You’ll never believe that these DIY Leaf Place Cards start out as dollar store leaves! They are so easy to make and add the perfect touch to your fall party or Thanksgiving dinner table.
I saw some cute leaf place cards on Pinterest that I wanted to try making for Thanksgiving. The creator used real leaves, which I was prepared to try.
But when I saw a pack of leather leaves at the dollar store, I knew that would be much easier and the place cards would last much longer!
This DIY is so easy to make and is the perfect festive touch for any friend or holiday dinner party this fall.
Materials
For these leaf place cards you’ll need:
- Leather leaves (or you can use real ones!)
- Fine tip paint marker in white
- Liquid gold leaf
- Paintbrush (one you don’t mind throwing away)
- Foam plates
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Print out names in a calligraphy font.
If you have naturally beautiful handwriting you can skip this step, but I am no calligrapher so I needed a guide to form the letters. I found this font (Malibu) on Canva.
2. Write names on leaves using paint marker.
Carefully write the names on the leaves with the marker. You may have to shake the marker a few times to get it started. You can do a light outline first and then go over it again to make it darker.
3. Brush on gold leaf.
Place each leaf on a foam plate and paint on some liquid gold leaf with a paintbrush. Choose different parts of the leaf so no two look the same. A little goes a long way!
4. Let dry.
Let the leaves dry for 15-20 minutes.
Tips and Tricks
The leather leaves have veins like a real leaf, so you’ll need to be careful when you’re writing the names. Do a gentle light outline first so you avoid any bumps and then you can darken it after.
One trick to make your calligraphy look more natural is to make a thick line on every downward stroke. You can see this in the printed font.
I started writing just the base letters first and then went back and added the embellishments like the swirls and connecting lines.
The liquid gold leaf is convenient, but you’ll need paint thinner to clean your brushes after. I just used a cheap brush that I could throw away at the end.
More Like This
Looking for more easy fall crafts? You’ll love these!
- DIY Fall Garland with Feathers
- Modern Thanksgiving Table Decor
- DIY Pink Pumpkin Decor
- Modern Fall Wreath
Your Turn
Do you use place cards on your Thanksgiving table? Let me know in the comments!
