"Christmas in July" Lattice Card Holder Craft

Christmas in July Special Event

I am so happy to join you for the Christmas in July event sponsored by those Texas gals at Cowgirl Up link parties.  We had just arrived to our new home in Calgary, Canada when Samantha from Crafty Texas Girls asked me to participate.  Since my craft room is still in boxes, I was forced to create something that was simple and appropriate for the Christmas holidays.  The inspiration came to me at Home Depot last week when I spotted a sheet of lattice in the back of the store.  I hope you enjoy this simple, clever and cheap way to display all of those greeting cards you receive during the holidays.  Here is how it was made.

Supply List

Lattice - Size of your choosing

Clothespins

Spray Paint for Lattice

Spray Paint for Clothespins

Hot Glue Gun

Sandpaper for distressing clothespins

Decorative topper of your choice (use what you have from Christmas past)

3M Command Hooks and Picture Velcro Strips for hanging the finished lattice

Total Cost of this project was $20.00

Let's Get Started......

Home Depot cut a sheet of plastic lattice into two equal size pieces.  The lattice used in this project cost about $10.00.  I then went to Michaels and purchased two cans of spray paint and some clothespins.  I chose a sage green and ivory for my colors because I plan to leave the lattice up year around, changing the topper for each season, so I wanted neutral colors (instead of bright red).

Start by laying the lattice out on paper and spray painting it.  It took only one can to cover the entire piece and it dried very quickly.

I have always used boxes to spray paint clothespins.  It's so much easier and the coverage is perfect.

Here are the clips after they have dried.  I distressed them using a small sanding block.  Just rough up the edges all around.  This took less than five minutes for all of the clothespins.

Before Sanding

After Sanding

When all of the clothespins are distressed, you can lay them out on your lattice to see how you want them to look.  I skipped every other row and hung them on alternating columns.  

Now that you have them placed on your lattice, start hot gluing the clothespins.  

Here are the clothespins hung on the lattice.  You can see how I skipped a row and then hung the clothespins on every other column.  I chose this layout so that the cards hanging on the pins would stagger each other rather than overlap.

For the topper I decided to use my Christmas tree decoration from last year!!

I simply layered the garland and created bunches on each end.  The bunches were secured with cable ties.

Start by placing two of the same branches below....

Layering two different ones on top....

Then the third layer.....

Securing them with cable ties.....

It will look like this......

I took the same bow from my Christmas wreath last year and simply adhered it to the middle of the branches with floral wire.....

Ta daa......

I took some floral wire to adhered the branches to the top of the lattice.  After this I simply used 3M hooks and velcro picture hanging strip to hang the finished lattice on the wall.  You can use nails if you prefer.  I used the heavy duty hooks for the top layer with the branches and for the bottom lattice I simply just used two 3M picture hanging velcro strips.  You can find all of these at your local craft store.

It was time to grab some old Christmas cards (the only ones I could find) and display them.  

I hope you have enjoyed reading this easy and fun way to display your cards.  I can't wait to decorate it for the different seasons.  I think this lattice will come in handy to display every day photos, school notes, birthday invitations, school work, etc.  I'm not just going to store this in the closet and drag it out every Christmas.  This is going to be a permanent stay in my house.

Merry Christmas.....in July

While you're in the Christmas spirit, please feel free to take a "Lookie" at some other Christmas crafts I created last year.....

A Merry Christmas Welcome - My Front Porch

Yarn Wrapped NOEL Letters

My Christmas Hutch

Thanks for stopping by!!

Missy

Lookie What I Did

Feel free to check out all of the blogs!  Here are the links

Amanda @ The Ivy Cottage Blog

Korrie @ Red Hen House

Anita @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Debbie @ Confessions of a Plate Addict

Samantha @ Crafty Texas Girls

Missy @ Lookie What I Did

Linsey @ The Farmhouse Porch

Pamela @ From My Porch to Yours