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If your kitchen counter turns into a Christmas card pile every December, this DIY Christmas card holder is about to become your new favorite holiday project! It’s cute, it’s functional, and it gives your home that cozy, handmade look that makes Christmas crafts so special.

In this tutorial, I walk you through painting a wood sign with a ribbon to clip your cards right on and enjoy them all season long! No more unseen piles of cards here!

Supplies for Your DIY Christmas Card Holder

Here’s what I used for this beginner-friendly Christmas craft tutorial. You can find most of these on my Amazon storefront or at your local craft store!

Door Hanger Blank and Template

• Grab the wood blank: https://shopdoorhangers.com/products/north-pole-card-holder-blank?_pos=3&_sid=1f66c9773&_ss=r 
• Grab the template: https://shopdoorhangers.com/products/north-pole-card-holder-template-digital-cut-file?_pos=5&_sid=1f66c9773&_ss=r 

Paint Colors (DecoArt Americana):

• Light Buttermilk 
• Burlap
• Tuscan Red 
• Holly Green

Brushes + Tools:

• 1.25″ flat brush (for large base coating)
• Fine mist spray bottle (for smoothing brushstrokes)
• 2″ chip brush (for distressing)
• 1/4″ angle tip brush (for smaller areas like the stamp base)
• Small round tip brush (for precision lettering, outlines, tiny details)
• 1/4″ flat tip brush (serif lettering fill and stamp/tree fill)
• Size 4 round brush (outer border line)
• Paper towels
• Water cup
• Baby wipes (quick cleanup for “oops” moments)

Ribbon + Hardware:

• Red/white candy cane striped ribbon (Hobby Lobby)
• 1/4″ gold glitter ribbon
• Staple gun
• 1/4″ staples
• Clothespins (for hanging up the cards)

Step #1: Base Coat the Entire Piece

Start by painting the entire wood blank with Light Buttermilk. If you’re using one of our laser-etched blanks, don’t paint around the etched lines. Paint right over them! Once it dries, you’ll still see the design underneath, and it keeps the project moving fast (and way less frustrating).

Use a large flat brush (around 1.25″) so you can cover big areas quickly and avoid heavy brush lines.

Step #2: Smooth Out Brushstrokes

Once the first coat is on, you’ll probably see brushstrokes. That’s totally normal! To smooth them out, give the surface a couple of light mists with a fine spray bottle, then use long sweeping strokes (top-to-bottom, left-to-right).

No spray bottle? No problem! Just dip your brush in a tiny bit of water, dab it off on a paper towel, and sweep the brush across to “redistribute” the paint for a smoother finish.

Let it dry, then check for “paint boogers.” Those little dried globs happen. Just pick them off before your next coat.

Step #3: Add a Second Coat (Thinner = Smoother!)

For the second coat, we’ll need more color. I use a paint palette to organize my colors (versus putting them directly on the wood sign). I also like to use a damp brush or give the sign a light spritz on the surface before applying the second coat.

It sounds backwards to wet it again after drying, but it helps the second coat glide smoothly and avoids thick, clumpy paint.

Step #4: Distress the Envelope

Now, we’ll make it look like it actually traveled through the mail! Use your burlap paint and the 2″ chip brush with this distressing technique:

• Dip into paint (lightly!)
• Start on the edge and pull inward
• Use more on the edges, less across the middle
  

Want it more rustic? Add more paint and be a little more aggressive. Want it subtle? Use a lighter touch. It’s that easy!

Step #5: Paint the Stamp Area

Use a small 1/4″ brush and paint the stamp background white. You can paint right over the tiny tree for now. I recommend about 3 coats, letting each one dry all the way before moving onto the next. 

With a small pointed round brush, trace the outside and inside of the stamp with Tuscan Red. Then fill in the red border.

Trace the circle, and if it turns a little wonky…that’s okay! Stamps aren’t always perfect! 

Add little “imaginary” lines to create sections, then paint every other rectangle for a candy cane effect.

Step #6: Lettering “North Pole” and “Express”\

For “North Pole,” we’ll use Tuscan red. Follow the laser-etched lettering and keep enough paint on your brush. I dipped 2–3 times per letter, letting the shape of the letters guide me. 

For “Express,” we’ll use Holly Green. I recommend switching to a 1/4″ flat brush for those serif edges. You can do it like this: 

• Put your brush on its “tippy toes” for tight corners
• Breathe! Holding your breath makes your hand shakier
• If paint gets outside the lines, use a damp brush to mop it up
• Expect to do at least two coats for better coverage

Step #7: Tiny Details That Make it Pop

Add the small postmark lettering:

• “Dec” and “25th” in Tuscan Red
  

Add the wavy green lines (laser-etched):

• Trace them with Holly Green
  

Paint the tiny tree inside the stamp:

• Outline with a round brush
• Fill with a small flat brush
• Plan for about 3 coats for solid coverage
  

Then use the bottom of a paintbrush handle to add tiny white dots on the tree. So cute and easy! You can also add a red border line around the design using a size 4 round brush.

Reminder: this is a hand-painted Christmas card display, not a factory print, so it doesn’t need to be perfect!

Step #8: Add Ribbon and Hang Your Cards

I measured each ribbon using the length of the sign as my guide:

• 3 pieces of red/white candy cane ribbon (glitter)
• 2 pieces of 1/4″ gold glitter ribbon
  

Then, I stapled each ribbon to the back using a staple gun and 1/4″ staples. Start with the center ribbon first, then add the outer ones, then fill in with the gold.

Finally, use a matching piece of ribbon to hang it up, and use clothespins to add your cards! My ribbon strings were about 18 inches, but if you receive a lot of cards, try cutting them to 24 inches so you can display even more.

Want Another Cozy Holiday Project?

If you loved this DIY holiday decorations with wood project, you need to check out my Painted Ceramic Christmas Tree tutorial next! It’s nostalgic, festive, and PERFECT for adding that vintage Christmas glow to your home.