What to Do with Christmas Cards After the Holidays

Ever wonder what to do with all the Christmas cards you receive during the holidays? Did you recieve a card with a picture that you absolutely adore and simply can't throw it out?

Turn all those cards into something creative! Gather the kids around for an afternoon of craft time fun with as little or as many accessories you can think of.

Pictures:
This is the simplest thing to do. Did you get a winter themed picture frame? Do you have a snowman picture frame? No matter what kind of frame you may have, search through your Christmas cards and just insert them into the frame. Cards come in all themes. If you decorate your house with snowmen, find a card to fit your decor. Animals? Nothing like a cute dog wearing a santa hat to display for the holidays! When the next year's season is over, change out the pictures!

Ornaments:
You can make a hanging cube-shaped ornament featuring a different card on every side. All you need are 6 cards, a hole puncher, and yarn. Cut out the pictures you like, making sure all the pictures are the same size when you are done. 3x3 or 4x4 are good sizes. An ornament box makes a good square to use as a pattern. Once you have all 6 pictures cut out, hole punch the entire outer edges,making 5-6 holes per side, just be careful not to get too close to the edges, as you don't want them to tear. The next step is to "sew" them together. Be careful not to pull too tightly. Lay 4 pictures out in a rectangle. Using an over-under stitch, loop the yarn thru the holes of one card and thru the next card and continue across. leave enough yarn to tie into knots at each end. Continue to stitch the remaining cards together to form a long rectangle. You will have to envision all sides of the square prior to stitching so none of them are upside down and you will have a top and a bottom. Join the ends together and you have formed an open box. take the remaining 2 cards and stitch them to the sides, facing upwards. You can leave all the sides tied with just knots, or little bows. Now you have the cube. With a few inches of yarn you can make a loop through a corner of the cube and use that as the hanger and display your creation on a tree or tie to a present. You can get even more creative by adding curling ribbon to the bottom panel of the cube. For this you would have to cut a little X in the center of the bottom panel, cut the desired length(s) of ribbon, insert them thru the X slit and tie in a knot big enough so that it won't come thru the slit. Continue to stitch the cube closed. If you choose to hang the cube from the middle of the top card, you will have to slit the card and place the loop through it prior to stitching the cube closed as well. Tape may be needed to keep it from falling out.

Wreath Magnets:
Every scout needs a craft idea and this is easy for all ages. What you will need - cards, a hole puncher, yarn, thin ribbon, or beaded garland, and peel and press magnet strips. Again, using old christmas cards, cut out your picture in any shape you like, circle, square, rectangle, etc. The bottom of a mug works fine for a circle. I suggest using an object at least 3" across. Begin by hole punching the entire edge of the object. I made 16 holes in a circle 3" across. For a square, I suggest making 5-6 holes per side. Once you have them hole punched, start at any of the bottom holes, leaving a few inches of yarn dangling, weave the yarn or garland or ribbon of your choice in an over-under stitch all the way around the picture. Once you get to the starting point, tie the ends together in a bow. You have now made a wreath. Cut a magnet strip to the length of the card and peel and press it down to the back side of the picture. You are now ready to hang it on your frig or stove!

I have made the hanging cube as a school project many years ago and is still a favorite of mine. The wreath magnets have been a great scout craft idea that I have done with my son and his boy scout den. These make great gifts for the entire family from the little people! It's a great way to recycle, save pictures as a keepsake, and they will last year after year. You can also do these craft ideas with regular pictures to give from the kids at anniversaries, reunions, birthdays, anytime!

You can find all the supplies you need at your local craft store. It's a very inexpensive and fun way to create something that will last a lifetime!