Since Thanksgiving is the culmination of the harvest season, it seems only “natural” to find tabletop inspiration in nature. With a few materials and a bit of creativity, fruit, vegetables, leaves and nuts can be fashioned into charming place cards that add a personal touch to your table – even if you don’t have a lot of time.
For our American readers who will celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, I collected four easy yet impact full ideas that will leave you plenty of time to socialize with guests and snack on stuffing and squash.
+ Simple is often the most sophisticated. Crisp leaves get a glittery touch by writing your guest’s names in gold ink in these two very different tabletop looks. The high contrast of sculpting your own conifers against a brown leaf – like Kate Pruitt did for Design*Sponge (top picture) – is fresh and contemporary.
The warm, tone-on-tone approach of writing the name on a simple leaf is more suitable for a casual gathering with friends.
+ Pinecones and acorns are in abundance at this time of year. Pair them with a note of gratitude – either handwritten or printed on card stock – for a thoughtful place card option.
+ Miniature pumpkins are a versatile option for festive Thanksgiving decorating. Use a harvest-hued marker to write guest names on chic miniature white pumpkins, they layer them at each setting with a pretty napkin and scatter a few leaves. Alternatively, guests can claim their spot at the table with personalized flags created from festive ribbon or card stock. Cut them to size, glue them to a toothpick and stick in a gourd or pumpkin.
+ Finally, the Pilgrim caps were done by painting terracotta flowerpots.
SOURCING:
+ Clay Conifer Placecard from Design*Sponge
+ Leaf Placecard from Sunset Magazine
+ DIY Pinecone Placecard Tutorial from Honey We’re Home
+ Felted Acorn Placecards from Southern Living
+ Ribbon Placecards from Better Homes and Gardens
+ Pilgrim Cap Place Cards from Better Homes and Gardens