This do-it-yourself Christmas card holder made using scrap wood will beautifully display your holiday cards, especially when decorating a long surface like a mantel. It can be painted or wrapped with ribbon to coordinate with your Christmas décor. Once placed on a mantel, sideboard, or console table, the card holder fills the space perfectly and becomes a holiday decoration all on its own.
I was inspired to make this Christmas card display stand for the sideboard in my living room after seeing a long brass card holder at Target.
I don’t receive as many Christmas cards during the holidays as I used to, but I still get plenty—and since they are like little works of art, I love using them as part of my holiday decorations.
I liked the Target card holder, but it was sold out and too short for the space where I wanted to display my cards this year—on the sideboard under my wall-mounted TV, which swivels to face the kitchen or living area.
There isn’t much clearance between the bottom of the TV and the top of the sideboard, so I always need low-profile décor for that area.
In previous years, I used my Framed Ribbon Christmas Card Holder to display my cards, but it wouldn’t work on the sideboard.
I wanted a longer holder that would span the full length of the sideboard, so I headed to the scrap wood pile in my garage to make my own wooden Christmas card holder.
This card display is not hard to make, especially if the wood you’re using is already cut to the length you need. My holder is 50″ long and holds about 35 cards.
The great part about making it yourself is that you can customize it to fit your needs. You can make the holder any length, and you can space out the paper clips more if you don’t want the cards to overlap like mine. You’re the designer!
Materials Needed:
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Scrap wood or a 1×2″ piece of molding, cut to desired length
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1″ wide ribbon, cut to the length of the holder plus 3 inches
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Owl-style paper clips (enough to span the length of the wood)
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Hot glue
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Stapler
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Paint (optional)
Instructions:
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Cut and Paint the Wood:
Cut your wood to the desired size. Paint it if you’d like, and let it dry completely. -
Prepare the Paper Clips:
Hold the square part of each paper clip with your non-dominant hand. With your other hand, gently bend the middle section upward. Repeat for each clip. -
Attach the Clips:
Line up the clips along the top of the wood, alternating the loop direction (back, front, back, front). Use hot glue to secure each clip in place, making sure they are straight. Let the glue cool. -
Add the Ribbon:
Lay the ribbon across the top of the wood, threading it between the paper clips. Flip the wood over, pull the ribbon tight, and secure the ends on the back with hot glue or a stapler. -
Insert the Cards:
Slide your Christmas cards into the loops of the clips—taller cards in the back clips, shorter ones in the front. Adjust the clip loops if needed to keep the cards upright. For larger cards, use two clips.
Place your card holder on a mantel or long table, and decorate around it with greenery, pinecones, holly, ornaments, or jingle bells to add festive charm.