Want to add some artistry to your autumn table without getting overwhelmed or creating a mess? Hallmark Artist Allie S. shows us how to make these simple, beautiful dip-dye Friendsgiving place cards with just a few supplies and in just a few minutes.
Supplies for dip-dye place cards
- Watercolor Paper
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Watercolor Paints (Allie used Winsor & Newton Water Color in Potter’s Pink, Winsor Lemon, Burnt Sienna, Winsor Orange, Opera Rose, Orange Lake Light, and Rose Malmaison)
- Watercolor palette, tray, or paper plate
- Shallow bowl or ramekin
- Paintbrush
- Paper towels, newspaper or butcher paper (for drying)
- Brush marker
How to make dip-dye place cards
Cut watercolor paper into 4×2 inch cards. Be sure to make extra cards for experimenting and in case of do-overs.
Place a few dabs of paint on your palette.
Dip the end of one card into the water.
Holding the dry end of the card, use your brush to add a little paint to the wet surface.
Twist and turn the card so the paint trickles and pools through the water.
Pro tip
Want to use multiple colors on one card? You can mix them on the palette or when you add them to water.
Set the cards aside to dry. (Allie dried her cards overnight before lettering them, but you could just wait until the cards are fully dry—at least an hour.)
Lettering pro tips
Practice your lettering on a spare sheet of paper before writing on the place cards. This will give you a better idea of how much room the name will need—and it’s a great way to test lettering style options.
Unsure about your hand-lettering skills? Just write the way you naturally do—using a brush pen elevates the look of your letters.
For our table settings, we punched a tiny hole in the edge of the Friendsgiving place cards, threaded it with twine, and tied it around a few dried flowers.
Other things you can dip dye for Friendsgiving
- Menus
- “I’m thankful for” cards for friends to fill in and hang on a gratitude branch or drop in a time capsule
- Recipe cards (steal ours for Cheddar Thyme Apple Pie, Ginger Pumpkin Pie, and even more pies) (we like pie)
And oh, hey: We have so many more Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving ideas. And if you’d like to connect with far-away friends, we’ve got you covered.
Did you make dip-dye Friendsgiving place cards for your table? We’d love to see the results. Take a pic and tag us on Instagram at @think.make.share.