What are these strange looking things?
Is it some newfangled version of Jenga?
What are they made of? Where did he find such a thing and why would he want them? All these questions are answered below.
They are place-card holders or, in this instance, dish identifiers. What a wonderful way to identify each dish you put out for your Easter brunch. They are, indeed, terracotta. I got them at Crate & Barrel Outlet. Nice clean lines. Simple design. The inserts are so incredibly easy to make using Microsoft Word software on your computer.
In a blank document, click on "Insert", then "Text Box." For these, I sized the text box 2.30" wide by 2.50" high. I chose a nice font and then found a clip art graphic of a bunny and egg to add some whimsy. I did not want the large text box to disappear down into the terracotta holder, so I added an additional, smaller box on the bottom. That box measures 2.30" wide by .25" high. Just enough to allow room for the card to be inserted into the slot on top, leaving the descriptor box above the top of the holder. This is a much better look and well worth the extra time.
I printed all the text box descriptors onto card stock. It does not have to be particularly heavy card stock. The card stock readily available in Staples will work just fine.
Then it was time to cut out all of the boxes. I used a regular pair of household scissors for this step.
If you have a color printer, you can choose a graphic like the bunny and egg I chose, which has color and just print them in color. Actually, the bunny and egg graphic did have highlights of color, but I printed them in black and white. I thought it would be a nice touch to add the color myself. That way I could control what color I wanted on each card rather than the same color on each card. So a color printer is not a "must." You can print them in black and white and add your own color or just leave them black and white. They are quite beautiful without any color.
And here they are after I added a little color with the colored pencils. You don't want to overdo it. Just a little highlight here and there.
A word of advice. If you are serving alfresco, you will want to secure the dish identifiers securely in the holders. Even the slightest breeze will cause them to go flying. My suggestion - take two wooden beverage stirrers and stack them one atop the other. Place your dish identifier into the slot on the holder and carefully insert the two stacked stirrers into the holder. This will be a snug fit. It will work perfectly to keep the identifiers from blowing away. Read on.
First, find your safety blade. You can pick these up in Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Home Depot.
You will need your wooden beverage stirrers, a pencil, your razor blade in a safety handle and your holder.
Place the two stirrers into the slot on top of the holder and mark each end so you will know where to cut.
After you have made your marks, use your safety blade to cut through the wooden stirrers. This will require some pressure.
After you have cut both ends, insert the dish identifier and then the two wooden stirrers which have been cut to fit snugly inside the holder.
And here they are, ready to be used for Easter brunch. Where did that rabbit come from?
And outside on the deck.
And another shot from a different viewpoint. That rabbit really gets around!!!!
If you find these terracotta holders at a local Crate & Barrel Outlet, I think you will be very happy to add them to your inventory of party necessities. If not, you can use any similar holder and, with a few minor revisions, you can set a beautiful buffet table for Easter or any time of year.
Is it some newfangled version of Jenga?
What are they made of? Where did he find such a thing and why would he want them? All these questions are answered below.
_______________________________________________________________________
In a blank document, click on "Insert", then "Text Box." For these, I sized the text box 2.30" wide by 2.50" high. I chose a nice font and then found a clip art graphic of a bunny and egg to add some whimsy. I did not want the large text box to disappear down into the terracotta holder, so I added an additional, smaller box on the bottom. That box measures 2.30" wide by .25" high. Just enough to allow room for the card to be inserted into the slot on top, leaving the descriptor box above the top of the holder. This is a much better look and well worth the extra time.
I printed all the text box descriptors onto card stock. It does not have to be particularly heavy card stock. The card stock readily available in Staples will work just fine.
Then it was time to cut out all of the boxes. I used a regular pair of household scissors for this step.
If you have a color printer, you can choose a graphic like the bunny and egg I chose, which has color and just print them in color. Actually, the bunny and egg graphic did have highlights of color, but I printed them in black and white. I thought it would be a nice touch to add the color myself. That way I could control what color I wanted on each card rather than the same color on each card. So a color printer is not a "must." You can print them in black and white and add your own color or just leave them black and white. They are quite beautiful without any color.
And here they are after I added a little color with the colored pencils. You don't want to overdo it. Just a little highlight here and there.
A word of advice. If you are serving alfresco, you will want to secure the dish identifiers securely in the holders. Even the slightest breeze will cause them to go flying. My suggestion - take two wooden beverage stirrers and stack them one atop the other. Place your dish identifier into the slot on the holder and carefully insert the two stacked stirrers into the holder. This will be a snug fit. It will work perfectly to keep the identifiers from blowing away. Read on.
First, find your safety blade. You can pick these up in Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Home Depot.
You will need your wooden beverage stirrers, a pencil, your razor blade in a safety handle and your holder.
Place the two stirrers into the slot on top of the holder and mark each end so you will know where to cut.
After you have made your marks, use your safety blade to cut through the wooden stirrers. This will require some pressure.
After you have cut both ends, insert the dish identifier and then the two wooden stirrers which have been cut to fit snugly inside the holder.
And here they are, ready to be used for Easter brunch. Where did that rabbit come from?
And outside on the deck.
And another shot from a different viewpoint. That rabbit really gets around!!!!
If you find these terracotta holders at a local Crate & Barrel Outlet, I think you will be very happy to add them to your inventory of party necessities. If not, you can use any similar holder and, with a few minor revisions, you can set a beautiful buffet table for Easter or any time of year.
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