Santa Place Card Cross Slice

Slot together, minimalist with layered-for-thickness shapes 

compose jolly elf table decorations to stand at top of

each table setting. 

Multi-purpose design can embellish a package, 

identify buffet selections, stand in multiples along 

a mantle, and more. 

Two versions included; one with name strip 

to hand write or “print & cut” name then 

curve around lower front; 

second with hollow “tummy” cut out  that can arch 

around a Lindt Lindor chocolate ball. 

Santa measures approx. 4.2” tall x 2.4” wide 

x 1.7” deep when assembled. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Cut the strips and slot shapes from

the planned card stocks to determine the layering

quantities for the two main body shapes. 

NOTE: the body layers that were guessed-at for

the sample project included front & back RED layers,

FLESHTONE layer #2, and 5-6 KRAFT brown

interior shapes. This eventually was determined to be

6 kraft brown, for a total of 9 layers.

Stack the strips then . . .

. . . insert the stack through the slot. Add or

subtract interior multiples as needed until

the desired tight-fit is achieved. TIP: the tight

fit is required to help cross slices to stay together

without gluing, to allow Santa to be de-constructed

for storage and re-use again next year.

2. Identify and cut the shapes for 

the "whole" body Santa:

A-D Santa body shapes in quantity as determined

in Step 1

E beard overlay

F hat overlay

G mustache and cheek pair overlays

H slot and strips test used in Step 1

I-K layers for cross-slice stand assembly

quantities as determined in Step 1

(for sample: front, 7 interior, back)

not labeled: guest name strip for place card;

not shown: hat tassel (2)

3. Identify and cut the shapes for 

the "hollow" body Santa:

L hollow body layers in quantity determined

in Step 1

M hollow cross body slice in quantity

determined in Step 1

N hat, beard, mustache & cheek overlays

(not shown: hat tassel circles)

4. Prepare the body and cross body slice stacks

by layering and gluing the stack layers in order,

taking care to align all cut edges as precisely

as possible.

NOTE: if preferred, the FLESHTONE layer that

"shows-thru" the body front face cut out can be

cut as an interior-colored layer instead, with

the optional FACE shape cut from FLESHTONE,

fit into the opening once the body shapes are

layered and glued together.

Immediately press the glued-up stack under

a heavy, flat object such as this re-purposed

weight bar that has been covered with muslin.

Leave weight in place for several hours or

overnight. This helps keep the stack glued with flat

while it dries thoroughly, thus minimizing

warping and curling.

5. Repeat the stacking and gluing up process

for the cross-slice stand shapes. Immediately

press under a heavy flat weight.

6. Once the stack is pressed and dried,

position the hat overlay and beard overlay

on the front, using cut edges to align appropriately.

7. Position hat tassel circles on front at top of 

stacked body, mustache at center of face

opening, with tiny "mouth" gap left above beard

edge. Position and attach cheek circles,

snugly placed next to mustache and beard edges

within face cut out window.

Position and attach back tassel as desired.

Press until overlays are dried and flat.

8. To attach the cross slice shape,

fit the two slots together and push together fully

until bottom straight edges are even.

Here is the whole Santa completed.

9. To prepare the guest name or dish I.D.

label trip, print, hand-write, etc., as desired,

then add some back curl all along the strip.

Position and use glue or half of a sticky-dot to

attach center front (to edge of cross slice) and 

at sides if needed.

CANDY-HOLDER SANTA

10. Prepare the Lindor ball wrapper by twisting

each end as tightly as possible to help manage

how it will interact with the arch "opening" edges.

11. Refer to Steps 1, 3-7 above to prepare

the body stack and cross slice components

for the candy ball holder version.

12. To assemble, first slide the ball into

the cross slice "hollow" by inserting it into

the curved space, keeping the "arms" of arch

as "on-plane" as possible.

13. Next place the ball/slice unit through

Santa tummy "hollow" from back to front . . .

. . . until the notches align at top of

arch edges, then push notches together

until bottom straight edges align.

On the backside, to help the ball stay in place,

tuck the wrapper "twist" into the rounded notches

at each side. It may also be helpful to use

a dot of quick-grab glue where the assembly

notches will touch, and a half sticky dot under

the wrapped near side notches to help

the assembly stay united.

Here are the two versions.