Thanksgiving is the one holiday built entirely around a table. Families travel across the country to sit together, the good dishes come out, and someone inevitably asks where they should sit. Place cards answer that question graciously and make the meal feel like the special occasion it is. This design puts each guest’s name at the centre of a round wreath of autumn maple leaves, the warmest symbol of the season, with Give Thanks written above it and the year below.
A Leaf Wreath Around Every Name
The card prints at 3.5 x 4 inches and folds into a 3.5 x 2 inch tent. The front is a warm cream. Eighteen maple leaves are arranged in a perfect circle, each rotated to follow the ring, alternating rust, golden yellow, chocolate brown, and olive green, so the wreath looks like a door wreath made of real autumn leaves. Inside the ring, Give Thanks sits in small rust capitals; the name Margaret is written in Courgette, a friendly brush script, in dark brown, and 2027 appears beneath in olive capitals. A gold line runs along the fold. The back is a deep rust colour covered in a soft peach pattern of leaf-like chevrons, with the logo in cream.
The Autumn Pattern Is an Editable Background
The patterned back uses the editor’s background Pattern feature with the built-in Autumn pattern in a soft peach over a rust page colour. Because it is a page background, it cannot be knocked out of place while you edit, and it is easy to change: open Backgrounds, choose Pattern, and adjust its colour, size, or opacity, or pick a different pattern such as Leaf or Wiggle. The cream front panel covers the pattern, so it only shows on the back of the folded card.
Names for a Family Table
Thanksgiving is a family gathering, so use the names people actually call each other: Grandma, Uncle Joe, Aunt Linda, Papa. Children love seeing Grandpa on a card as much as their own name. For in-laws, new partners, or guests joining for the first time, first names are warm and welcoming. The year line makes each card a small keepsake; some families save them year after year in a scrapbook.
Filling In Each Card
- Click the name inside the wreath and type the guest’s name.
- Check the year below the name.
- Change Give Thanks if you prefer Happy Thanksgiving, Grateful, or Blessed.
- Download the card and repeat for each person at the table.
Courgette is compact, so most names fit inside the wreath. For long names, reduce the size so the name stays clear of the leaves.
Gratitude Prompts on the Card
A lovely Thanksgiving tradition is going around the table sharing what everyone is thankful for. Make it easier by writing a small prompt on the inside of each card before folding, or on a slip tucked behind it:
| For | Prompt |
|---|---|
| Adults | What surprised you with gratitude this year? |
| Children | Who made you smile this year? |
| Grandparents | What Thanksgiving do you remember most? |
| New guests | What tradition did you grow up with? |
| Everyone | What is one small thing you love about today? |
Recolouring the Leaves
Each maple leaf in the wreath is an editable vector, grouped into a ring so the circle stays perfect. To change colours, ungroup the wreath, select a leaf and pick a new colour, then regroup. For a more elegant table, make all the leaves gold; for a farmhouse look, use only rust and olive; for a modern look, use a single deep burgundy.
Thanksgiving Palettes
The design is built around traditional harvest colours, but cream and rust can be adjusted to your tablecloth. A white front with sage and gold leaves suits a contemporary table with white plates and linen napkins. A kraft-coloured front with brown and orange leaves feels rustic. A deep green back pattern instead of rust looks sophisticated with gold cutlery.
Printing the Wreath
The leaves are small and detailed, so print at normal or high quality on smooth cardstock. A soft white or cream matte stock of about 100 lb cover keeps the warm tones rich. The back is a large rust area with a pattern on top; let the cards dry before folding to avoid cracking along the crease.
Folding the Wreath Card and Keeping It Upright
Trim to 3.5 x 4 inches, score along the gold fold line, and fold with the wreath facing out. Place each card above the plate or rest it on top of a folded napkin. A tiny white pumpkin or a pinecone at the base keeps the card steady and adds to the harvest feel.
Dressing the Thanksgiving Table
A runner of real autumn leaves, small pumpkins and gourds, candles in amber glass, cloth napkins in rust or mustard, and a centrepiece of dried wheat and seasonal flowers create a warm table. Leave space in the middle for serving dishes; Thanksgiving tables fill up fast.
Children’s Table Idea
Thanksgiving kids’ tables are often covered in brown paper for drawing. Use the same place cards for children so they feel part of the main event, and add a small bag of autumn-coloured crayons and a leaf-shaped cookie at each place.
Beyond Thanksgiving
The card suits harvest dinners, Canadian Thanksgiving in October, autumn birthday dinners, fall wedding rehearsal dinners, and church harvest suppers. Change “Give Thanks” to fit the occasion.
Seating Plans That Keep the Peace
Holiday dinners bring together relatives who may not see each other often, and sometimes do not see eye to eye. A thoughtful seating plan helps. Place lively conversationalists next to quieter guests, separate relatives who tend to debate, seat new partners next to someone welcoming, and put the cook nearest the kitchen. Place cards make your plan feel like hospitality rather than control.
Thanksgiving Card Questions
Can I remove the year?
Yes. Delete it, or replace it with the family name: The Millers.
Why can’t I select the pattern on the back?
It is a page background texture; change it from Backgrounds to Pattern.
What size is the folded card?
3.5 inches wide and 2 inches tall.
