We don’t take ourselves too seriously around here and that goes for Holidays too. Today, I thought I’d share a couple of fun ideas for place cards for your Thanksgiving table…that is, if you don’t take yourself too seriously either 🙂
I always host at least one major holiday each year and I like to have fun with my seating assignments. In fact, my guests have come to expect it. (No pressure)
Place Card Idea #1: Funny Pictures
For the longest time, each year I would find the worst/funniest picture of each guest I could find and frame it to sit at each place setting. It sounds a bit mean, but my family members got a big kick out of laughing at each other’s photos!
See this silly picture of my Dad from last Thanksgiving?
Isn’t he a good sport? Yep, that’s a perfect picture for my table…it would look something like this:
(I printed this out on cardstock because I didn’t have any photo paper, but I would definitely recommend photo paper!) You could buy frames, but these were free! I made them from scrapbook paper and cardstock I already had. We love free!
Place Card Idea #2: Oreo and Reeses Turkey Place cards
Last year, I made these Oreo and Reeses turkeys which I’m sure you’ve already seen around the blogosphere. But by giving each one a little sign with each guest’s name, they make really fun place cards. Most of my guests actually ate them. They were a huge hit with the kids!
As you can see, I had fun with the names too. This was mine, he looks like he had a little too much sangria.
Pumpkin Pie Papa, Cornbread Cyley, Turkey Trot Tammy, Drumstick Dee…names like these are sure to give your guests a chuckle. 🙂
Here and here are great Thanksgiving word banks to help you come up with names for your guests! (This is even more fun at Christmas; so many more words to choose from!)
Place Card Idea #3: Pilgrims
I made these two years ago as place cards that also served as napkin rings for my Thanksgiving table. I first saw this idea here. They were so fun to make and my guests loved them! This is the only close up photo I took since this was way before blogging:
Aren’t they fun?
Here’s a quick how-to and what you’ll need to get started:
This is the pilgrim hat image I used. I don’t have a link, I had the image saved on my computer. I gave the women hats without the ties and the girls, hats with the ties.
To make the boy pilgrim, cut a black strip just like the girls’ version (2″X 7″) and cut a white piece the same length (1″X7″). Cut a “V” in the white for the collar. I don’t have the image I used for the hat, but you can use the google machine (as my husband says) to easily find an image of one.
Here are my pilgrim boys, I saved theirs from 2011…look how little Brennan was!
Here was my table that year. Everything was so dark, including my kitchen! As you can see, we broke out the fancy napkins…I told you we don’t take ourselves too seriously round here 🙂
I borrowed my neighbors chairs lol.
I was so engrossed in making these that year that I totally forgot my son had his honor roll assembly that day. His teacher called me to make sure everything was ok because my son was so upset. He told her something had to be wrong with me because I would never miss his assembly. I felt awful, but he was just happy I was ok! Sweet child of mine. 🙂
I had fun with this idea at Christmas last year too. The adults were Santas and Mrs. Clauses. You can see it here.
And how about Elves?
Do you like to bring a little fun to your holiday table?
XO,
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Email * Facebook * Pinterest * Hometalk * Twitter * Instagram
I love to share at some of these great parties:
Home Stories A to Z Not Just a Housewife Kammy’s Korner The Happy Housie Design Dining and Diapers Liz Marie Blog Funky Junk Interiors Savvy Southern Style Tatertots and Jello DIY Show Off Redoux Interiors Between Naps on the Porch The DIY Dreamer Oh My Creative Little Miss Celebration Just a Girl and Her Blog Sand and Sisal Interior Frugalista House on the Way Addicted 2 DIY I should be Mopping the Floor Miss Mustard Seed
Cindy Eikenberg says
Christy, I am in love with these pilgrim napkin rings/place cards! They are so much fun I can’t stand it!!! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing and pinning! Hope you have a happy Friday!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Cindy! My guests got a big kick out them! Have a fantastic weekend! 🙂
Jan says
I too love those Pilgrim napkin holders. But what a lot of work you put into them — and love, of course. If I ever host a holiday dinner for several people again, I would love to copy this idea, it’s great and I got a good chuckle too. I also like your idea of framing mini-prints of funny pictures of the guests, har 🙂
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Jan! Now to come up with a new idea for Christmas! Thanks so much for visiting 🙂
Jan says
Draw Santa beards or reindeer horns on pictures of your guests???? On your customized photo napkin rings, use bits of cotton balls to make Santa beards and add a red Santa hat instead of the Pilgrim hat??? Oh see what you’ve done, you got me going and now I won’t be satisfied until I do something similar. Maybe make some cut-out paper ornaments to hang from my ho-hum light fixture in my dinette space. Using friends and family members would be a hoot, especially adding cotton-ball fuzz Santa beards, LOL!
Christy K. James says
I did Santas and Mrs. Clauses for the adults and elves for the kids last Christmas…SO funny!! I like the reindeer idea though! There are so many ways to make it fun 🙂
Lisa @hooplapalooza says
oh how AWESOME are these! and how hilarious it would be to do it with silly pics too! just LOVE! 🙂
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Lisa! My guests love them too 🙂
Happier Than A Pig In Mud says
Hilarious, I love the napkin rings! Happy Thanksgiving Week-enjoy:@)
Christy K. James says
Yay! So glad you got a kick out of them! Have a great Thanksgiving! 🙂
Elie @ OrganizerByDay says
I’m laughing out loud at these. My family totally has this sense of humor. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be sure to try this!
Christy K. James says
Awesome, Elie! I hope you do…they were a huge hit when I did them! Have a great Thanksgiving 🙂
Abby @ Just a Girl and Her Blog says
You are so creative! I’m sure your family LOVES it! And how sweet is your son worrying about his mama? What a cutie! Hope you had a wonderful weekend, friend!
~Abby =)
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Abby! These were a lot of fun to make and everyone wanted to take theirs home, so that made it worth the effort. My weekend was busy busy getting ready for my Christmas Market Show next weekend…I’ll be glad when it’s over! Hope you had a great weekend with your boys! 🙂
andi says
These are hilarious! Did the pilgrims wear big dangly earrings like that?
Andi
Christy K. James says
I was a very wealthy pilgrim 🙂
Luisa says
Every time that I run across this link at a linky party…I can’t help but crack up. They are just so darn cute!
Christy K. James says
I had SO much fun making them, too 🙂
Krista @thehappyhousie says
Oh my, all of these ideas are too adorable- I think that the pilgrim pictures are so fun!! But I would love to find that delicious little reese morsel at my spot:)
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Krista! The kids loved those too!! 🙂