’ll head to the Fresh Market and try to find some sprigs of rosemary that look that pretty. π Thanks for the ideas!
Doreen says
Hosting Thanksgiving CAN be stressful, especially if it’s your first time. I wrote a quick post about it the first year I was blogging. Here’s a link http://foxdenrd.com/tips-for-an-almost-stress-free-thanksgiving/
If you have any questions at all, I would be delighted to help you get through this! You’ve been such a good blog friend since almost day one, it would be my pleasure to be of help in any way I can. xxx
Vashti Quiroz-Vega says
Aww. Thank you so much, Doreen. I’ll check out the link. <3
Benita says
Ahem….which set will you be making for me this year??!! I need about 6. π Seriously, these are all so gorgeous and look stunning…which ones to choose to make for the table? That is the hardest part…well, not for me…the hardest part is making the blasted things! LOL Hugs sweet friend!!
carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
Love it Doreen! Such great ideas! I dream on a table like this, however, if I did this for our family’s gatherings they’d make fun of me for being so formal. Lol π
But in the tables of my fantasies they look just like some of these. Thanks for the eye candy & fun ideas!
xoxo