How to Create Name Tags for Table Settings

Distribute handcrafted name tags to guests as a way to familiarize visitors with one another and help you remember everyone's names. Name tags can serve double duty as place cards when you include them in place setting arrangements. Whether preparing for a holiday meal or a large dinner party, make your own name tags. Personalize the tags by adding holiday symbols and special graphics. A snazzy-looking name tag makes a nice memento or take-home favor to commemorate the event.

Mushroom Name Tags

• 1

  Lay the brown craft foam mat on your work table. Do not remove the adhesive paper from the back of the mat.

• 2

  Prepare a mushroom-shaped template from cardboard. The template needs to be 2 to 3 inches wide.

• 3

  Lay the template at the bottom corner of the sheet. Outline the sheet with a pencil. Repeat this until you have one mushroom for each visitor.

• 4

  Cut out the name tags with sharp scissors.

• 5

  Make a mushroom top template out of cardboard. Cut the template out with scissors. This template should be slightly smaller than the brown mushroom's top. You want the brown to peek out from around the edges.

• 6

  Lay the mushroom top template on a sheet of red craft foam. Leave the adhesive backing on the foam.

• 7

  Trace the outline of a mushroom top on the foam paper using a pencil. Trace as many mushroom tops as you need.

• 8

  Cut out the mushroom tops. Use a hole puncher to punch five random holes in the red foam. Remove the holes.

• 9

  Remove the adhesive backing from the red mushroom tops. Center one over each brown mushroom.

• 10

  Write the guest's name on the mushroom stem with a gold calligraphy pen.

• 11

  Place the mushroom name tags on the place settings and encourage your guests to wear them, peeling the backs off first.

Floral Name Tags

• 1

  Use your pin-backed button as a tracing guide for button covers. Lay the button, pin side up, on brightly colored tissue paper.

• 2

  Trace the button with a pencil. Make as many button shapes as you need, one per guest. Cut out the button shapes with scissors. Write the name of one guest on each tissue paper circle.

• 3

  Pour a little decoupage glue onto a foam plate. Dip your damp sponge in the glue. Cover the button's top surface with the glue.

• 4

  Place a tissue paper circle onto the glue carefully. Do not tear the tissue. Dab the sponge in the decoupage glue and tap the glue over the surface of the tissue paper.

• 5

  Allow the glue to dry and harden for at least one hour.

• 6

  Fold one 8 by 11 sheet of tissue paper in half. Half the paper again. Cut the paper into fours.

• 7

  Lay two squares on top of one another. Fold the squares in half once. Cut the squares into half circles.

• 8

  Cut small "V' shapes into the edges of the circles. Cut a circle in the center of the circles large enough to allow the pin at the back of the button to be exposed.

• 9

  Center the trimmed circles over the back of the pin, giving the pin the illusion of being a flower. Dab the back side edges of pin with white glue and attach the trimmed circles. Allow the glue to dry for one hour before wearing it.