How to Make a Christmas Card Holder

First, cut the 1-inch x 3-inch x 8-foot board into different lengths to create the branches of the tree. You'll need the following lengths:

• Branch 1: 12 inches
• Branch 2: 18 inches
• Branch 3: 24 inches
• Branch 4: 30 inches
• Branch 5: 36 Inches

Cut 2-inch x 2-inch x 8-foot board down so that it is 30 inches long. This will become the tree trunk.

If you want to give each branch a polished finish, take a few moments to sand the cut edges and surfaces of each of the cut boards with a sanding block.

This is your chance to express your creativity. Consider the rest of the holiday decorations in your home when deciding the look you're going for with this project. Choose an array of festive paint colours to bring eye-catching style to the finished card holder or go for a more nature-inspired, rustic look by using wood stain. You may want to do two coats, allowing for the first coat to dry before moving on to the second.

Use your measuring tape to find the centre of the branch. Drill a hole through the centre of each branch board using your power drill and a drill bit appropriate for the size screws that you purchased.

Next, take the trunk of your tree and measure 4 inches from the top. Drill your first hole part way through the centre of the board. From that hole, measure six inches down and drill another hole. You will continue until you have a hole for each branch cut.

Once all your holes are drilled, switch to a screwdriver bit and attach each of the branches to the trunk. Make sure to start with the shortest board at the top and gradually work your way down to the largest board at the bottom.

Now that all your boards are attached, it's time to add all the clothes pins to the tree. Plug in your glue gun and allow it to heat up. Use a pencil and a tape measure to create marks every 4 inches along your branches. Once the glue gun is ready, run a small bead of hot glue on the back of each clothespin and attach it to the branches where you've made your marks.

Congratulations, you've completed building your festive card holder. You can lean the tree holder against the wall or use sturdy picture hangers to display it over a sofa or entry table. If you want the card tree to stand up on its own, you can use a wood crate as a base. You can even purchase a strand of battery-operated twinkle lights or a glittery bunch of tinsel to wrap around the branches of your Christmas tree card holder.