DIY christening place cards: original plaster ideas (also for communion and confirmation)

TL;DR: The most original DIY christening place cards are cast in plaster: with Aqua Resin and a few silicone moulds you can make porcelain-effect angels, teddy bears and initials in the pastel colours of the celebration. The same ideas, with a few style tweaks, also work for communion and confirmation.

Introduction

DIY baptism and christening place cards are the detail that makes the celebration truly yours, but between choosing the theme, the colours and the guests' names, there is a risk of ending up with plain anonymous cards or a project finished the night before. Plaster solves the problem: it gives small, smooth white objects that look like porcelain, takes pastel colours and can be produced in series with the same moulds. You will find the basic method and ideas for every occasion in our guide to DIY place cards. Here we focus on christenings, communions and confirmations: ideas, names, timings and place cards that double as favours.

Contents

• Key points
• Christening place card ideas
• Place cards for communion and confirmation
• How to write the child's and the guests' names
• Making the place cards in advance
• Place card and favour in one
• Common mistakes
• Recommended products
• FAQ
• Make the place cards for your celebration

Key points

• Ratio and timings: 100 g of Aqua Resin to 30 g of cold water, demould after 30 minutes, fully dry within 24 hours.
• Christening theme: angels, teddy bears, clouds and initials, in white or in pastel shades of baby blue, pink and sage.
• Material: Aqua Resin is not an epoxy resin: it is a premium alpha plaster, non-toxic and water-based.
• Dual use: a plaster place card marks the seat at the table and stays with the guest as a favour.

Christening place card ideas

For a christening, the place card should be sweet, soft in colour and connected to the baby. Here are the christening place card ideas our team most often suggests to mums, dads and godparents who are setting the table themselves.

Porcelain-effect 3D angel

The 3D Angel mould makes a three-dimensional porcelain-effect angel, designed as a favour for christenings, communions and births. It measures 9 × 11.7 cm and is 7.4 cm thick: it is a small figurine, so as a place card it does not go on the napkin but sits next to the plate, with a tag tied on with a ribbon. In plain white it is already perfect.

Teddy bear for a sweet christening

The teddy bear is the ultimate symbol of childhood. With the Teddy Bear mould you can make little bears to use as place cards, centrepieces or favours. It also works with wax, so you can alternate plaster bears and teddy bear candles on the same table.

Cloud for the top table

The Cloud Trinket Tray mould creates a cloud-shaped trinket tray measuring 13.8 × 17.8 cm, 1.8 cm thick. It is too large for a place card repeated for every guest, but it is perfect on the top table, under the plates of parents and godparents, or as a useful favour for your closest family.

The baby's initial with the Alphabet mould

The Alphabet mould holds the complete alphabet in a single mould (26 × 18.6 cm, 0.6 cm thick). For a christening you can use it in two ways: the baby's initial repeated on every place card, like a little emblem of the celebration, or each guest's initial, tied with a baby blue or pink ribbon.

Scented domed flower as a place card and favour

The Domed Flower Keyring mould gives a porcelain-effect flower measuring 5.1 × 5.2 cm, 2.4 cm thick, with the hole already in place for the ribbon. Add a few drops of fragrance to the mix, thread a ribbon through and tie on the name tag: it marks the place and becomes a scented favour to tuck into a drawer.

Pastel palette in baby blue, pink and sage

With Aqua Pigment in the mix you get full, even pastel shades: baby blue and pink for tradition, sage and sand for a neutral, modern celebration. Test each colour on a small batch before pouring the whole lot.

Gold details with Aqua Metal applied by brush

A thin line of gold on the angel's wings, on the edge of the initial or on the flower's petals: just a few touches give you original, elegant christening place cards. Apply Aqua Metal with a fine brush on the dry piece: it is used only by brush and never in the mix.

Pro tip: choose no more than two pastel colours plus gold. With a limited palette the table looks neat and you have fewer different batches to prepare.

Place cards for communion and confirmation: what changes

Communion and confirmation involve older children and teenagers: the technique stays exactly the same, while the style, symbols and colours change.

DIY communion place cards

For DIY communion place cards, porcelain-effect white takes centre stage, with gold details applied by brush. The angel remains a perfect choice, as it was designed as a favour for communions too; the scented domed flower is ideal for girls, while for boys a white initial with a gold edge works well. On the tag you can add the date and a small hand-drawn symbol, such as an ear of wheat or a chalice.

Confirmation place cards

Confirmation place cards are for young people who no longer feel like children: no teddy bears, but clean lines instead. The confirmand's initial in white and gold, or a flower without pastel colours, with a simple tag and a stylised dove, gives an elegant result that adults like too. If you are looking for an even more formal look, the ideas in our guide to DIY wedding place cards also adapt well to a confirmation.

How to write the child's and the guests' names

At a sacrament celebration there are two names: that of the child being celebrated, which gives the table its identity, and that of each guest. Here is how to handle them:

• The child's name: write it on a tag that is the same for everyone, together with the date, or repeat their initial, cast with the Alphabet mould, on every place card.
• The guest's name: write it on the fully dry piece with a paint marker, or with Aqua Metal and a fine brush, or on a tag tied on with the ribbon.
• A changing guest list: if guests have not all confirmed yet, go for tags. The place card is made in advance and the name is written at the end.

Making the place cards in advance

It pays to work in batches. One batch is 100 g of Aqua Resin and 30 g of cold water: pour the powder into the water, add the pigment, stir until you have a smooth cream and fill the moulds. After 30 minutes, demould, rinse the mould and prepare the next batch. Silicone moulds need no release agent, so each round is quick.

Each piece needs 24 hours to dry completely before being decorated. In our workshop we split the work into three stages: pouring by colour, gold details, then names and ribbons. Always allow for a few spare place cards for last-minute guests and for any chips in transit, and store everything in boxes with tissue paper.

Place card and favour in one

At a christening, a well-made plaster place card does not stay on the table: the guest takes it home. That is why many families choose a single object as both place card and favour. The angel, with a few drops of fragrance in the mix, becomes a scented angel for wardrobes and drawers; the scented domed flower does the same in a smaller size. Remember, though, that Aqua Shield should not be used on scented pieces, because it blocks the absorption of the fragrance. For packaging, favour bags and other shapes, you will find plenty of ideas in our guide to DIY favours.

And for a keepsake just for the family, alongside the place cards you can make a cast of the newborn's hands and feet, to display at the christening and keep forever.

Common mistakes

• Using the 3D angel as a place card on the napkin. It is a figurine: place it next to the plate, with the tag tied on with a ribbon.
• Too many pastel colours. Four or five different shades make the table look busy: choose two plus gold.
• Putting Aqua Metal in the mix. Aqua Metal is applied only by brush on the dry piece; to colour the mix, use Aqua Pigment.
• Protecting scented pieces with Aqua Shield. The fragrance is no longer absorbed and the favour loses its scent.
• Using the same style for a christening and a confirmation. A teenager being confirmed is unlikely to appreciate teddy bears and clouds: adapt shapes and colours to their age.

Recommended products

As well as Aqua Resin, here are the moulds and finishes we use for christening, communion and confirmation place cards:

• 3D Angel mould — porcelain-effect figurine for a place card that doubles as a favour
• Teddy Bear mould — little bears for place cards, centrepieces and favours
• Alphabet mould — the baby's initial or each guest's initial
• Domed Flower Keyring mould — the base for the scented favour
• Aqua Pigment — for the baby blue, pink and sage pastel palette
• Aqua Metal — gold details applied by brush

FAQ

How do you make DIY christening place cards?

Pour Aqua Resin into themed silicone moulds (angel, teddy bear, the baby's initial or a flower), demould after 30 minutes and leave to dry for 24 hours. Then colour the details, write the guest's name or tie on a tag with a ribbon in the colours of the celebration.

What is the difference between christening place cards and those for communion and confirmation?

A christening calls for soft shapes and pastel colours, such as angels, teddy bears and clouds. For a communion, white, gold and delicate shapes like flowers and angels work well; for a confirmation, which involves older children and teenagers, a more understated style with initials, white and gold details is better.

How far in advance should you make the christening place cards?

It is best to start a few weeks before: each piece needs 24 hours to dry before decorating. Working in batches with the same moulds gives you time to remake any pieces that do not turn out well and to prepare a few spare place cards.

Can the 3D angel be used as a place card?

Yes, but it is a small three-dimensional figurine measuring 9 × 11.7 cm, 7.4 cm thick: it does not sit on the napkin, it goes next to the plate with a tag tied on with a ribbon. That way it marks the place and stays with the guest as a favour.

Can children help make the place cards?

Yes: Aqua Resin is non-toxic, water-based and free from solvents and odours, so brothers, sisters and cousins aged 5 and over can pour and decorate the place cards with adult supervision. The tools clean up with water alone.

Make the place cards for your celebration

Choose your theme, prepare the first batch in a pastel shade and in just a few sessions you will have place cards for every guest, ready to become their keepsake of the christening, communion or confirmation. To complete the project with matching favours, start from our DIY favour ideas.
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