DIY Enamel Place Cards

If you’re planning any type of farmhouse table setting, you MUST include these diy enamel place cards!

They’re SO CUTE and SO EASY to make.

They look like real enamel!

Plus your guests can leave with an awesome party favor!

There’s something about seeing your name on something. Age doesn’t matter. We ALL love personalized things. Especially if you have a unique name. That makes it even more special.

These enamel diy place cards would also make great Christmas ornaments!

Supplies for DIY Enamel Place Cards

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How to Make DIY Enamel Place Cards

Step 1: Spray paint your wood pieces

The first step to making your diy enamel place cards is to spray paint both sides of your wood shapes with a white semi-gloss or gloss paint.

*I first tried using white acrylic paint, but it showed the brush strokes and wasn’t smooth and shiny enough.

You will probably need at least two coats of paint to get a nice even coverage.

Step 2: Print the names for your place cards

While you’re waiting for your painted wood pieces to dry, Create and print out the names for the diy place cards.

You MUST print the names/words mirrored.

I found it easier to create the mirrored names in Word than in a Google doc. It can easily be done if you have Illustrator.

In Word, you need to create a text box and type the names inside the box. When you have all of the names inside the text box at the width you need, right-click the box and choose “format shape”. Then select “effects”. Under 3-D rotation enter 180 degrees. This will mirror your text.

*You can always Google “how to mirror text” if you need additional help.

Print out the mirrored names on a laser jet printer. NOT an inkjet printer.

*I first tried using my inkjet printer. As you can see in the image below, the ink comes off with the paper and the black is very faded. Results = don’t use an inkjet printer.

Overlay the names on your wood shapes to see if they fit. Make any adjustments to the font size before going to step 3.

Step 3: Adhere names using image transfer Mod Podge

To adhere a name to a wood shape, first cut around the name as closely as possible. The white outline won’t be obvious later but will be visible at the right angle.

Then take the Mod Podge image transfer medium and liberally brush it on the printed side of the name. You are brushing over the laser printed side.

Carefully place the name with the Mod Podge side onto the wood shape. The Mod Podge is adhering the ink to the wood. This is why you needed to print the mirror image of the text. When you place it on the wood, the name is now in the correct direction.

Gently smooth out any bubbles and wipe off any excess Mod Podge.

Leave it to dry for 24 hours.

*Note: place the name as close to the final position as possible. It’s very hard to reposition the image. One of the names I placed didn’t line up correctly and I needed to move it around. This was an issue because some of the sections wouldn’t move and the text got all wonky.

After 24 hours have passed, put a little water over the paper and wait 2-3 minutes for the water to penetrate through the paper so it’s soft.

Then gently rub the paper off the wood slice.

*If the paper won’t rub off, add a little more water and wait a little longer.

The nice black text will become visible as you remove the paper. Continue to moisten and rub the paper off until you can clearly see the name. Don’t rub too hard as you might remove the transfer or pieces of it.

Name transfered on DIY Enamel Place Card

Don’t these look really nice.

*You can skip to step 5, if you don’t want to add a distressed look to your enamel diy place cards.

Step 4: Add black/worn details

To add a worn effect to your diy enamel place cards, take black paint and brush it along the edge of the wood slice. Then take a section of paper towel and rub it off.

Don’t try to make it perfect. Aged items aren’t uniform.

Step 5: Seal diy enamel place cards

The final step is to seal your enamel looking place cards.

Enamel is very shiny. I found that triple thick gloss glaze provided the ideal effect and look of enamel. Brush it over the name and completely cover the top side. It goes on very thick and tends to level itself, so you don’t see any brush strokes.