Add Charm To Your Friendsgiving Tablescape With DIY Pumpkin Place Card Holders

Custom place cards are a great way to elevate your Thanksgiving table decor, especially if you're inviting your found family, aka lifelong friends, over. While you can simply write your guests' name on the cards for a personalized touch, they may be too basic if you like to go all out when hosting Friendsgiving. But don't worry; you can still set a beautiful Thanksgiving table on a Dollar Tree budget. You just have to get your DIY hat on and grab a few mini pumpkins (gourds work, too) from your local Dollar Tree to craft pumpkin place card holders. Choose among foam, velvet, and glass versions based on the rest of your decor.

However, if budget isn't an issue, you can buy pumpkins from your favorite craft store and go from there. The quantity will depend on the number of guests you're expecting. Purchase two to three extras in case all your friends haven't RSVP-ed yet or have a tendency to bring along surprise guests. Now, grab your base and get ready to turn it into a fancy place card holder to prep your home to host the perfect Thanksgiving.

Once the pumpkins are squared away, grab other items you'll need for the adorable place card holders. You'll need a roll of wire (Dollar Tree's floral garden wire works), a wire cutter, and a few place cards. Substitute the cards with thick stock paper if you don't want to incur extra costs. Keep a pen or marker and a cylindrical tube handy to add finishing touches to your pumpkin place card holders. After you have everything, it's time to DIY the card holders and add some charm to your Friendsgiving table.

This DIY is easy enough for beginner-level crafters to try. Plus, it doesn't take a lot of time or effort. You just have to wrap some wire around the stems and create a loop up top to slide in the place card. Although the wire is purely functional here, you can turn it decorative to add some extra oomph to your dinner table. The trick is to wrap a considerable length around a cylindrical object. The DIY-er uses her Chapstick, but you can use your paint brush, your fingers, or a bottle of Mod Podge to perfect the grapevine-like loops. They can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. After you're satisfied, cut the wire with a dedicated cutter and nestle the place card among the loops. Ensure the loops are tight or the card will fall out, undoing your work. You can also slide in some faux moss or autumn foliage to decorate the top and hide your handiwork.

If you don't like the way Dollar Tree pumpkins look or want to add a little pizzazz to your place card holders, there are a few ways you can achieve that. The easiest way is to paint them in a shade of your preference. Keep in mind that a single coat might not make much of a difference and you might have to apply at least one more coat to hide the original color. But before you do that, check the pumpkin's material to ensure paint won't damage it. Now, let it dry and simply write down the names of your guests with a marker or craft pen. Otherwise, cut a slit in the middle of the stem and slide the place card in. You could even use the wire grapevine.

Are you a fan of all things bling? Don't wait for the final coat of your paint to dry. Grab an old tray, place your pumpkin atop it, and generously sprinkle glitter over its surface. Use a single shade of glitter for uniform place card holders or get Dollar Tree's assorted colors' glitter set for $1.25 to give each pumpkin a different look. You can even use confetti in a similar fashion. Another way is to cover your pumpkins in braided raffia for a rustic chic look. Whichever way you go, keep tiny containers or paper bags handy to make it easier for your friends to take the stunning DIY pumpkin place card holders home as a gift.