Jason Kisner
These rustic place card holders are surprisingly simple to create, making them ideal for weddings, dinners, or any gathering. Forage materials from your garden or nearby parks for a truly budget-friendly project that adds natural elegance to your table.
Forage in your backyard, yard, or local park for smooth sticks about 1/4 inch in diameter—ideally straight and peg-like. Knots, moss, and lichen add rustic charm, but smoother sticks are easier to handle.
Mark 4.5-inch sections on your sticks.
Use pruning shears outdoors to cut the sticks.
Dogwood can be tough—for straight cuts, make two nicks on opposite sides and lever back and forth against the blade until it snaps cleanly in the middle.
Apply painter's tape to the sections of the stick you want to paint.
Apply two thin coats of acrylic craft paint using a foam brush, letting each coat dry fully between applications.
Skip metallic paint—instead, use a gold Sharpie for clean rings. Make small strokes to form complete circles around the stick, as suggested by DIY Network's graphic designer Hannah.
Cut 10-inch pieces of 20-gauge copper wire for each holder. Use needle-nose pliers for precise cuts—thinner wire lacks the necessary strength.
Bind two sticks together with copper wire. Position the wire's midpoint at the sticks' center, then cross-wrap the ends tightly toward each other. Continue until the wire is fully used, and tuck any sharp ends with needle-nose pliers.
Insert your printed cards between the sticks and adjust for stability. They look stunning atop patterned napkins!
