by Kyla

Created on: December 10, 2008

I love Christmas cards. They're always so pretty, and nearly all of them have a picture on the front that has a snowman, or a Christmas tree, or even Santa Claus. Some have glitter, some don't, some are absolutely gorgeous, some...well, I could do without them. One of my biggest problems is keeping those cards nice- lots of times, they get messed up after just a year. They get dirty, or torn, or crumpled up. They also get a lot of tape on them from the many times I've hung them up on the wall.

I've wondered a long time about how to get around those problems. How do I keep those absolutely gorgeous cards, without getting them all messed up? I've collected a few crafts that you can do with those old Christmas cards. Most take relatively little time, and are easy- you can even get kids to help!

1. Get a scrapbook or a large notebook- one with thick pages is best. Take your favorite Christmas cards from each year, cut out the picture or saying, and/or glue it into the book. On the top of each page, write the year in glitter and/or fancy writing. This will keep track of the years for you. (As an added plus, you can add other stuff, such as changes in your family size, or your residence in between the cards.)

2. Make tree decorations out of the cards. Get several sheets of posterboard, cut out the pictures on the Christmas cards, and paste them to same-shaped pieces of posterboard. Punch a hole in the top, thread some yarn through, and ta-da! Beautiful tree decorations! (If the cards are thick, you can just use the cards.)

3. Re-use them on new Christmas cards! Get postcard-sized index cards, cut out the pictures on the cards, and glue them to the front of the index cards. Draw a line down the middle of the other side, put your address on one side, message on the other, and you now have a new Christmas card!

4. Make a Christmas garland. Cut out the pictures, punch holes in the tops, and thread them over a long length of yarn. You can tie knots on either side, front and back, of the cards to keep them in place. Tack the yarn up, or loop it around your Christmas tree. This makes a beautiful garland!

5. Make a 'Christmas Collage' out of them. Get a piece of posterboard, cut it into any shape you like, and paste the pictures on them. You can make this into a cross, a wreath, or virtually any other shape you want.

6. In the end, you could just buy card holders and display them every year. They sell these in many stores, in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Whatever you choose, or even if you do several of these, those Christmas cards are still beautiful!

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