Tombstone Place Cards

Here's a spooky twist on a place cards for this year's Halloween get together.

Posted by Sublime S.

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Here's a spooky twist on a place cards for this year's Halloween get together. It takes an hour or two depending on your skill level and how many ghouls you've invited to dinner.

Embroidered Tombstone Place Cards
Difficulty Level: Beginner to Intermediate

(are you scared yet?)

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You Will Need (8 things)

  • Tombstone Template Pattern
  • Medium weight Cardboard from your recycling bin (each place card is 2.5"x5") a cereal box will make 4
  • Sublime Stitching Transfer Paper if you're using the download below, or an Iron if you've already got the Iron-On Transfers on hand
  • White Fabric (or your tombstone color of choice)
  • Fabric in a contrasting color (darker than your tombstone fabric) cut into 5"x7" rectangles
  • Embroidery Floss in spooky colors + Metallic floss (optional)
  • Embroidery Scissors & Embroidery needle
  • Craft Glue or Spray Adhesive

Steps (7 steps, 40 minutes)

  1. 1

    Choose your transfer method. I opted to use the Iron-On transfer. I ironed the image onto the fabric four times. Be sure to leave a little extra space between the imprints so you have plenty of room when it comes time to cut them out. Since the iron-ons are multi-imprint, I was able to use the one pattern for all four tombstones. Remember, pre-heating the fabric with the iron will help the pattern to "take" to the fabric.

  2. 2

    Put your fabric on a hoop. Stitch along the lines using a simple back stitch, or any other stitch you feel comfortable with.

  3. 3

    I used metallic floss to give the spider webs a shimmer. I also added a customized message. Since these are for place cards, I used "here sits" as a take on the traditional "here lies" of gravestones and added my guests' name of course! Then i added the year, so that guests can take them home as a party favor and think back on how much fun Halloween 2009 was! I simply stitched the letters for the names freehand. See how imperfect they are? I decided it's much scarier that way. :) For the "2009" I used a lead pencil to very lightly write it out and then stitched over that. (Sorry for the blurry photo. Does blurry = spooky?)

  4. 4

    Next, cut the cardboard into four strips - 2.5"x5"

  5. 5

    Spray one side of the cardboard with glue (make sure you work in an area that is well-ventilate. We don't want you to get loopy from the fumes). Center the cardboard on your darker fabric. Spray the other side of the cardboard and wrap the sides and back. I chose to use a spooky Halloween fabric I found at our favorite local craft store, Ginger's Needlearts.

  6. 6

    Cut out the tombstones. Be sure to leave a little border of fabric around the edge so that you don't risk cutting into your embroidery.

  7. 7

    Repeat with the rest of your tombstones, and like magic you have super-scary place cards for your Halloween dinner!

    You could also use these tombstones as cupcake toppers by affixing the embroidered tombstone design to a smaller piece of cardboard, and attaching a toothpick or flat skewer! WhoOOoOooo!