Every year, I’d haphazardly clip our holiday cards to a ribbon I tied around our dining room curtain rod. It looked… fine. But I always dreamed of something a little cuter — something that actually felt like Christmas décor instead of a last-minute solution. This year, I decided to take matters into my own hands (literally!) and make a DIY Christmas card holder that not only looks adorable but doubles as a festive wall decoration.
And the best part? I made it entirely from Dollar Tree supplies — for just a few bucks!
If you’re looking for an easy, affordable way to display your holiday cards this season, follow along with this quick tutorial.
DIY Christmas Card Holder Supplies (from Dollar Tree!)
Here’s what you’ll want to grab before you get started with your DIY Christmas Card holder. I found most everything at the Dollar Tree.
- 1 poster board (I used white)
- 1 roll of twine
- Mini clothespins
- Ribbon (for hanging and decorating)
- Optional: red paint (or whatever color fits your holiday theme)
- Hot glue gun
- Ruler
- Exacto knife
- Pencil
Pro tip: If you want to make your DIY Christmas card holder more festive, paint your clothespins before gluing them — red, green, or gold all look super cute!
✂️ How to Make Your DIY Christmas Card Holder
Think this Christmas card display looks too hard to make? Don’t stress. I’ve broken down the steps in an easy-to-follow tutorial below. You can also watch me make it in this video tutorial!
1. Cut Your Poster Board
Start by marking your poster board along both long sides, making a small pencil mark every 1 inch. Using your ruler, draw lines to connect the marks across the board.
Then, with your exacto knife, carefully cut along each line to create several 1-inch strips of poster board.
2. Create Holes for Hanging
About 1 inch in from both sides of each strip, poke a small hole (I just used my pencil to do this — easy!). These holes are where you’ll thread your twine through later.
3. Finish the Edges with Twine
This step is optional, but it’ll give your DIY holiday card display a more polished look, and will also add some support to the poster board.
Using hot glue, secure twine to the raw edge of your poster board strips, wrapping it around the edges on both sides.
4. Add Clothespins
In between the two holes on each strip, mark every 5 inches.
These marks are where you’ll hot glue your mini clothespins.
If you painted your clothespins, make sure they’re completely dry before gluing!
This step is where your DIY holiday card display really starts coming together.
5. Thread and Secure Your Twine
Lay your strips flat on your counter, spacing them evenly about 8 inches apart. I did a dress rehearsal with some old holiday cards I had to get the spacing right (it’s not cheating!)
Unroll your twine and measure it along your layout, leaving a few extra inches at the ends for hanging.
Starting at the top, thread the twine through each hole from back to front, tying small knots behind each strip to hold it in place.
For extra durability, add a dab of hot glue to the back of each knot.
6. Add Finishing Touches to your DIY Holiday Card Display
Once all your strips are secured, tie a large triangle of twine at the top for hanging.
Then, add a big festive bow or ribbon at the top (mine’s bright red, because Christmas magic ✨).
And that’s it — your easy DIY Christmas card holder is ready to hang!
More holiday DIYs to try:
- Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments: the perfect holiday craft to try with your besties, your kiddos, or a cozy afternoon alone!
- DIY Mini Trees: Make use of scrap fabric, magazines, or even spare twine from this holiday card display craft, with this fun mini tree tutorial!
- Glass Jar Holiday Upcycle: Transform any glass jar, vase, or even window into a beautiful, festive display with my free printable stencils!
🎄 Display Ideas for Your DIY Christmas Card Holder
- Hang it on an empty wall to create a cheerful focal point.
- Mount it next to your entryway or tree to show off the cards as they arrive.
- Use it year after year — you can even add new strips if your holiday card list grows!
💡 Bonus Customization Ideas!
Want to make yours even more festive? Try these simple twists:
- Cut green poster board into different lengths for a tree-inspired look.
- Add fairy lights around the edges for a cozy glow.
- Layer in some faux greenery or mini ornaments to tie in your holiday theme.
✨ Wrap-Up: Affordable, Adorable, and So Easy
That’s it — your DIY Christmas card holder is done!
This project costs less than $5, takes about 30 minutes to make, and gives you a charming way to display those holiday cards all season long.
Plus, you can reuse it every year or make a few as gifts for friends and family who love simple, budget-friendly holiday décor.
Want more easy holiday DIYs and decorating ideas?
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