Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How can I turn an old used Christmas card into a newer Christmas card, that is also cheap, creative, fun, and that several people can enjoy?
By Nikki from Bedford, PA
The thriftyfun.com website has a ton of ideas. Type in Christmas or "old Christmas cards" and there are tons.
If you are wanting to take one older card and turn it into several cards. Is that what you mean?
You could cut out small circles or even stars or other shapes and then add that to a piece of card stock for a new card and then embellish with ribbon or christmas wrap, beads, glitter. sequins or other things.
Here are some pic examples:
www.ehow.com/
www.pinkparfait.com/
www.curbly.com/
If you know how to crochet you do make the ornaments like on this next link, attach it to a card stock and then they could take it off the card and hang it on their tree:
rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/
I use old Christmas cards as Christmas postcards. As long as there are no personal notes written on the inside on the left they are perfect to reuse and all you have to do is remove the right hand side. And everyone you give/send them to doesn't receive exactly the same. Oh, and the postage is less expensive too ;-)
If you are don't mind a little extra postage you could glue matching felt to the back of the front of the card leaving a 1/4" border all around, write on the back with a gold or silver ink pen. Or glue the fronts to a piece of card stock folded to fit an envelope for a whole new card. Or simply glue cardstock to the back like a postcard if there is writing on it.
One thing you could do is use the card that the person sent you, and send her back the same card with a little note saying to send it back to you next year. Always send the same card, but with a message and the year attached to it. Should be fun to see how long it will travel in time.
You can use matching coloured paper folded to fit inside the card. Glue the paper to the back of the card where the person writes their greeting.
Does anyone have instructions to make a Tree Skirt using old Christmas Cards? I had this pattern years ago and have lost it. Any replies are appreciated. Thank you.
I think I know what you're talking about.
I seem to remember that the card pieces were first edged in a blanket stitch. You'd have to use a fairly strong needle and a decent/sturdy ply of yarn.
Then, the pieces were attached to each other, probably through crochet or sewn together with yarn.
Hope this helps.
I found the following idea by putting "Tree Skirt using old Christmas cards" into my search engine.
Wondering what to do with those old cards from previous years? Use them to cover that tree stand. Cut a cone of oak tag paper to fit around the stand, leaving the hole for the tree trunk on top (and for watering if you have a real tree). Glue or tape the old cards to the stand. You can either put them side by side so they can still be opened and viewed, make a collage out of their covers, or overlay them haphazardly to look like you've thrown a stack of cards at the bottom of the tree.
If I wanted to make it more permanent I would use the tag paper pattern and cut out some fabric (felt would be nice) and sew the cards to it. Then put a piece of velcro at the top and probably another on down to keep it in place and you would have it for future years.
I think I would use a small paper punch to make the the holes for the blanket stitch first; easier on the fingers.
How many Christmas cards does it take to make a medium size Christmas tree ornament?
What kind of ornament are you asking about? One of the balls made of old cards?
This one Martha Stewart calls for 20 circles. When I did them, I used 20 different cards...but that was just me.
www.marthastewart.com/
I would think at least 4 for a triangular ornament. 6 for a square or rectangular one
I need instructions to make a gift box out of old Christmas cards.
Nancy from Pryor, OK
Hi Nancy! Here's a site that tells how to make small boxes using Christmas cards: www.allfreecrafts.com/
I just saw the coolest picture that was made out of cards. Using only the front of the cards, make a patchwork design. You can cut out different shapes or one area of the card. I saw this in a magazine in the doctor's office. They wanted $500 for the finished piece. From what I saw, they made some that were 8 x 10, and larger. I think it would make a nice gift. I am thinking about do it with all my mother's day cards too.
I want to recycle last years Christmas cards to send out this year as Christmas postcards. Just one question: the fronts of all my cards have an embossed image of a tree, a package, a star, etc. When I turn the card over to draw the center line between the message side and the address side the card is not smooth. Can I still use them or will the embossed image cause a problem with the postal service.
By GA
I don't see how the embossing could be a problem. From what I understand from a cousin who worked at the post office for several years the mail is fed into a machine that reads and sorts and if the machine can't read the address then it's spit out and hand sorted. I've turned Christmas cards (and other cards) into postcards for a few years and never had a problem.
I am searching for the name and instructions of a craftwork which is comprised of acrylic sheeting either side of recycled cards or paper formed into several templates. These are then hole punched evenly along the sides of the templates and then crocheted together to form decorative containers.
By Robina M-S
What do you do with your Christmas cards? I decided to recycle mine! I took all my cards and turned them into Christmas gift cards for next year!
Recycle Christmas cards into useful coasters. The supplies and instructions for making these pretty coasters can be found on this page. They would make nice gifts.
Select desired Christmas cards and place coffee can around area of picture and trace around can, cut out circle picture. Place the circles of cut out cards flat on table and overlap them as if they are linked together like a chain.
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
