One of my favorite craft resources is a big stack of used greeting cards (Christmas, birthday, get well, whatever) that someone was going to throw away. There are so many things to do with used cards. Here are a few of my favorite ideas.
Christmas Gift Tags
Probably the most common way to recycle used Christmas cards is to make gift tags. Use pinking shears to cut out pictures from Christmas cards, being sure to include enough blank space to write "To:" and "From:" and names. If there isn't enough blank space around the picture for your writing, glue the picture to a piece of plain index card. The tags may be taped onto packages, or a hole can be punched in the tag for a ribbon or string. The tags may be decorated with glitter, markers, or anything else you wish to use.
Bookmarks
Use pinking shears or plain scissors to cut out borders, designs, or pictures from used greeting cards to use as bookmarks. These can be any shape. If you wish, you can use a hole punch to make a hole for a tassel at the top. You can also cover the bookmark with clear contact paper. Several small designs can be lined up and covered with clear contact paper and cut out in whatever shape you wish.
Post Cards from Greeting Cards
A greeting card can be used as a post card if the back of the picture is blank. Cut the front off the card. On the blank back side of the picture, draw a vertical line to divide the card into two sections, one-third on the right and two-thirds on the left. Use the right-hand section for the address and stamp. Use the left-hand section for your message.
Coasters
To make inexpensive drink coasters to protect your furniture, cut pretty pictures from used greeting cards, lay the picture on on small paper doily to frame it, then mount between two pieces of clear contact paper and trim around the edge. Use birthday card pictures for coasters for a birthday party, Christmas card pictures for a Christmas party, etc.
Get-Well Books
Purchase a small purse-size photo album. Use pinking shears or plain scissors to cut out appropriate messages and pictures from used get-well cards and slide them into the photo "pockets." You may want to mount the pictures with glue on paper (plain or fancy) so that they stay in place. Handwritten or typed Bible verses, poems, or personal messages also add a nice touch.
Similar books can be made for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or sympathy. Photos could be added for a personal touch for birthdays and anniversaries.
NOTEPADS
Use greeting card pictures as covers for small notepads for pocket or purse. Here are two basic styles:
(1) Cut out a picture large enough to fold in half to make the front and back of a booklet. Cut scrap paper to fit inside the cover, folded in half. Staple the paper to the cover in the middle of the booklet, on the fold, or sew the layers together on the fold with yarn or heavy thread.
(2) Cut out a picture of the desired size for the front cover of the notepad. Cut out a piece of plain cardboard or another picture of the same size for the back cover. Cut scrap paper to the same size and stack between the covers. Staple together either at the top or on the left side. Or poke holes through all layers and sew together with yarn or heavy thread.
Juice Can Lid Christmas Ornaments
Materials:
Metal lids from frozen juice concentrate
containers
ribbon or pipe cleaner for hanging
lace or rick-rack
used Christmas cards
Make a template out of cardboard or an old plastic
can lid for a circle that will fit inside the juice
can lid. Clear plastic works best for this so you
can see through it to center your pictures before you
cut them out. Place the template over Christmas card
pictures, lightly trace around it with pencil, and
cut out the picture with plain scissors or pinking
shears. Glue the cut-out picture in the middle of
the juice can lid. Glue lace around the edge of the
back of the lid so that it can be seen from the
front. Glue a loop of ribbon (or a sparkly pipe
cleaner folded in half) on the back for a hanger.
Variations: To make a Christmas magnet
instead of a hanging ornament, glue a piece of craft
magnet on the back of the lid.
You can make magnets for any occasion by
changing the kind of pictures you use. Any pretty
picture will make a nice magnet. Try using
children's school pictures, too. This is a
good way to display pictures on the refrigerator and
these would make good grandparent gifts.
