Holiday Placecards - Candy Theme

I happened upon this place card idea on Pinterest, and I thought that I could modify it a bit for our church's Holiday Gift Drive dinner. Our decorators had chosen "Candyland" as our theme. Click on LINK to see the original by Martha Stewart.

For my version, you will need the following items:

Paper Studio Candy Cane striped paper, 8 1/2" x 11"
Vellum paper, 8 1/2" x 11"
Vellum adhesive
1 1/2" wide red ribbon

And the following tools:

Computer
Printer
Die Cut machine, like Big Sizzix
Oval die cut
Hole punch
Paper trimmer

I prefer to do each step individually, knocking out the whole batch.  Also, if you have a group of minions, you can delegate tasks.

Step 1:  Printing.  Print the names onto the vellum using Microsoft Word.  I created a document with two rows and two columns and chose a font in size 72 that would work for our event.   Then I moved the line between the two rows until it was at the 4" mark on the side of the document on the screen.  This evenly placed the names on the page.

Step 2: Straight cutting.   Cut each of the candy cane striped sheets into four 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" rectangles.  Cut each of the printed vellum sheets into four 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" as well.

Step 3: Sticking.  Adhere the vellum to the striped paper for each.  Since this is going to get trimmed in the next step, I recommend just putting adhesive where the name is and about 1/4" above and below.

Step 4: Die cutting.  Using the oval die cut, center the name for each and run through the die cut machine per instructions. Cut only one at a time.

Step 5: Hole punching.  Punch one hole on each side of the name, 1/4"- 1/2" from the edge of the paper for each.

Step 6: Ribbon cutting.  Cut an 8 1/2" length of the red ribbon for each.

Step 7: Ribbon adding.  Fold and feed the ends of the ribbon into each of the holes.  Adjust the curve of the paper to your liking.

Step 8: Ribbon trimming.  Fold the ribbon in half and trim the end toward the fold to make a V cut.  Unfold and fluff out.

For "regular" place cards where one is going to be placed at each seat, these will sit up nicely on the table by themselves.  We use these to identify a group, so I attached the card to a Skinny Stick. The brilliant ladies that decorate for our gathering came up with the idea of using brightly colored PlayDoh and glitter to make gumdrop bases. This raised the name about 6" so it could be seen from a distance.