 We
were sent a bunch of great ideas for old cards. Many wrote to say they use them to make
gift tags or new cards. A lot of the ideas will work all year round with cards from any
occasions. Here is our idea for making puzzles on jumbo
craft sticks. Take a look a some of the other ideas:
Gift Tags
"I make gift tags and package decorations with last years Christmas cards. Cut out
certain parts of the cards or cut the card into a tree shape, wreath shape etc. &
write To: and From: on the front or the back!"
--Kelly, Laurel MD"
Placemats
"Cut circles out of the cards using a lid. Place them side by side on a piece of
clear contact paper. Then cover with another piece of contact paper. If you have a poem
from the card that you wish to save, you can place it in the middle and put the circles
around it. If you want to remember who the cards were from,you can write on the back
before placing them on the contact paper. Otherwise you can make it double sided."
--Debby, Atlantic Beach, FL
Ornaments
"Use a clear plastic lid and trace the lid around the picture of the card and cut it
out. Glue the picture inside the plastic lid. Punch a small hole through the top. Using
yarn or thread , tie a loop into the string to use as a hanger for a Christmas Tree."
--Anonymous
More Ornaments
"Cut the front picture of the card into a circle or diamond shape and cut the
signature or inside saying in a matching shape and pasting them back to back. Use a hole
punch to make a place to put ribbon or yarn to hang them. They become keepsakes for years
to come."
--Cindy, Shelbiana, KY
Bookmarks
"Cut them into strips and use them for fancy book marks."
--Shirley
Scrapbooking
"Carefully cut out the shapes and use them for scrapbooking."
--Shirley
Family Heirlooms
"For your special cards from your mom or dad frame them and each year sit
them out on an easel. Make sure to date them so you know the year sent."
--Michal, Washington, MO.
Christmas Collage
"Wrap any framed picture in the house. Use holiday cards, bows, construction
paper make a collage to add touch of holiday to any room"
--Jen
Christmas Garland
"Cut out pictures from the card to make Christmas chains to hang on tree or around
the house."
--R. Skoff, Pgh. PA
Christmas Decorations
"Trace a star shape onto your old cards and cut them out. Spraypaint them gold or
silver, punch a hole in the top and thread a piece of yarn or embroidery floss through.
Tie a knot. Hang them from the ceiling, perhaps over your dinner table."
--Anonymous
Christmas Dinner Menus
"You'll need a card for each dinner guest. Cut a piece of red or green
construction paper to fit the inside and glue it in. Let dry. Cut a piece of white paper a
little smaller than the card. Fold it in half and write the menu for your meal on the
inside parts. Staple the white paper inside the card. For a finishing touch, buy some of
those tassels and glue the tassel string to the inside of the card."
--Jenna
Puppets
"Some pictures can be used to make finger puppets for holiday play."
--Lynne, Baton Rouge LA
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Collage Cards
"Cut out the pictures and make a Christmas collage on a big card for a loved
one."
--Geralyn, Irwin, PAPicture Books
Make picture books out of them for children's hospitals. Children with infectious diseases
aren't allowed to touch anything because things they touch have to be destroyed. With the
picture books the child can enjoy the bright pictures and then the book can be
destroyed."
--Cyndi, Okinawa Japan
Mini Wall Decorations
"Trim them down to the essential part (a quote, or picture). Then laminate them using
clear Contac paper and hang them around the house for mini-hits of inspiration or
cheer"
--Kimberly, Pelham, NH
Decorative Plates
"Cut out the pictures and a few greetings from the cards. Purchase a clear glass
plate and turned in upside down on the table. Using decopauge solution we glued the
pictures face down; arranging them nicely around the plate."
--Anonymous
New Cards
"Cut out the pictures on the front and paste it onto a new piece of paper. Decorate
it and make a new card."
--Katherine, San Diego, California
Mini Gift Boxes
"Separate the back of the card from the front. Fold the back into an open-topped box.
Fold the front into a top for the box. Make it slightly bigger so it fits."
--Jen, Eugene, Oregon
Package Decorations
"Glue the front of the card centered on the front of the gift package after it
has been wrapped. The wrapping serves as a picture frame."
--Linda, Kirkland, Washington
Postcards
"Use the fronts as postcards and write your holiday message on the back."
--Victoria,"Metlon Mowbray, UK
More Ornaments
"Cover the hole on the shiney side of a CD with a small piece of an old Christmas
card. Cover the other side completely with a card cut into a circle. With glitter glue
write holiday greetings above and below the small picture on the shiney side."
--Pat, Westbury, NY
Gift Bags
"Use the pictures from the front and glue onto all sides of a brown paper bag. Add
handles on top by hot gluing small strips of rope or strips cut from another bag."
--Anonymous
Tray Favors
"Cut squares or rectangles from poster board. Fold them in half to make a
little stand up tray card. Glue little Christmas card cut-outs onto the tray card front.
You can add dimension by 'raising' the cut-out with a little tab of cardboard or
Styrofoam. Then just add a greeting to the tray card and you are finished. Cute!"
--Wanda, Skidmore, Texas
Crochet Ornaments
"Cut out the picture in a circle shape. Punch small holes around the circle.
With yarn, single or double crochet in each hole Join at beginning. Leave length desired
to hang from tree."
--Melanie, MS
Sewing Cards
"Using just the front of the card, hole punch all around the edge about an inch
apart. Let children use red or green yarn to weave around the card."
--Laura, Estacada, OR
Recipe Cards
"Cut the front to 4"x 5' size and use as index cards for recipes, for craft
projects etc."
--Juner, White Salmon, Washington
Collages
"Cut out the fronts or pieces of the fronts, signatures and inscriptions and make
really great background for displaying Christmas photographs. Purchased a large frame to
display your collages and switch them out each year."
--Beth, Mobile, AL
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