I wanted quite simple placecards for the guests at our wedding, just simply a folded card with their name printed on it. I looked around everywhere online to find some pre-cut cards, but the prices were extraordinary! The cheapest I could find went for 70c a piece, and then I needed to buy more paper to print the names on and double sided tape etc etc… it would have ended up costing around $70 just for some little pieces of cardboard!

Then of course my brain kicked in and I realised these would be *so* easy to make, and I’m going to share with you how to do it. Honestly these are so easy even the most un-crafty or creative person can do it, and it’s a cinch to make them more traditional than mine or add other creative elements. I don’t have many step by step photos, but I’m really confident you won’t need them to make these.

What you need:
Rotary slicer or metal ruler & craft knife (or scissors and patience)
Sheets of cardboard
Paper/Card to print on
Printer
Optional embellishments

How long?
One evening in front of the TV

How to do it:
Step 1: Go to your local newsagents or paper/art store and buy some sheets of cardboard, which in Canberra Newsagents retail for 20c per A4 sheet (in your wedding accent colour). I chose to use a deep purple and bright blue, but you could just as easily get an Ivory or White/Black for a more traditional wedding, or get Silver or Gold for a slightly higher cost.

Step 2: Take your rotary slicer or knife and ruler and cut the paper into squares/rectangles of about 6cm x 6cm

Step 3: Score each square down the middle with a knife and ruler (scoring should just mark one side of the card and not cut through – this makes them easier to fold), and fold each one

Step 4: In word (or similar) set up a new document and simply type everyone’s names, leaving spaces in between each one (creating a table first might be easier for some people). Make sure you choose an appropriate typeface! Print these on a nice paper or card stock (not ordinary 80gsm paper, it can go see-through and look cheap), and cut each one out with your rotary slicer or knife.

Step 5: Use double sided tape to stick each name onto the cards.

Optional
You can also add simple embellishments to the cards to make them pretty, I stuck some tiny gemstones on mine, but you could also cut squares of specialty japanese rice paper, or flocked damask paper and stick to one side of the name card to tie in with your theme.

The total cost for making my 85 placecards was $25. And they tied in with my colour scheme and theme perfectly!

Placecards, ready to go

You don't realise how much stuff goes on the tables! This is the entrée, and you can see the placecards on the table which tie in with the chocolate hearts colours, and the menu.

I ♥ comments! =)