When your guests arrive at your wedding reception they’ll fall in love with cute little easels, directing them to their seats. The tiny easel place card holders are useful as seat guides, sure, but they also present an artful look across the table, as well as party favors for the guests. They’re inexpensive, fun to make, easily adjusted to anyone’s taste, and simple to craft. All you’ll need is a few craft supplies and a free evening.
You can purchase a miniature easel at a craft store or you can make it yourself. If you make it, you’ll start out with three popsicle sticks, dowels, or similar sticks. Paint the sticks and allow to dry. Or, just use colored popsicle sticks and eliminate the need for painting.
Drill a hole in each stick, near the top. Stack all three sticks so that the holes align. Break off the middle of a toothpick to use as a pin through the holes. If you’re using a different type of wood you might need to put a dowel pin or screw through the holes. The pin should slightly protrude from each side of the sticks. Glue a tiny bead onto each end of the toothpick, move the center stick back, and the other two sticks forward, to create the easel shape. Cut the ends off of another popsicle stick and glue it across the front of the easel to make the tray for holding the canvas.
Whether you make the easel yourself, or you buy it, you’ll need a miniature canvas – appropriate in size for the easel you have. Paint the easel any color you want (optional); paint the front and sides of it. When the paint is dry you can then create the look you desire. Use rubber stamps, a paint pen and stencils, or other embellishing methods, to create a border around the canvas or other accents. Use a stencil or write freehand to write a name on each canvas.
If you want to make a centerpiece that matches the place card holders just make or buy a larger easel. Write a welcoming message, a love sentiment, or just the monogram of the newlywed couple. Place the larger easel in the middle of the table, and finish off with the small easel card holders.
Each guest can take home the easel that features his or her name. The place card easel is a nice keepsake from the wedding and the easel centerpiece makes an unusual but adorable home accent piece.