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If your Christmas cards are like mine, in a big pile on the kitchen counter, it might be time to get them organized. I rounded up 17 DIY card holders. There are little churches and mountain ranges, trees that hang on the wall, and even a pallet tree with jingle bells. Make one for yourself or give one as a gift.
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Tabletop and Mantel Card Holders
Perfect for your mantel, sideboard, or entry table. Each one stands on its own, keeping cards upright.
1
Saws on Skates
3D Church Christmas Card Holder
My Christmas cards used to sit in a pile until I made this little church to hold them. Arched windows open up every side, and the cards stand inside under a peaked roof and steeple.
This flat church started as a placeholder image Canva dropped into one of my guides, and I liked it enough to build it. Cards lean against the front and rest on a low rail, with the steeple rising above them.
Jaime’s card holder is one long, warm-toned block with two rows of angled slots across the top. Each card drops in and stands up on its own, low enough to keep the whole row in view.
Shelly’s mountain range has three rows of peaks, with the tallest along the back. Cards slip into the gaps between the rows, and a dusting of glitter on the front and back peaks catches the light.
These holders do double duty as decor and display every card that comes in the mail.
5
Ana White
Freestanding Christmas Tree Card Holder
Ana’s tree stands on its own with three tiers of angled branches, each one wide enough to hold a row of cards. The taller version fits portrait-style cards, too.
Kati’s tree is tall enough to tuck into a corner, with angled limbs stepping up a central trunk to a point. Small metal ring holders along each limb keep the cards in place.
Sean and Morgan’s tree hangs on the wall in rows that get shorter toward the top. Rope runs along each row to hold the cards, and gold ornaments dot the branches, with one more card standing in as the star.
Gail turned an old porch spindle into the trunk of this tree, with red peeking through a black finish. Curled wire branches fan out from the sides, and each curl holds a card.
Corey’s tree is a simple white outline with a wire star on top. Wire garland swoops back and forth inside the frame, and mini clothespins clip the cards along each swoop.
Your counters are already full of cookies and the table is covered in wrapping paper. These holders hang on a wall or the back of a door, keeping the cards up and out of the way.
11
Charleston Crafted
Over-the-Door Christmas Card Holder
Sean and Morgan’s open-frame tree is painted Christmas green and hangs right over the back of a door. Red clothespins line the frame, ready for each card as it comes in.
Christy’s tree has seven branches that get shorter toward the star, all brushed with a hint of gold. Mini clothespins along each branch hold the cards, and the whole tree hooks over a door.
Kati’s eight-sided wreath has clothespins around both the outside and inside edges, so it holds more cards than you’d expect. A buffalo check bow sits on top, and it works as a photo display the rest of the year.
Jen’s black ladder leans against the wall and narrows toward the top. Ribbon runs across every rung with tiny clothespins for the cards, and fairy lights crisscross from top to bottom.
Got a stack of old boards out in the garage? These card holders lean into weathered wood and simple farmhouse details.
15
Making It in the Mountains
Pallet Wood Christmas Card Tree
Kristi’s tree is a stack of weathered pallet boards that leans right up against the fireplace. A garland of hammered jingle bells zigzags across the boards, giving the cards a place to hang.
Jamie built this hanging tree from leftover scraps, using a broken piece as the trunk. Red-trimmed clothespins hold the cards, and a chalkboard wood slice with a painted star sits on top.
The Shanty 2 Chic sisters wrapped rows of twine across a distressed plank board so the cards tuck right under the strands. A few sprigs of greenery in the top corner finish it off.
Hi there – I’m Scott, a woodworking enthusiast and creator of Saws on Skates, a site I started in 2015 to share easy-to-follow tutorials, space-saving shop tips, and project inspiration for DIYers at any skill level. Learn more about my woodworking journey here.
