Yes, I realize Christmas is over, but hey, it’s only 353 days until next Christmas!
Just kidding. The truth is we took down all of our Christmas decorations last weekend, including our Christmas cards. I know from past experience that if I try to “save” the cards somewhere to craft with next year, they will be irrevocably lost. Therefore I spend a few minutes now cutting them up and creating gift tags, then I stick them in a baggie and place them in my Christmas Gift Wrap bin (yes, I have two wrapping bins, one for Christmas, one for everything else).
You can sometimes get 3 good tags or so out of a card, if you are lucky enough in the placement of pictures to be able to use the front, inside and back images.
Here is the front of one card I received.
The back had a miniature of the picture on the front. Sometimes there is also a small image on the inside that can be used.
First I used some of the pattered paper from the bottom front of the card. I was also able to incorporate the embossed words “Happy Holidays”.
Next I made one from the large present image.
Finally I was able to flip the card over and use the image on the back of the card.
I wrote the “To:” and “From:” with a fine tip red Sharpie.
TADA! Free, recycled gift tags. They came out looking fairly professional, if I do say so myself. As a bonus, now I am only storing a single little zippered baggie of paper, instead of a huge stack of cards.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
What a fantastic idea!! Definitely going to do with my cards. Thanks for sharing.
Libby
A very cute idea!
Great post! I always agonize about what to do with Christmas cards after the holidays.
Wow this is a really good idea, I always feel bad just recycling the cards.
Slick idea, actually like the ones you made better than the tags we bought from the store this year.
We like to make these gift tags too! They look really cute on solid colored wrapping paper. Even the simple brown paper found in the office supply section (or paper grocery bags) looks really cute with the happy cards taped on the front of them.
Great ideas. You can also re-use bows, gift bags and wrapping paper too. You can also make your own greeting card by cutting up old ones on to a poster board cut up card. They make good book marks, paperweights with a kit and more. IT is amazing what you can do and how much you can save. Annette
We do the same thing at home. At the end of Christmas when I am putting away the decorations, I put the cards I want to cut into gift tags in the same box as my decorations. The next year when we pull them out I set my daughter to work on them. She loves it and it keeps her busy on those oh so exciting days leading up to the holiday.
Another great idea!
Can I share that I actually have only ONE gift wrap stash? I always, always just use brown craft paper to wrap gifts. I collect ribbons in many colors as I find them on sale. Voila! Anyseason giftwrap.
I keep a file folder of all of our cards that we receive to reuse the images from them. I love free gift cards- you just can’t beat the price!
I’m so glad you all like this idea. As Jim said-the cards are so lovely you hate to just throw them out, so this is a nice way to utilize them, and get a small crafty kick at the same time!
Great idea, Jenn. I never want to throw these guys out, and now I have an actual use for them.
I do that will my hoilday cards too, although I punch a little hole in one corner and then string them on ribbon/thread, etc. I write the to/from on the back.
Gotta love recycling!