I have a habit of buying fiddle-leaf fig trees only to watch them slowly decline. I mean well, but apparently plant care isn’t my strongest skill. The silver lining is that those sad leaves inspired a simple, stylish DIY project.
I used some of the dying leaves to create gold-leaf letter place cards, inspired by a bookmarked project I’d been saving for months. These are incredibly easy, fast, and make an elegant last-minute addition to any table. You probably already have most of the supplies on hand—except perhaps the gold leaf, which is optional if you prefer a more natural look.
Supplies:
Leaves (fresh or dying, from houseplants or outdoor trees) // Scissors // Gold leaf (optional) // Gold leaf adhesive (if using gold) // Small paintbrush
Step-by-step:
1. Collect your leaves. Choose ones that are large enough and in reasonably good shape so they’ll hold a cut-out letter without tearing.
2. Use scissors to carefully cut letters from each leaf. Keep the letters simple and bold so they remain legible—initials work particularly well.
3. If you want a gilded effect, brush adhesive onto the areas where you want gold. Lay the gold leaf over the adhesive, press gently, then brush away excess. If you skip the gold, the plain leaf letters still look beautiful and organic.
I kept the styling casual by using just the first initial of each guest’s name. If you prefer more formality or multiple guests share the same initial, you can create traditional monogram place cards by using three leaves per setting to represent first, middle, and last initials.
This idea is especially charming in autumn when leaves are already changing color, but it works year-round. Try it for Thanksgiving, a dinner party, or any gathering where you want a personalized, natural touch.
Concept, photography, and styling by Brittni Mehlhoff
Would you try these as place settings at your next dinner party?