If you have made our Thanksgiving Napkin Rings, you
know we love simple, simple paper crafts. Well, these Thanksgiving
Place Cards are even simpler. No glue! All you need is the FREE PDF
download
(below), a ruler, a craft knife, and a bone folder.
Our idea came from Rose O'Neill's 1914 "Klever
Kards", which were postcards that were scored and die-cut to fold into
a stand-up figure. These place cards work exactly the same way.
We chose two Thanksgiving vintage images of a boy
and girl
riding turkeys, so you can choose the appropriate place card for each
guest!
Materials for Thanksgiving Place cards
Vintage
Images
(FREE PDF download) printed on matte photo paper or cardstock
(See Tips).
Straightedge or ruler.
Paper cutter or scissors.
Craft knife.
Bone folder.
Self-healing mat.
Instructions
Print
the vintage images onto matte photo paper or cardstock.
Lay
a straightedge across the images, aligned under the dotted fold line
printed at the side of each image.
With a craft knife on a cutting mat, cut around
the figures, starting and ending the cut at the ruler. You can cut
tightly around the figures, or cut loosely, as we did, leaving
a 1/32"
border around the figures.
Holding
the ruler on the same line, use the bone folder
to score short fold lines from each side of
the cut figure to the edge of the full image.
With a paper cutter, trim the edges of the
images (5" x 3 1/2").
Fold
the place card on the score lines, keeping the cut-out figure flat.
Now, write your guests' names at the bottoms of
the cards (see Tips). Make up
some incredible story about how your found these charming vintage cards
in an antique store in Madagascar.
Tips
You can use matte photo paper, premium
presentation paper, glossy photo paper, or cardstock for these
Thanksgiving place cards. The important thing is to use paper that is
stiff enough to hold a crisp fold and stand up. If you find
your
place cards starting to sag, stretch a 2" piece of transparent tape
across the bottom edges, or a dab of rubber cement inside the fold.
There are many ways to add your guests' names
to the cards. If you have great handwriting or calligraphy skills, grab
your marker or paint pen and go
for it! You can also type and print your names on transparent
address labels for a professional touch. Finally, for the daring
computer-cowboy, you can open the PDF file in your graphics program
(Paint Shop Pro or PhotoShop) and add your names with the text tool.
Some tastefully applied glitter glue can make
these look like a million bucks.
Print
the vintage images onto matte photo paper or cardstock.
Lay
a straightedge across the images, aligned under the dotted fold line
printed at the side of each image.
Holding
the ruler on the same line, use the bone folder
to score short fold lines from each side of
the cut figure to the edge of the full image.
Fold
the place card on the score lines, keeping the cut-out figure flat.
