I’ve got to be honest with you guys–I’m a mess in the kitchen. My mother and my sister are both excellent cooks and bakers, and we usually spend Thanksgiving with my mom’s side of the family. My aunt and her daughters are also all great contributors to the Thanksgiving spread, and I’m usually left feeling a little helpless. Thankfully, my graphic design skills and eye for composition come in handy for the tablescape, and I do get to feel at least a little useful.

Every day this week, I’ll be bringing you guys some great DIY inspiration for a Thanksgiving table that doesn’t rely on the heavy orange and brown shades that normally come around the fall. I wanted this tablescape to feel fresh and modern, and also to be affordable for those of us in our twenties who don’t have a ton of disposable income to spend on decorations (yet!).

This table works great for a friendsgiving celebration, as well as for any kind of group gathering, since the colors aren’t regulated to any particular season.

placecards11

First up this week are place cards. This is my favorite part of a nicely set table, because I’m selfish and I like my own name! These place cards are so easy but still gorgeous, and guests can even take them as small favors after the meal.

You just need 3” marble tiles and some letter stamps. I chose a smaller set of letters, because my family has too many names that start with the same letter to just use our initials, but you can totally use bigger letters for just initials too! And if you wanted to handletter the names, more power to ya! That would be gorgeous.

placecards1

Supplies:

To Make:

  • Pull the tiles off the netting.
  • Line up the letters and stamp the name using your embossing ink pad across the center of each tile. It helps to start with the middle letter and space the others based on that, rather than starting at one end.
  • Dust embossing powder over the ink and tap off the extra.
  • Turn the heat gun on the letters until they become golden and shiny!

placecards2

placecards3

It helps to do this part on a paper plate so you can easily pour the excess embossing powder back into the container.

placecards4

placecards5

Careful with the heat gun–it heats up the stone too, so make sure to plan for a little cooling time before you have to pick up the place cards and move them around.

placecards6

And that’s it; I told you guys it was easy! They look so great, and nobody would ever guess you didn’t put in a ton of time or effort.

placecards7