Add A Natural Touch To Your Thanksgiving Table With This DIY Place Card Idea

Thanksgiving is that magical time everyone looks forward to all year because of the special way it brings family and friends together — and of course, the food isn't bad either. As an annual holiday, it can be easy to fall back on old traditions and decorations instead of seeking new styles to honor the day, but even the smallest unique touches help to make each celebration all the more memorable. If you're looking for ways to elevate your Thanksgiving table decor, look no further than your fruit bowl. With a little DIY ingenuity (and a few fresh oranges), you can handcraft gorgeous rustic place cards that fit the fall color scheme and harvest bounty concept with a natural touch.

This project is super simple and something any level of crafter is able to accomplish. It all begins with a cookie sheet and some sliced oranges. After roasting the slices until they turn a gorgeous ginger color, the dried pieces are tied to name cards with twine. Guest names are added and placed on the plate setting where you want them to be seated. By adding in fun seasonal details, like faux fall flowers, this custom design gives your standard holiday dinner an upscale vibe and reflects just how easy it is to find budget-friendly ways to decorate for Thanksgiving. Fruit, paper, twine — bring it all together, and your friends and family will be wowed!

Before starting your Thanksgiving place setting DIY, you'll need to grab a few things. A bag of oranges is a must, as are kitchen twine and name cards. Some cards, such as these simple and suitable SallyFashion Gift Tags, even come with twine, giving you everything in one package. Otherwise, you'll just need a marker or calligraphy pen of your choice. If you own a printer, you could also make your own stickers to peel off and place on the cards. Once you've got your supplies in order, it's time to slow-roast some citrus.

Slice the oranges into ¼-inch-thick rounds, and lay them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Set your oven to 210°F, and bake for 3 hours. After drying the slices, use a needle to poke a hole where you want to thread the twine, and feed the string through the hole and the name tag to bring the two pieces together. Write your guest's name, and set the tag on their plate. Whether you're looking to impress family or add charm to your Friendsgiving tablescape, this project is a great place to start. Customize your name tags anyway you like. Grab some warm-colored ribbon, and tie in other natural elements like dried flowers and grasses, cinnamon sticks, or even small evergreen branches to tease the upcoming winter season. You could also work in some offbeat colors to give your Thanksgiving decor an extra pop. Instead of twine, use folder fasteners to secure everything together, or swap the paper for clear plastic tags. Write on these with paint markers for a mix of sleek modern and rustic traditional elements. However you personalize them, you can be sure this year's Thanksgiving table will be unlike any other.