Add an organic and natural element to your dining table with this easy and free tutorial using wood chips for place card holders. Not only does it give a personalize setting to each of your guests, but it brings a bit of the outdoors inside.

I had the opportunity to decorate someone’s home for the holidays. Their dining room had a great view of a wooded area. It inspired me to bring the outside in to warm up their home for the holidays. One way I did this, was creating wood chip place card holders. It was not only easy, but free!

I love bringing in a warm and natural element to my design. My nieces woodland themed baby showered captured the beauty of nature in an elegant theme that honored her and her new baby. Check out my diy table setting ideas!

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What Are Wood Chip Place Card Holders?

Place Card holders are so important for entertaining. Even for a casual dinner I like to organize place settings. It makes each spot personal. For more informal gatherings, you can leave your place card holders in the middle of the table or at your entryway where guests can pick up the wood chip place card holder with their name on it and bring it with them to the seat they chose.

Supplies for Wood Chip Place Card Holder

Wood chips. Go to your local hardware store or Christmas tree lot and ask them if they have any.
Spray Paint
Razor Blade

Where to Find Wood Chips

If you don’t already have wood chips in your home, you can find them from your local hardware store, christmas tree lot, or local nursery. I recommend calling ahead. Often these are free if you gather them yourself, but some business might charge a small fee.

Tutorial for Wood Chip Place Card Holder

You can make these wood chip place card holders in just 3 easy steps.

Clean up the wood chip by shaving any excess {as seen on the right} with your razor blade. A semi smooth wood chip makes it easier to spray paint and also won’t snag or anything at your table when it is finished.
Spray paint wood chip. I like to do this outside as it can get a bit messy. Spread a towel or paper on the ground first to keep your painting area clean.
Using a razor blade knife and a lot of pressure, cut a straight line across the wood chip. You may need to do this a few times for each one. I have found a razor blade is perfect for this as it cuts a tight and sharp line through your wood chip. You do not want a thick cut or to cut on the diagonal. A thin line will hold up the paper you chose to place inside of it and fall over.

These wood chip place card holders are a unique piece that can add a little of the outdoors, indoors.

You can use my calligraphy tutorial to script beautiful letters on your place settings.

More Place card Ideas

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