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DIY Holiday Card Display

I think I have mentioned this before, but I tend to be a “piler.” If I set an organizational system in place, I am good at following it. However, in the absence of such a system, I just make piles, and piles, and piles. It is probably one of the reasons why I am ruthless declutterer. I cannot stand even tidied clutter, but I do not always take the time to put an organizational system in place. Where there is no stuff, there is no pile. (Feel free to cross-stitch that little gem onto a pillow cover.)

The first week of December, I got a jumpstart on my Christmas card storage system or lack thereof. God bless our friends who send us a card every single year even though I haven’t mailed one out since I joined Facebook. Thank you for not quitting us. We love hearing from you. Also, a special shout-out to the car dealerships and financial advisors who help keep the Christmas card tradition alive.

This year, for good measure, I kept our Christmas card collection on two counters in the kitchen. That way, I got to move them out of the way twice as often. It was just one of the fun ways I created more work for myself.

Then, last week, I was standing in the kitchen…gasp…cooking, and I thought to myself: I wish I had some way to display all these cards so I can enjoy them through the holidays. 

And that little wish was all it took for my DIY brain to kick in and get moving. I made a thing. I crafted.

Supply List

  1. Fabric or old clothing long enough to cut into a strip or stitch together into a longer piece. (Alternately, 2-3″ wide ribbon or burlap would be a proper substitute.)
  2. Something to serve as a hanger – I used a key ring. You could also use twine, garland twisted into a circle, a wooden ring or even the top of a wire clothes hanger clipped off with wire cutters.
  3. Needle & thread OR hot glue (your choice)
  4. Safety pins OR mini clothespins (I happen to have a ton of safety pins on hand, so that is what I chose.)
  5. Hole punch if you use safety pins
  6. Hot glue if you go with clothespins

For some of you, the fabric I used for this project might look familiar. It came from the same old pajamas that I used to recover a dining room chair seat during the 2016 Fall One Room Challenge. On the chair, I used the top, and for this card holder, I used the bottoms. Those pjs continue to serve us well. Recycling FTW.

To Make:

With pinking shears or fabric scissors, cut the fabric to your desired width and length. If you choose to use ribbon, you will only need to snip off the proper length. Since I used a thin flannel fabric, I cut my fabric strip two layers thick. I also narrowed the top to reduce the bulkiness attached to the ring.

(Tip: Iron the fabric first. It will be easier to make straight cuts, and the finished product will look much tidier and polished.)

Next, stitch or hot glue the fabric or ribbon onto the hanger.

After that step, it is time to attach the holiday cards.

If you are using safety pins: Make a hole in the top of each card with a hole punch. Place a safety pin through the hole.

For mini clothespins: Using hot glue, attach the clothespins to the fabric strip at the desired intervals.

Pin or clip all the cards to the card display and hang. It is that easy.

After the holidays, recycle the cards or put them in an album. The empty card display will fold easily for storage. If you live in a humid climate, I suggest that you remove the safety pins and store them separately from the hanger. Otherwise, the metal may corrode and cause rust spots on the fabric.

I am enjoying having the holiday cards on display where I can see them. When Andy comes home from work or travel, I point out the new ones, and all the cute baby faces are just too much. They brighten my day.

Do you still get holiday cards? A better question is, do you still send them?  And, what do you do with the cards once the holidays are over?

3 Comments

  • Holly
    Posted December 20, 2017 at 7:14 pm

    Yes! We send a Christmas card/letter/photo each year! Growing up, I loved reading the Christmas letters we received from family and friends (#iwasanerd), and I insist each year that Andrew and I keep the tradition alive. While we do seem to receive fewer and fewer letters each year, I did have the pleasure (there might have been some cringe-worthy TMI, too) of reading not one BUT TWO letters in today’s mail delivery, both from friends who have moved away in the past year or so. Our annual Christmas letter is somewhat of an event in and of itself here in the Layer household; Andrew and I go back-and-forth writing and editing, and editing and editing some more until it’s just right. It does cause some stress, but I like to think we both enjoy it. I do notice more and more people are moving to the photo/card combo, but as we send about 100 out each year, I’m way too cheap to spend the money to get that many quality photo cards. Instead, I buy my Christmas cards for the next year right after Christmas (in store or online) at a steep discount, we print our photos at CVS for about $20 and print the letters on plain white paper at home. You’ll be getting one of ours’ soon!

    • Post Author
      Stacy
      Posted December 21, 2017 at 7:38 am

      I look forward to reading your letter and card! Thanks for the money-saving tips too.

      Since you mentioned cringe-worthy letters, I am now picturing your mailbox full of Awkward Family Photos. 🙂

  • Vanessa
    Posted December 20, 2017 at 7:41 pm

    Oh yes, I send cards, about 35, down from 50 years ago. But I am lucky to get 20 in return these days. That’s ok, I am not one to drop the ball when it comes to keeping contact with old friends, let them do that. I still love that ritual few days when I look to see who has moved on from this life and who still remembers us. Facebook has changed all of that but not everyone uses it and I still enjoy getting a card in the mail myself so I am pretty sure other people do too.

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