How to Make Wooden Place Card Holders

For this project, we used zebra wood from the scrap bin at a local woodworking shop. It was fun to search through the pieces and admire the beautiful colors and grains. I had no idea there were so many different woods – or how spendy some can be! These scraps, however, only set us back about fifteen dollars.

Next, use a scribe to cut a small groove along your measurement line. This will help the saw blade get started. We used a hand saw for this tutorial because I figured not everyone has access to power tools or feels comfortable with them. However, Jesse finished the batch using a table saw.
After your grooves are made, secure the block in place by clamping it to a table or work bench and using a bench hook. Then use an angled block as a guide to make the center cut, stopping about half way though the wood. Slide the piece forward, re-clamp and make the second cut all the way through the wood.

Once all the pieces are cut, the last few steps are a breeze. Use extra fine sand paper to smooth the sides and edges. A trick Jesse showed me was to lay the sandpaper flat and rub the block in a circular motion on the paper. Remove all the dust with a tack cloth and wipe on two coats of clear polycrylic, allowing for drying time between. I also gave my blocks a final sanding with some finish grade sand paper.