6 creative Christmas card display ideas

A gold hoop Christmas card display with greenery on the top and vertical white ribbons.

Holiday card season is here: Our mailboxes are about to fill up with festive envelopes with pretty stamps and familiar handwriting. So we challenged Hallmark stylists to come up with fun ways to display all those cards—especially the ones featuring adorable photos of our friends and families. Read on for six Christmas card display ideas you’ll love.

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Winter branch  

Christmas card display using a winter branch and photos hanging off of it.

This natural Christmas card display couldn’t be easier to make. Hang one in an entryway or over a sideboard, and let kids make their own to decorate their rooms.

Supplies

  • Branch
  • Metallic white or other holiday-inspired spray paint (optional)
  • Jute twine
  • Baker’s twine
  • Clothespins
  • Scissors

 

How to make a winter branch Christmas card holder

A wide shot of the winter branch Christmas card display, and a close-up of tying string to the branch.

4. Repeat this step on the opposite end of the branch—be sure to leave enough slack in the twine to hang it. You can also experiment with where you tie the twine to balance the branch.
5. Cut five (or so) pieces of jute twine into various lengths for a staggered look. Tie them to the branch about equal distances apart. Tie one in the middle first then one on each side. Center the final two pieces between the ends and the middle.

Side-by-side photo of attaching photos to the string hanging from the winter branch Christmas card display.

4. Repeat this step on the opposite end of the branch—be sure to leave enough slack in the twine to hang it. You can also experiment with where you tie the twine to balance the branch.
5. Cut five (or so) pieces of jute twine into various lengths for a staggered look. Tie them to the branch about equal distances apart. Tie one in the middle first then one on each side. Center the final two pieces between the ends and the middle.
6. Use clothespins to attach your cards to the jute twine. Depending on the size of your branch and length of the jute, you should be able to hang multiple cards from each piece of twine.

Candlestick  

Christmas card displays using candlesticks.

This is a great excuse to get out those gorgeous candlesticks you almost never use to display your favorite Christmas cards.

Supplies

  • Candlesticks for taper candles (Use family pieces, thrifted or store-bought—you’ll still be able to use them for candles. Heavy-bottomed pieces work best.)
  • Used wine corks
  • Pencil
  • Utility knife
  • Cutting surface
  • Sturdy, pretty paper clips

 

How to make a candlestick Christmas card holder

Candlestick Christmas card holder, with a close-up of how to insert a cork using a pencil.

1. Place a cork in the candlestick and mark the top of the candlestick with a pencil as shown.
2. Put the cork on a cutting surface and carefully cut at the mark using a utility knife.

A side-by-side shot of using a utility knife to make an incision in a cork and inserting a paper clip into it.

3. Make a small cut in the center of the uncut end. It should be just large and deep enough to insert your paper clip.
4. Push a paper clip (double-loop side up) into the slit on the cork. The fit will be snug.
5. Pop the corks into the candlesticks and put your favorite cards in the paper clips.

Gold hoop  

Gold hoop Christmas card holder with greenery on the outside and cards held into place by vertical ribbons and clips.

The best use ever for that hula-hoop sitting in your garage: A giant wreath to display holiday greetings.

Supplies

  • Hula hoop
  • Primer (like Rust-Oleum)
  • Metallic spray paint (we used Krylon Foil Metallic Gold)
  • Fresh or faux greenery or succulents, or air plants
  • Ribbon or fabric strips
  • Hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • Brass wire (optional)
  • Wooden clothespins

 

How to make a gold hoop Christmas card display

A side-by-side shot of supplies for the gold hoop card holder and placing ribbon on the outside of the hoop.

1. Prime and spray paint the hula hoop, following manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Mark the center top and bottom of the hula hoop and cut a ribbon to fit with enough extra to wrap around the back side for gluing. Cut two more pieces of ribbon to fit on either side.

A side-by-side shot of using either brass wire or glue to attach greenery to the card holder frame.

3. Glue one end of each ribbon to one side of the hoop. Pull tight and glue the other end to the other side.
4. Use the brass wire (for fresh greenery) or the glue gun (for the faux stuff) to attach greenery to the top of the hoop. Start with the “base” greenery, then attach focal pieces to finish.

Clothespins being attached to the card holder and hands placing Christmas cards in it.

5. Hang cards on the ribbon using clothespins.
6. If you’d like, make a loop for hanging using the brass wire and attach it to the top of the wreath, hidden in the greenery.

Gilded deer  

Gilded deer Christmas card holders.

Flora, meet fauna. Birch slices and toy deer come together easily to make these whimsical card holders for your favorite Christmas greetings.

Supplies

  • Toy deer family
  • Alligator clips with barrel
  • 1/8” wooden dowel
  • 1/8” drill bit
  • Drill
  • Flush cutters or utility knife
  • Spray primer (like Rust-Oleum)
  • Metallic spray paint (we used Krylon Foil Metallic Copper)
  • Birch slices
  • Superglue

 

How to make gilded deer Christmas card holders

Gilded deer Christmas card holder supplies next to a drill putting a hole in a toy deer.

1. Drill a hole at the center of the back of each deer. (Be sure to keep the bit straight.) If this feels weird, remind yourself it’s a plastic deer.
2. Insert the dowel and use the flush cutters to cut it to your desired height.

Metallic deer and fastening the card holders to the deer via the drilled hole.

3. Prime and spray the deer/dowel/alligator clip combo. As you can see in the photos, you can spray paint each piece before assembly. But after trying it, we decided it’s easier to spray paint them once you’ve put everything together. (Oh, and do not skip the primer. You will be tempted to. Don’t.)

Securing Christmas cards into the homemade deer Christmas card holder.

4. Attach alligator clip to the dowel and insert it into the hole on the back of the deer. If this still feels strange, apologize quietly to the deer as you complete step three.
5. Glue each deer’s hooves to a birch slice. (Remind yourself the deer cannot feel this.)
6. Insert your cards into the alligator clips.

Chalkboard  

Chalkboard Christmas card holder.

If you’ve got a chalkboard—or a chalkboard-painted wall—we’ve got a way to turn it into a display for your Christmas cards. (And it can go right back to grocery and to-do lists in January.)

 

Supplies

  • Chalkboard or chalkboard-painted wall
  • White chalk
  • Ruler
  • Paper star (use craft paper, an old greeting card or construction paper)
  • Removable adhesive strips or poster tape
  • Washi tape
  • Miniature garland

 

How to make a chalkboard card display

Hands drawing a Christmas tree on a chalkboard and decorating it with mini garland.

1. Use the chalk and a ruler to draw triangles to make a Christmas tree (or freehand your own).
2. Attach the star with the removable adhesive strip.
3. Attach your mini garland to the chalk tree with washi tape.
4. Tape cards onto your “tree” to display them.

Pro tip: It’s easy to make your own mini garland:
1. Cut twine to the length you want.
2. Cut a long, 2” wide strip of gift wrap. Fold it in half lengthwise.
3. Cut little triangles out of the length of gift wrap—make sure you use the folded edge of the base.
4. Unfold the triangles and dab some glue along the inside of the fold.
5. Fold the triangles over the twine.

Wooden ladder  

Wooden ladder Christmas card holder.

We love old wooden ladders—they’re great for hanging towels and blankets or, you know, reaching things on high shelves. We repurposed this one to show off some holiday cards.

 

Supplies

  • Wooden ladder
  • Greenery
  • Garland (just about any style will work)
  • Wire to attach garland and greenery
  • Binder clips (we used gold metallic)

 

How to make a wooden ladder Christmas card holder

A hand clipping a card onto the wooden ladder Christmas card holder.

1. Wind your garland around the handrails and through the rungs. Use wire to attach it if needed.
2. Add greenery or other accessories.
3. Use binder clips to attach cards.

Find even more Christmas ideas and inspiration!

  • Credits:
  • Photography and styling by Hallmark’s Union Hill Photo Studio.