DIY Playing Card Holders

I am a big advocate of playing board games, and card games and anything to get the kids away from electronics is a winner in my book! Sometimes little hands (and even big ones!) cramp up when holding a large amount of playing cards. (Draw Four anyone?) I created an alternative for that cumbersome fistful of cards: a fun DIY card holder set!

Supplies needed to make your own DIY card holder set:

• Basswood – 1/16″ Square Rods  (2)
• 1/2″ Basswood Plank (2)
• 1/4″ Basswood Rods (2)
• Carpenter’s Wood Glue
• Darice Acrylic Paint Set
• Clamps
• A Few Quarters
• A Coping Saw or Other Hand-Held Blade

The above supply list will make four,  6″ playing card holders.

Your basswood pieces should look like this:

Start by gluing your basswood pieces. Have some quarters nearby as well as some clamps. If you do not have clamps, you will need something else to hold the glue in place until it dries, like maybe wrapping it tightly with tape.

Apply wood glue to the small basswood rod.  I used a paintbrush for this step. The rod is so tiny, I just put glue on the entire rod to make sure I got the glue everywhere that it needed to be.

Place the glue-covered wood piece down. Sandwich it between the larger rod, and the half-sized plank, as shown.

Place a quarter into the groove, and clamp all the pieces together. The quarter will act as a spacer, so the gap stays open as the glued basswood pieces dry.

Make sure the small basswood rod is flush to the bottom of the basswood pieces.

Continue clamping along the basswood, using a quarter with each clamp.

Use additional quarters to maintain the groove.

Allow the glue to fully dry.

Depending on the size you want to make your DIY card holder set, you will need to cut down the basswood. I chose 6″ sections for my finished holders. You could choose smaller if you like. The rods are 12″ long, so I just cut the finished pieces in half.

Any fine-blade saw will work. Basswood is a soft wood.

Sand any raw edges on your cut basswood.

Choose some happy colors to paint your DIY card holder set. Try not to get paint into the groove of the holder.

Now break out those playing cards, and call a team together!

Besides the bonus of not having your hands cramp up, it leaves your hands free for snacks!

Shaunte

Shaunte is a 30-something, chocolate-loving, SAHM from Utah. She has been scrapbooking since 1997, the dreaded era of photos cropped with deco scissors. Since then, her work has evolved into a clean, linear, photo-focused style. Her favorite subjects to scrap are her husband and five kids (never a lack for subject material there).