Chicken Wire Christmas Card Tree

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SendHallmark #CollectiveBias

During the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I hold my husband to a hard and fast rule: I am the only one allowed to go to the mailbox each day. It’s not because of super secret gift shipments, but rather because I absolutely adore receiving Christmas cards. It’s like a special little surprise each time that I open the mailbox lid. I like the anticipation of wondering how many (if any) cards that we may receive and who may have sent them to us. I get so excited by Christmas cards that when I suggested to the hubby that we make a display for them, he agreed that it was a great idea.

I wanted to spend as little money as possible on this project. Free would be even better. By keeping the project materials contained to items that were already in our basement we were able to accomplish this. This Chicken Wire Christmas Card Tree is easy enough to be completed in two hours or less, and depending on the items that you already have, it is free or inexpensive. Yet it makes a nice rustic decor piece for my Christmas decor, and it’s a great way to display our treasured Christmas cards.

Below is a list of supplies that we used:

• Chicken wire
• 4 “tobacco” sticks, also known as staking sticks for tomato plants
• Long plastic zip ties
• Staple gun
• 1/2″ Plywood
• Skill saw
• Drill with 1/4″ drill bit
• Something circular to make the base template- we used a trash can lid (Hey, improvising is awesome!!)
• Garland- the flimsy kind, not the stiff garland
• Mini clothes pins
• Optional: star for top of tree, ornaments, lights

Tips: Want a smaller tree? Cut the sticks to create a table top tree. Don’t have long plastic zip ties? Wire that bends easily would also work.

Begin by drilling a hole with the 1/4″ drill bit in one end of all four sticks.

Use long plastic zip ties to secure them together.

Now create the base. The base will determine the width of the tree. I wanted to be able to fit the tree in a corner in my home, so a trash can lid worked well for me. Use the item as a template to trace a circle on the plywood.

Cut out the circle with the skill saw.

Place the sticks around the outside of the circle.

Using the same drill bit, drill a hole through the stick and a hole in the circle.

Secure by placing zip ties through the holes. We placed an additional zip tie around the stick as a reinforcement.

Do this with all four sticks.

Wrap the chicken wire around the frame, using zip ties to attach the wire to the sticks in strategic places. You won’t need many zip ties. Once a few are in place to secure the wire, it will stay steady. Optionally, you could also use a staple gun.

Trim the bottom wire and use a staple gun to secure it to the base.

Wrap the garland around the frame, using the holes in the chicken wire to wedge it in place.

Leave space between the garland so that the mini clothes pins have an area to easily attach to the wire.

Add a star to the top.

Now stand back and wait for the cards to arrive in the mail!

Out of all the Christmas cards manufactured, Hallmark greeting cards are a great way to spread holiday cheer. They always have the perfect message, whether it be for the holidays, a special occasion like a birthday, or a card just because.

I like the convenience of the Hallmark greeting card displays at Walmart. I can grab a card while grocery shopping. Click here to save $1.00 off of a two Hallmark Greeting Card purchase at Walmart, minimum $1.00 purchase required. Take advantage of the savings and #SendHallmark this holiday season!

Since we also have a tradition of buying the kids a new ornament each year for their own trees, this year I picked up a Hallmark ornament for my daughter. Ornaments can also easily be added to the Chicken Wire Tree, if desired.

Hallmark Ornaments may also be found in Walmart.

Use the mini clothes pins to attach the Hallmark cards to the chicken wire tree.

I debated about wrapping clear lights around the tree, too. I didn’t this year but may for next!

While decorating, check out the festive music on the Pandora Hallmark Station!

Do you still send and receive Christmas cards? See more great holiday card ideas here!