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Reader's Write

"What can I do with my old greeting cards?"


cards_puzzles.gif (26563 bytes)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


Collage Cards

"Cut out the pictures and make a Christmas collage on a big card for a loved one."
--Geralyn, Irwin, PA

Picture 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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