Tutorial: Homemade Save the Date Blocks

Happy Homemade Thursday my dears!  Oh are you in for a little (not big) treat today.  Do you remember the Save the Dates wood block puzzles that I made for The Loveliest Day?  Here is one picture in case you missed...

Well not only will I give you the step-by-step tutorial on how I made the Save the Dates, I am going to show two other ways that you could use these wood blocks!  My first is for table numbers...

We'll get to the other idea in just a minute.  How did I make the table numbers and the Save the Date wood block puzzle you ask?  Well I designed, printed, cut and stuck!  Makes it sound super easy, no?  Well this project is more time consuming then difficult I think...but the outcome is so worth the effort!  Here is what you need for this project:

1. 6 designs printed out.  You will want to make the design 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 be careful not to go all the way to the edges as you don't want to trim off any words.  Hint if you use a patterned background like I did for the table numbers it makes it easier than no background, as you can follow the lines of the pattern to cut out, otherwise it is measuring to get it right.
2. 9 plain square wooden blocks 2 inches in size
3. A Xyron machine - this fabulous little machine makes plain paper into a sticker.  You could also use double-sided sticker sheets (8 1/2 x 11 in size) as well.
4. Either a pair of scissors, a paper cutter or a ruler and Xacto knife to trim with.
5. A pencil and ruler to mark and measure squares on the back of the design.

And here is the step-by-step tutorial on how to make the wood block puzzle table numbers (the same way I made the Save the Dates):

1. I trimmed the paper before I sent it through the Xyron machine, as to save materials.  Make sure to turn the handle slowly to pull the paper through.  When the paper has come all the way through, use the trimmer on the machine to cut off. Images 1-4.  
2. Trim the edges off of the paper.  And remove the top layer of film (this is just a protective coat).  Images 5-6.
3. Measure 1 1/2 and 3 inches from one side and mark a line at each.  Rotate the paper 90 degrees and do the same - so you have a grid on the back.  Image 7.
4. You can check at this point that your design will fit on top of the blocks.  Image 8.
5. I then cut the lines and each line into a square. Image 9.
6. Make sure to place the cut squares on the blocks as you go so you do not mess up the pattern.  Image 10.
7. Peel off the sticker. Image 11.
8. Place one sticker onto one square. Image 12.  If there is any overlap, trim it with scissors or an Xacto knife after each sticker is stuck.  Repeat until all squares are done.  Flip the blocks over and start again.

Also, at $1.29 for one wood block at Michaels, it makes this project pretty expense. So I sent my boyfriend, Mr. Big, to Home Depot to find me an alternative...and that he did. One 8 foot post, the same size as the blocks (2 inches) for about $10.00. If you do some math - that would make about 5 puzzles (with some room for an error or two) at a cost of about $2.00 a puzzle for the wood.  Which is really the only thing you need to purchase...unless you want to purchase a Xyron machine.


I know some were concerned about the cost of mailing; and while the cost isn't a $.44 stamp it is outrageously expensive either.  Packaged in just a cellophane bag and place in a padded envelope the cost to mail it from California to New York was $2.92.


Okay, now onto the second idea I have for you - escort blocks.  These are fairly quick and easy if you set up a table in Word.  You follow the instructions as above, but you only have 6 squares to cut out versus 9.  (If you would like I can e-mail you the template I created, just leave me a comment or send me an e-mail and I will be more than happy to send it to you.)

I just loved the way the escort cards turned out, don't you?  I printed a guest name on one side and different numbers on the other.  The table that the guest is seated at is marked by a circle.  So there you have it - wood block escort blocks.


Also, I told you that I would include the fonts that I used for the Save the Dates posted on The Loveliest Day.   I used a variety of cross stitch fonts, and all the fonts I used can be downloaded for free.  If interested here is name and link for each font:

1. Save the Date - Cross Stitch Delicate
2. Date - Embroidery
3. Names - Stitch Cross
4. Location - Home Sweet Home Outline
5. Heart - Home Sweet Home
6. Made with Love - Costura Lt

For the escort cards above, I used a free down loadable font as well called 1942 Report.

So that about does it my dears.  Please let me know if you have any questions, as I would be more than happy to answer them or assist in any way that I can. 

Psst - And to let you in on a little secret, I saved $65.00 on the Xyron machine I purchased.  How?  At Michaels they are $129.99...but I had a 50% off coupon!  Let me tell you, one of the best purchases I have made in quite some time.  So if you are interested in buying one, find a 40 or 50% off coupon for Michaels so that you too can save some money!

Oooh and a couple more things - these blocks would be cute to use at a bridal shower, birthday party, a game night party, etc...  They would also be cute as gifts, favors, etc...using pictures.  Also, I would include one page with smaller images of all the designs to help solve!

~ Ciao

...concept, design, styling & photography all by luna and chloe weddings