Here's a gorgeous way to display Christmas Cards - and it can even double as your Christmas tree for small spaces! Freestanding - so just set out and display your cards! Build your own Christmas Tree Card Holder with our free DIY plans.
Built by Jaime Costiglio for Handbuilt Holiday 2021.
Handbuilt Holiday 2021
It's the season of giving! I partnered up with Jaime Costiglio to bring you a brand new free gift plan, every Friday in the 12 weeks leading up to Christmas! Over the years, we've gifted hundreds of plans, many that you can make with scrap wood. Check out the entire Handbuilt Holiday Collection here.
Christmas Tree Card Holder
Finding a beautiful way to display Christmas cards without damaging them with tacks or tape, or having to hand a card holder on the wall is always a challenge. So we designed a wood Christmas tree decoration, designed to hold Christmas cards.
- Freestanding - can set on a console table or even the floor
- Simple and beautiful, allowing your Christmas cards to stand out
- Solid wood - can be painted or stained any color
- Can be used as an alternative Christmas tree - just add gifts underneath! Perfect for small or temporary spaces.
- Unique - this is an original design that you won't find anywhere else (yet!)
- This is a great Craft Bazaar item - build and sell!
More Photos and Build Tips
This Christmas Tree Card Holder was built by Jaime Costiglio for our Handbuilt Holiday series. Jaime provides more finished photos, build tips, and building photos on her website to help you build this project. Please take a second to read her build post:
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS AND BUILD POST BY JAIME COSTIGLIO
Pin For Later!
Preparation
Shorter Tree Shopping List (WON'T FIT PORTRAIT STYLE CARDS)
- 1 - 1x6 @ 30" long
- 1 - 1x2 @ 4 feet long
- 1 - 1x3 @ 3 feet long
- 1-1/4" brad nails and wood glue
Taller Tree Shopping List (WILL FIT PORTRAIT STYLE CARDS)
- 1 - 1x8 @ 36" long
- 1 - 1x2 @ 5 feet long
- 1 - 1x3 @ 3 feet long
- 1-1/4" brad nails and wood glue
Shorter Tree - Ledge height up to 5-1/2" (WON'T fit cards in portrait format)
Tree branch parts
- 1 - 1x6 @ 6-3/8" - long point to long point measurement, both ends cut at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x2 @ 6-3/8" - short point to short point measurement, both ends beveled at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x6 @ 11" - long point to long point measurement, both ends cut at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x2 @ 11" - short point to short point measurement, both ends beveled at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x6 @ 15-3/4" - long point to long point measurement, both ends cut at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x2 @ 15-3/4" - short point to short point measurement, both ends beveled at 30 degrees off square
Tree trunk/base
- 1 - 1x3 @ 22"
- 1 - 1x3 @ 4-1/2"
- 2 - 1x2 @ 4-1/2"
- 2 - 1x3 @ 4"
Taller Tree - Ledge height up to 7-1/4" (WILL fit cards in portrait format)
Tree branch parts
- 1 - 1x8 @ 8-3/8" - long point to long point measurement, both ends cut at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x2 @ 8-3/8" - short point to short point measurement, both ends beveled at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x8 @ 13-1/8" - long point to long point measurement, both ends cut at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x2 @ 13-1/8" - short point to short point measurement, both ends beveled at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x8 @ 17-3/4" - long point to long point measurement, both ends cut at 30 degrees off square
- 1 - 1x2 @ 17-3/4" - short point to short point measurement, both ends beveled at 30 degrees off square
Tree trunk/base
- 1 - 1x3 @ 26-3/4"
- 1 - 1x3 @ 6-1/2"
- 2 - 1x2 @ 6-1/2"
- 2 - 1x3 @ 4"
Instructions
Step 1
Follow same steps for larger and shorter trees.
Make cuts with compound miter saw, for the 1x6 or 1x8, cut miters (where the saw blade is rotated). For the 1x2 cuts, tilt the saw blade to make the cuts.
Attach the corresponding 1x2 to the 1x6/8 boards to make all the ledges using glue and 1-1/4" brad nails.
Step 2
Lay the pieces flat (use scrap 1x pieces to elevate up the upper part of the shelves).
Glue and nail the trunk to the back.
Step 3
Build the Christmas tree crate as shown.
Step 4
Attach the crate to the trunk from the back with glue and nails.
Step 5
Here is the cuts for the 1x8 tree in a one sheet format for your convenience.
