Make Your Own Greeting Card Holder

I recycled an old art canvas into a festive greeting card holder for Christmas. It looks great hanging on my wall and it gets all of those Holiday cards into one place. The process is very simple, plus it only took about an hour to complete alone. Since I had everything but the ribbon, I only spent a few dollars on this entire project, who doesn't love cheap and easy? Here's how to make your own, customized to suit any home decor.

Step 1 Materials:

For this project you will need:

an art canvas or piece of wood in any size you desire
several rolls of coordinating fabric ribbon (enough to completely cover the surface)
staple gun/ staples
fabric or paint
scissors
screws and picture hanging wire if your canvas didn't come with it

optional: hammer and pliers (to fix stapling mishaps),duct tape, extra set of hands

Comments

[wolfscastle]

I like this item - and I just want to say:
CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS!!!!

[lauriestamps]

Oh for heaven's sake!! I like the Christmas card, 4th of July, Easter, New Year's card Holder

I do not believe that saying "Christmas" should have all this drama behind it. If you celebrate it great, it not, SO WHAT!!

Get over it!
jmho

[inquisitive]

This really is a very lovely iBle, i just found it - how in the world did I miss this? The options are endless with this project, I found some pricey versions for pictures and bulletin boards, but what a great way to recycle and reinvent one idea for many applications-and for any purpose. I think this application in a poster frame would be really useful in an office, or as a project board. Thank you! I was a bit dismayed by the politically correct rhetoric that started some really fine replies. I refer people to this sight because it celebrates a global community and ideas that are collaborated in a great forum with respect and intellect.

[thomasedisonjr]

"I recycled an old art canvas into a festive greeting card holder for Christmas." Very nice, however, please keep these "holiday neutral". Many of the visitors to this site do not celebrate Christmas, and feel a little put off by the constant mention of it. Please use the term "holiday" which will offend no one and can include Christmas, Channukah, Kwanza, and New Year's Eve and day. Many give cards for these occasions and your clever holder would be a hit! But more importantly, no one will be offended.

[ewilhelm]

No. Please don't keep your work holiday neutral. Instructables is about sharing things you are passionate about, and if you're passionate about making great stuff for Christmas, that's awesome and a perfect thing to share here.

[thomasedisonjr]

Sorry, but I do not believe in leaving people out. I request that the term holiday be used - it's inclusive, festive, and even has a nice sound to it. Thank you.

[FrenchCrawler]

Seeing as how you seem to be new here, here's a suggestion: Don't argue with the boss (especially when he's right).

You seem to be uncertain of your Christian beliefs, since you can't even stand up for your own holidays.
I suppose you're also one of those Christians that supported having the trees renamed cause you're afraid they might offend someone? I suppose you also support the people (provided you live in USA) who want us to remove the saying "In God We Trust" from all of our currency (Uh-oh, I said "God"....)? Hate to break it to you, but USA was founded on Christianity and even though people have the right to freedom of religion, they are forcing us (True Christians) to give up our religion just so that they can be happy.

So perhaps we should request "Menorahs" (sorry if this offends anyone, but I need to make a point) be renamed "Holiday Candles" cause it just makes everyone "Happy"... Why haven't you asked other religions to rename their holiday ornaments? I'm sure you've seen some of them on here.

PS: You seem to be somewhat of a "Troll", if you catch my drift. Just look at all your comments and see how they seem to goad people into arguments with you (or just seem to down other people with a rare occasional afterthought of "good job").
PSS: "Troll" does not refer to large, stumbling monsters either :) Perhaps try to be more "Positively Constructive" rather then negative.

You're Welcome.

[thomasedisonjr]

(removed by author or community request)

[ewilhelm]

This is not a constructive comment. Please make it your last. You need to realize that Instructables is a community with a large number of thoughts, beliefs, and opinions that, while sometimes conflicting, are all equally valid. There is no need for an individual, self-imposed safety inspector to attempt to homogenize the community and make it safe or inoffensive in the eyes of that individual. In fact, such an attitude is by far more offensive. Further, playing this character you've created is a game that comes at the expense of authors who have worked hard to share their projects. Having fun at their expense is rude and mean-spirited. So, it ends now. (With my sincere apologies to Very Keri - when you post a greeting card holder to the internet, you shouldn't have to defend it against it a jerk who has created a safety inspector character and is playing that character and the joke too far.)

[Very Keri]

Apparently your problem isn't with me or my instructable, since I haven't done any of the things you're accusing me of. I mentioned Christmas one time and that was in my opening statement, which is a fact. My project was solely for my own use during Christmas time. The only part of that sentence that is my opinion is the word "festive". Furthermore, I did use the word "holiday" in my final step, when I was suggesting what other people may use this project for. That being said, how about you go write your congressman instead of expressing your problem with "the holidays" on my instructable.

[sgsidekick]

Don't worry about this petty stuff. I love the instructable. Thanks for posting it. I look forward to making one for next Christmas as there is a bad snowstorm out and I can't get to the store for supplies. Oh well. Next Christmas for sure!!

[Patrik]

Ooh - I got a cool satanic ritual to share for Xmas! Only problem is, I just ran out of virgins... Just kidding! ;-)

[Very Keri]

In the midst of defending my "Holiday" Greeting Card Holder, I forgot to atleast say thank you for the complements. So, thank you for the complements. I still mean what I said about the other stuff, though.

[FrenchCrawler]

"In the midst of defending my "Holiday" Greeting Card Holder, I forgot to atleast say thank you for the complements."

Likewise (except it wasn't my Instructable and I forgot to leave you a compliment), so I'll make it up to you here ;)

Simple, yet elegant and it even saves mantle/shelf space from the clutter of cards. Excellent idea, great use of materials and nice Instructable (Including the "offending" bits).
On you're next version (if there is one :) ), maybe make removable fronts for the board so you can take off the Christmas patterns (sew it into a fold-able sheet) and replace it with another Holiday sheet. You could attach them to the board using colored thumbtacks (so they don't stick out) or even small pieces of Velcro (that'd allow you to wrap the edges around to the back).
You might be able to even double side the sheets. So one side might be Christmas and the other could be something like Easter (or any other holiday).

PS: There should be no need to defend your Christmas Instructable... especially from a "Christian"... and on that note, I wish you a "Merry Christmas" :)

[Very Keri]

I was considering a method to make it more versatile, I was actually thinking of making it double sided, but I haven't thought it through yet. If you should go that far, please post a photo or make your own instructable, that would be pretty neat. Thank you, by the way and Merry Christmas to you too :)

[FrenchCrawler]

I'm not good at sewing, but my mom is, so mayhap she'll try this idea when I show it to her (our mantle/piano top is always cluttered with cards) :)

[Very Keri]

Haha, yeah, we don't have a mantle since I live in the subtropics, or a piano, or anything else suitable for holding cards besides my fridge or walls...hence the necessity for my project. :)

[Patrik]

Hi thomasedisonjr - just wondering did you feel personally offended / put off by the mention of Christmas? Or were you merely standing up for other people's feelings.

I'm atheist myself, and I'm not particularly offended by any mention of Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, or whatever, and I have never heard anyone else say they were either (that could be due to an under-representation of members of non-Christian religions among my acquaintances though).

Just wondering how wide-spread this feeling is, given that it seems so innocuous to me...

[thomasedisonjr]

I am standing up for the feelings of others. I happen to celebrate Christmas. However, I do not try to force it on non Christians. The term "holiday" is widely accepted as a word to be substituted for Christmas. It offends nobody. Please let's not turn this discussion away from Very Keri's Holiday Greeting Card Holder - which is wonderful!

[j626no]

i celebrate christmas and honestly, "holiday" offends me because of freedom of speech. i HATE the new movement to be politically correct. heyzuphowsitgoin is right, people do not get offended as easily as you think.

[heyzuphowsitgoin]

alright man... no ones gonna get offended by this... i'm jewish... I have jewish friends... I have christian friends... I have muslim friends... I have black friends... I have white friends... I have asian friends... I have atheist friends... i have freakin satsangi friends and not one of them gets offended by any of the other religions holidays... iv gone to friends houses for christmas! i dont even celebrate it! what makes you think you get to speak for people? can't people speak for themselves? and if someone said that they were offended by this instructable, i would probably say suck it up and write your own. people dont get offended that easily! im sorry if things like this offend you, but this is not anybody else's problems. should christmas carolers not sing about christmas? should presidential candidates not run because they might offend eachother? should southpark not be aired because it is offensive to some people (yes, i love southpark)? should black history be forgotten because its not about white people? should the history of your religion be forgotton because its not inclusive of everyone else? im sorry if you are offended by this, but i am sure i am speaking for EVERYONE in the instructables community when I say please stop with your comments, they are both annoying and meaningless. they do not help people with their instructables. and Very Keri... great instructable... thanks.

[Rayna]

You imply that people would be offended by the use of the word Christmas. How you confuse 'I don't celebrate that' with 'I'm offended by that'? How do you manage to confuse 'inclusive' with 'neutral'? Just because they have other traditions does not mean they would be offended, and vice versa. I would not be offended by Menorah instructables just because I am not Jewish. I'm not sure you're standing up for anybody. Posting things on the internet is not forcing them on other people, and to follow your argument through to its natural conclusion would demand everything on open sites such as these be devoid of cultural/geographical/religious specificity. Which is impossible and unreasonable. Democratic is not generic. A reactionary (in content, if not in tone) response such as yours actually contributes to any inter-cultural tensions, by producing more such reactionary responses. My openness to different holiday-inspired posts leads me to believe if people's 'feelings' are hurt, it's rather due to their own cultural prejudices. I don't want anyone to feel genuinely oppressed by some dominant cultural normativity, but this is ludicrous. Get some perspective.

[Very Keri]

Well, I DID "recycle an old art canvas into a festive greeting card holder for Christmas. I celebrate Christmas, so freaking what? I also stated that you can make yours for whatever occassion you want. I don't care who celebrates what, just because I made this to suit my own customs by no means that I think everyone should celebrate Christmas. I'm sorry you're offended, but it's not like I put little baby Jesus ribbon all over it and said you were going to hell if you didn't make this for Christmas and Christmas only. Lighten up.

[FrenchCrawler]

"Very nice, however, please keep these "holiday neutral". Many of the visitors to this site do not celebrate Christmas, and feel a little put off by the constant mention of it."

Unfortunately, I don't feel that it's necessary that authors should have to "generalize" their holiday spirit. That's the same as how people of different religions demand that "Christmas Trees" shouldn't be called so, but instead be called "Holiday Trees", but then go and refer to their own religious ornaments by their names. Should they also not have to change all their traditions and generalize everything just to "Holiday"?

Read here
Here's a better source

She only stated that she had made this for Christmas. She could use it for other holidays, but her intended use was for the holiday that she celebrates and is coming up soon.

If someone was to post something to celebrate a different religion (and I believe they have), we wouldn't ask them to generalize their religious beliefs cause it might "offend" the masses.

[canida]

Looks nice, but I'm a bit confused as to how you actually attach the cards. Are the back flaps just tucked into the strips of ribbon?

[Very Keri]

Yep, just open them up and one side goes over the back of the ribbon, the other side hangs out the front.

[shooby]

Yep, check ou the orientation of the cards in pic #1

[canida]

Thanks! It's always necessary to spell it out for some of us. ;)

[Very Keri]

lol, yeah, i try to be thorough, I'll go put that up in the instructable.

[GorillazMiko]

looks cool! i get a lot of cards around the holiday seasons. this could help!