CHRISTmas Craft Project DIY using Recycled Greeting Cards

I am sneaking in here to share a super quick post - I am filling a few custom card orders today and am looking forward to a wonderful Women’s CHRISTmas get together tomorrow. 

The last craft sale this past weekend was fabulous.  I’m not referring to sales, they were more than the previous weekend, but it was that so many people who visited my table really “got” what I have been doing!   I will share bits over the coming days of the items I had and some reflections. 

 

Card Cut by Debbie at Paper Pulse

I had quite a few people take a nice rest in front of this beautiful card which I created using a cut from Debbie at Paper Pulse.  This cut is really something gorgeous - I liked the dramatic look of the black against white, and had the idea to place a flickery battery operated candle behind the front.  There is a beautiful golden star affixed to the backdrop as well - its obscured by the top of the stable in this photo.  I want to thank Debbie for her generosity and to acknowledge her huge talent! 

  

Discarded Book and Recycled Greeting Card Garland

This item is one of my own experiments.  I recently found a big fat discarded children’s book at the thrift, Paddington the Bear, to be exact.  It had some damage so was not suitable as a “read” however I felt like I struck treasure.  Firstly, I cut out all the pages with illustrations as they are simply DARLING and I hope to use them for cards in the future.  They are lovely little sketches, just aching to be coloured by hand by me, right? 

Next, I gathered all the CHRISTmas Cards I had about.  I had lots from my own family, but plenty from people who regularly donate to me.  I love how that happens, mention it around and people are really delighted to save for you.  Often they are just ecstatic, saying things like “I just couldn’t bear to throw these out, I’m so glad they will get used for something”  I’m the same, I often sit and read the sentiments and hand penned notes inside and its like a little peek into someone’s life.  So many people use their CHRISTmas  cards as a time to catch up, there is news of births and deaths, joys and sorrows, health issues etc.  It tugs at my heart that each is penned by hand by someone that cared enough to send one.  Thats really something these days of email etc.  So to find a use for these is wonderful!

Discarded Book and Recycled Greeting Card Ornaments

These ornaments are a bit time and labour intensive but SO worth it.  Here’s how I created these items:

 

materials:

used book pages

used greeting cards

sewing machine

crochet cotton

glue

 

Method:

Cut the pages and card graphics out using either a circle cutter, punch or your Silhouette SD, Cameo or Portrait.  I made mine 1.5 inches.  Next, sandwich 6 of the book pages between two pieces of the greeting card circles - I faced them inward so they will show when you fluff your ornament out. 

Run the circles through your sewing machine - for the garland leave about 2 inches of thread between each ornament.  I made my garlands 8 and 10 feet long. 

There is a danger of getting tangled up when doing the garlands, so I opened a door and draped them over.  I felt the thread was not substantial enough so I used some white crochet cotton and ran it along the garland with a line of glue right where the sewn seam was.  Let it dry for a day.

For the ornament I cut a length of crochet cotton and then tied a loop in it to the length I wanted it to hang - then I glued the “tails” along both sides of the sewn seam and ran glue along and dried it for a day. 

When they are completely dry, “fluff” the ornaments out as best as you can by bending the pages about. 

These look so vintage and beautiful .  I think they would be a fabulous way to keep your own family greeting cards, like a tradition.  Also, if you’re newlyweds, this would be a terrific way to make a tangible memento of your first CHRISTmas together!

Thanks for visiting me today! 

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