When it comes to entertaining, creating beautiful tablescapes and place settings is an essential part of the decor. You table decor can be elaborate and over-the-top or simple and classic, and the best part is that there are so many beautiful place settings you can make by hand with a few basic crafting supplies. Here’s a round-up of inspiration photos and the steps to DIY these looks for yourself.

No. 1 Dollie Name Card

When it comes to crafting, I don’t think dollies get the credit they deserve. Paper dollies come in different shapes and colors and can easily be turned into a vintage inspired name tag that can adorn the center of the plate. If you’re using glass plates, place the dollie under the plate and it can stay there throughout the dinner service.

Get the Look:

Paper Dollies (this site has a great selection of colors and shapes)

(to create a keepsake paper favor, I recommend using a vintage cloth dollie instead of paper)

Ultra Fine Sharpie Pen

No. 2 Gold Rimmed Plate & Napkin Ring

Turning a clear glass plate into an elegant serving piece is as easy as gluing gold beads around the rim. And to compliment the plate, how about making a gold ball napkin ring?

Get the Look:

Gold Beads (use E6000 glue to secure the beads to the plate rim (E6000 is not food safe so only use for the plates for decor or as a layering plate)

Plastic Belt Buckles (look for vintage buckles at flea markets or you can find them on Etsy)

No. 3 Clip Board Menu Card & Place Card

I love this idea not only because I love clipboards but because it is just too darn cute. Pick up clipboards at the dollar store, spray paint them to accent your table and clip on the menu and a name card. If you want to use the clipboard as a party favor, I recommend adding a monogrammed pencil that can go with it.

Get the Look:

Small Clipboard with open clip, Small Clipboard with closed clip (I buy almost all my clipboards from thrift stores so keep an eye out for them when shopping)

Personalized Pencils (better quality), (cheap price)

No. 4 Striped Plates

This is a really fun and easy way to add a pop of color to your party table. All it takes is a little acrylic paint (you choose the colors) and you’ll have place settings that pop.

Get the Look:

Clear Glass Plate (in order to serve food off the plate, you’ll be painting the underside of the plate so make sure the surface is smooth)

Frog Tape (if you really want to get crafty use their Shape Tapes)

Acrylic Paint–you can pick from high-gloss, metallic, pearlized, glitter or satin finishes (this paint is even dishwasher safe)

No. 5 Decoupage Plates

Decoupaging your own plates is a great way to create inexpensive decorative plates. Just about any paper embellishment can be adhered to the plate surface, to fit with any entertaining theme you have going.

Get the Look:

Ceramic Plates ( check thrift stores, especially if you’re OK with a mis-matched look)

Decal or Paper Embellishment (you can also find these at Michaels or JoAnn Fabric)

Decoupage Glue (this is water-based, non-toxic, food safe and top rack dishwasher safe)

No. 6 Chalkboard Plates

This is one place setting idea that you will be able to use over and over again and mix with any decor theme throughout the year. Painting plates with chalkboard paint is super easy and a great way to personalize your table.

Get the Look:

Plates (this project definitely calls for thrift store plates since the entire plate will be covered up–you don’t need anything fancy)

Chalkboard Paint ( I like to use paint in a can but you can also use chalkboard spray paint) (tips on applying chalkboard paint)

No. 7 Personalized Plates

I love all things personalized and this place setting is right up my alley, especially for a holiday party, special celebration or even a New Years shindig. If you have good penmanship you can create this look by hand using paint or a sharpie, or for a more temporary fix you can get crafty with your Circut machine or use craft stickers.

Get the Look:

Solid Colored Plates (as long as the plate has a solid colored center you can use it)

Alphabet Stickers (the options are endless) or your Circut Explore

No. 8 Painted Plates

Ok, you could go out and buy plates in different colors and save yourself some work but DIYing is much more fun. I love the idea of combining plates in different colors to create a bold color theme for your table. You can use a single color family or vary each place setting for a more colorful table.

Get the Look:

Clear Glass Plates (paint your dinner plate one color and the salad plate another, and paint the backs of the plates so the food surface is usable)

If you want to add a metallic rim, use a Sharpie to color in the rim before painting the rest of the plate

Glass Paint (dishwasher safe)

No. 9 Glittered Charger Plates

How many times have you passed up scratched plastic charger plates at Goodwill? Me, about a thousand. The next time I see some of these I will definitely be getting them so I can DIY a set of beautiful glittered chargers.

Get the Look:

Plastic Charger Plates (if you can’t find any at the thrift store, Michaels carries them so look for a sale)

Glittered Paint (paint the backs of the plate and you’ll need to seal them with an acrylic sealer to make them hand-washable)

You can also use a glittered spray paint (I’ve heard this stuff is not easy to work with)

decoupage loose glitter onto the plate (mix glitter with decoupage glue and paint onto plate) If you do this you’ll definitely want to seal with a sealer to prevent having glitter everywhere