What Cool Crafts/projects Can I Do with Old Christmas Cards??

Collage or Moseic (decopadge)sp?, using old cards or parts of them cut out and glued to a box, or container, or just a board. Then cover them all with Elmers glue which dries clear. On the board, you can glue elastic criss crossed on it and attaches to the back with staples or nails or hot glue and walla....you have a wall board to put paperwork or notes and stuff on. The box can be used as a decoration in the Christmas room every year or as a great gift.

Make boxes w/front and back, Lots of different ideas. We made stuff every year when I was a kid. Here is a link to one we used to do http://www.allfreecrafts.com/christmas/card-ornaments.shtml Here is one for the boxes though they make it look much more confusing then it is- http://www.allfreecrafts.com/phprint.php there are a lot more out there, good luck!

I have something I did with my kids' birthday cards. Each year, gather the birthday cards and cut the shapes out of each card. You can be as detailed as you want, or just cut the whole front of the card into a shape you like. Arrange them on a large piece of cardstock (maybe 12 x 14 or so). Include a picture of your child at that age, and if they are old enough, have them write their first name on the cardstock. Then laminate it for a placemat. Usually at least one card will be one of those kiddie cards that have the age on it - a big colorful "4" or whatever. These are adorable when the child first starts learning to write their name. Over the years you end up with a set of placemats that chronicles the age, their picture, and the way they write at each age, and of course the memory of all of the lovely cards they receive. Sometimes I would even cut out the special handwritten note from Grandma, for example, and include that as part of the collage.

Old cards make really perfect little boxes. They are really easy to make and kids can use them for all sorts of things. I found one site where they explain how, but I am sure there are a lot of sites out there. I use to make them when I was a kid. http://www.allfreecrafts.com/recycling-crafts/greeting-ca...

Also, if they aren't written on the left inside-- you can detach them from the backs and use them as post-card type cards. Just write what you want and affix them directly to the present.

Also, instead of the traditional collage you could make an Advent calendar. (Affix the cut-out pieces so they can lift up and reveal some affirmation or happy thought written underneath.)

Hi,
I like the idea that you collect cards and I think you can do a lot with it. SO, here are some suggestions:
You can cut out the images that you like from the cards and use it with some photos of your family and friends (if you making a collage for a friends), then arrange it on a bigger poster board the way you like it. Glue it and paint the background as you wish - colorful or just solid black. You can put a face of a family member on top of a Santa, reindeer…
Also, make x-mass tree ornaments out of the cutouts.
About me:
I am an artist, art instructor and founder at allARTstudio in San Carlos and Los Altos studios. I do have some good ideas for you to use the cards.
It's can be very lengthy to describe in the email form, but if you like to stop by my studio (1199 Laurel St.) any day, I would be more than happy to share more of my ideas.
I hope it helps to start your creative juices going.
Happy Holidays,
Just another fellow mom (A.)

I had teachers ask them to use for decoration for there childersn and u can use them for stuff for scrapbooking if u are into it.. Hope that give u sone ideas.. Good luck

I use them to make tags for christmas presents, you could also cut them out with fancy scissors and glue them on felt, add ribbon and make tree ornaments. Also punch holes and lace them together to make a box. Try googling it on line...I'd like some ideas too...

They make great ornaments the next year. Just cut out a nice shape on a pretty part, mount it on some card stock, add some glitter or a nice border, punch a hole in the top, and hang!

Also, you can cut off the prettiest part (blank on opposite side) in an interesting shape, punch a hole, tie a ribbon, and voila, awesome gift tag!

Or get ALL of your old cards, cut them into similar shapes, punch holes in either end, and string them together into a garland for the tree.

Just a few ideas from another crafty mama.

K. in EC

me and my mum used to turn them into gift tags or cut them up and turn them into new cards. you could use the images to go behind a homemade advent calendar.

I have a really cool christmas ornament project we do using christmas cards. they are perfect because they are made of a litte heavier card stock.
I'll explain as best i can, but if you wanna try it send me a message and i'll email you pictures!If you see the pictures it makes much more sense and they are undeniably beautiful!
You cut 2" circles out of the cards. It takes 20 circles per ornament. You fold each circle on three edges of the circles so now the circles have a triangle shape in the middle. you glue the folded up edges of the circles to the other circles. It will make as small globe. They look amazing, old fashioned and really cute. We love making them (very kid friendly; scissors and a glue stick is all you need), and have gotten nothing but excitement from those who receive them! They look great on our tree too!

Hi Mama-
Crafts are so fun! Here are a couple of things:
1. Make new cards. Cut out your old card faces and glue them to new cardstock. Decorate with ribbon, beads, buttons, or glitter, and send! Homemade cards show time and care!
2. Garlands. Take felt and cut it into squares. Then cut out your cards- or pieces of your cards- and tack them to the felt. Attach the felt to a long ribbon and hang up for the appropriate season.
3. Scrap. Make a scrapbook OR single pages and frame them. I like to do the singles. Get a few really great photos of whomever the page is for, and of the people who were with them. Then, use the cards as cut outs and backgrounds with the photos. Frame in a 12x12 box frame for 3-d stuff and give as a gift.
4. Paint can scrapping. You can buy clean paint cans at your local craft or home improvement store for $3-$6 dollars. Using scrap paper, cover your can in all sorts of colors for the occasion. Use ribbon around the top and bottom to "neaten your edges" and then take your cards and use them to decorate, or make little hanging tags. A DVD fits inside these perfectly, or a sweater rolled up, or any other fun gifts. Plus the can is a gift in itself. My co-worker does these and taught the rest of us, and she also sells them- $20 or $25 each. They are SO WORTH IT, too.
Here is a link with a picture:
http://scrapgirls.com/paint_can_gift_containers.htm
To do the hanging tags, tie a ribbon around the top of the can (go over the handles) and attach (using a hole punch) little home made cards and charms and buttons, etc.
5. Vintage crafts- get an old mirror that is missing some of the finish off the back so you can see through it. Or scrape an old mirror in the back. Glue the cards, face down onto the back (so you can see it through the mirror) and secure. I can't find the website, but I saw it in Better homes and gardens and thought it was really fun.

Have fun!!
-E. M

I use pinking shears or scissors that cut w. a design. Cut out the parts you like of the card & put a hole @ the top-put string thru & make them into gift tags or little cards that attatcch to presents when a full card is not needed...Fun to make & even funner to know you were able to reuse rather than throw away. Have fun crafting!

My son and I cut out the pictures on the cards - punched a hole in each and tied red yarn through them to decorate a small tree in our diningroom window. It turned out so cute we saved the ornaments and put them up again this year.
Also, I have covered the outside of shipping boxes in a collage of cards held down with clear packing tape ( cut off the face of the cards and toss the backs) I always get compliments in line at the post office for my "gift boxes".
Fun quick and klutz-proof!

You can make christmas shadow boxes out of small kid sized shoes boxes. For example, say you had santa in a sleigh. Paint the entire inside of the carboard box dark midnight blue. Paint snow drops coming down or stars. place the box on it's side. Cut our figures leaving a "tab" at the bottom, fold the tab over to the side. You will glue the figure cutout into the bottom of the box by this tab. (or hang it from the top by a string) You can make rooftops to go in the bottom of the box to look like santa is flying through the air. You can decorate the top edge with paper 'icicles' hanging down. Docorate the outside of the box. it is kinda like the easter peep eggs with the viewing hole, except the viewing hole is big! I suppose you could take a round bleach jug or oatmeal box, but the bottom 4 inches off, and have a similar 'shell' only in circular instead of rectangle.

Cut small circles or squares of old fashioned looking cards and glue silver or gold pipe cleaners around the edges to make old time looking ornaments.

Decoupage them onto a storage box, pencil holder(a cutdown oatmeal box) or plate. Richards crafts has lots of paper mache type boxes in every size. use modgepodge to decoupage.

Very large cards can be cut into stocking shapes (front and back) hole punched around the edges, and "stiched" together with yarn. Kids would have fun with this. You can cut all your cards into same size squares and stich them together this way to make a big paper quilt wall hanging. Or stich together boxes for gift giving.

Glue tiny circular figures onto bottons or pendants and modge podge it.

Cut out the figures very well, and have them laminated. then punch a hole in the top and string them onto shoelaces or neclace cords with jingle bells.

laminated figures can have "stands" glued to the back and can be set up to make a little Christmas town areas. I like to turn little cardboard food boxes into vilages either by using construction paper over the tops of them or covering them with real frosting and candy like I would gingerbread.I place them on a big peice of cardboard covered in foil and glue them down.I cut a door in them and swing it open, windows, etc. Use the little gingerbread men cookies by mothers brand as the people, and I use marshmallow trees in the landscape. You can use card cutout figures in this somehow!

Amazon might have craft books about "recycling greeting cards" or look for more ideas on the net under that topic.

Christmas Cards! My daughter did this last year - cut old cards into strips, use a card stock for the background. Tear bits of tissue paper and glue to the card stock (everything should be recycled material). Using the strips of christmas cards past, lay the strips horizontally on top of the crumpled and glued tissue. Tape the strips on one end, then begin weaving additional strips vertically into the design. Used Wrapping paper works really well too! Have fun! Design by Kayla.

My mother-in-law takes the front of pretty cards and reuses them by making them to/from name tags or mounts them on a folded piece of paper- pretty green too!