Art/Creative Projects Using Christmas Cards

Do you ever say, or find yourself thinking, “Oh, another Christmas gone by and gee I hate to throw out all those beautiful Christmas cards I received this year?” Well, get those creative juices flowing and read on to see how you can use all that beautiful artwork to create something new.

Some of the best ideas are the simplest ones like making gift tags from a larger card. Just find one or more parts of the artwork on the card and cut around them with a sharp X-Acto knife or sharp scissors. If the art is very detailed it makes a more beautiful gift card if it is cut out carefully. Next, carefully punch a hole at the top of the art you have chosen and thread a tiny ribbon or some cording through it and tie it in a knot. Write on the back of the gift card and attach it to next year’s Christmas gifts or other gifts that you give out during the year! Of course you can always embellish all your little gift cards with a touch of glitter or use some tiny beads or jewels in one or more areas on the art to make it even more personal.

Make your own paper ornaments for next year’s tree. Again cut out the best part of the art on each Christmas card carefully and mount it on a beautiful piece of art paper or metallic paper and mount both on either a stiff piece of cardboard or a piece of lightweight wood. Cut the wood or cardboard into either a circle, a square, or to the outline of the art itself for the best results. Use some decoupage glue to cover all the parts of the ornament. Let dry and put a hole in the top. Run a beautiful ribbon through it for hanging. You can even antique these paper ornaments with antiquing color before sealing with the decoupage glue. Embellish with jewels, beads or glitter to add a more appealing look.

Jewelry can also be made from beautiful parts of a card. Find some more intricate parts of the art on a card and cut them out carefully and decoupage the pieces. Wait until they dry then make a hole in the top part and run an earring part for pierced ears through it. You’ve made Christmas earrings for your next party! The same can be done for a necklace using a beautiful ribbon for around the neck. Pins are another beautiful way to use your Christmas cards.

Of course what better way is there to save your cards than in a beautiful keepsake box covered with some art off the beautiful cards you’ve saved from year’s gone by? Find a shoebox in the size you need and glue the cards to it. Or cut the art off the card and glue it to the box stopping when you’ve covered the box. Use the decoupage glue for this as well, making sure to cover all the cards with the glue. You can even line the inside of the box with more artwork. Embellish with a beautiful satin ribbon for tying in a bow. You can keep all your beautiful cards safe in this box.

Make an Advent calendar for the kids from all the little pretty pieces of your old Christmas cards. As they open a little door for each day on the Advent calendar there could be the art from your cards glued in the little boxes.

There are endless possibilities for using these beautiful cards. Here are some other ideas to spark your imagination:

• Make mobiles to hang up for the Christmas holidays instead of a wreath.
• Bookmarks to give to all your literary friends or your children’s teachers.
• Make a garland using some beautiful ribbon or raffia to hang the cards on, and glue them around the top of your walls for a border in a craft/hobby room or kitchen.
• Make personal stationery using pieces of the cards.
• Use a hole punch to make confetti for your child’s next holiday or birthday party.
• Frame a few cards and use them around the house for holiday decorations or gifts.
• Make decoupage key chains for gifts.
• Cut out people or situations from the cards and make 3-D art scenes for shadow box framing.
• Oh, and don’t throw out the envelopes either – you can shred them and use them for packing all your Christmas ornaments and precious decorations, or for sending out holiday gifts.

The ideas are endless, just use your beautiful Christmas cards and your wonderful imagination and have fun!