Recycled Christmas Card Bunting – How to

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without holiday cards. I’ve always loved to get mail, and at the holidays, I find the beauty of Christmas cards from around the world make me smile in their color, sparkle, design, and different languages. Some are elegant, others sparkly, some are celebrating winter and snowflakes, while others show off all the traditions of the holidays. Every year, I carefully pick out or make my cards and try to get them out the first week of December. And then.. the waiting begins. I practically stand at the door every day (hurry up postman!) waiting for the colorful envelopes. After all, no other time of year does the mail from my friends and family come in droves – out weighing the bills. (Who likes bills?!?).

Once they arrive, I carefully open each one, basking in the joy of the card (it’s like a little gift in each one) and then put it on the mantle or tape it up to the walls in a lovely display. When Christmas is over, I save each card – and try to find unique creative things to do with them later. It’s a great way to Upcycle, be eco-friendly, and keep memories intact from year to year.

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This year, I didn’t have much money for decorating my flat. I’d spent most of my savings on medical bills, and that meant that not only was I trying to do handmade items for Christmas (I had time – not money) for everyone, I had to find a unique way to decorate. This is what I came up with. A simple re-purposed series of Christmas cards that were a bit folksy, eco-friendly, and totally made me smile every time I saw them hanging across my mantle.

Here’s how I did it, so you can make your own Recycled Christmas Card Bunting.

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    Materials:

  • Old Christmas Cards
  • Round template – I used the top off of a Pringles Can
  • Oval Template – I used an old Scrapbooking shape
  • Scissors
  • Craft glue
  • Hole punch
  • Ribbon or String

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      Steps:

    Step 1: Take your circle or template and move it around on the card until you find a place you’re happy with. Depending on the card, you may be able to get two circles or ovals per card.

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    Step 2: Trace around the template and then cut out the shape. Repeat for each of your cards. Try to get an even number of similar theme or similar looking cards. Don’t forget that you may be able to use the inside wording from the card or back of the card may have pictures too!

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    Step 3: For double sided cards, match similar cards together – eg. The two snowmen on the far left came from the same card and look nice front / back. Add glue to the reverse of one of the rounds, taking note of which way is “up”.

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    Step 4: Attach the round to the other selection, again, being careful that they are both in the correct direction when looked at on the front and back.

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    Step 5: Squeeze out excess glue, wipe it off, and then weight the round with a book for a while until the glue sets. Wait for the glue to dry.

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    Step 6: Once the glue is dry, punch 2 holes in the top of each card.

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    Step 7: Thread the ribbon through the card, making a center and trying to balance the size / shape / color on each side of the bunting.

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    Step 8: Hang up across your mantle, on your wall, or anywhere else where you want the display.


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    A few other things you can do with the same technique – just punch fewer holes –

    Christmas Ornaments
    Mobiles to hang from ceiling
    Why not make a Rectangle from a card – and hang several different size rounds down from it like raindrops from a cloud
    Add some mod-podge and make necklaces
    Attach some flower wire and make centerpieces for the table

    What else can you think of? Share your ideas and how this turned out for you – I’d love to see it!

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  • Recycled Jar Lantern Crochet

    Romantic Recycled jar lanterns. Add a citronella candle and hang from trees, summer umbrellas, or place on a table for a simple elegant barbeque or wedding centerpiece. Check my etsy store! https://www.etsy.com/shop/PhoenixRoseDesign   #PhoenixRoseDesign

    Welcome to Summer! Recently, I saw a great picture of a bunch of lanterns hanging in the trees around the back garden, with intricate Moroccan style beadwork and crochet. I decided to emulate this with my own patterns and designs – using recycled jars of all shapes and sizes.

    Jar lanterns

    Starting with cotton crochet thread that had tiny little silver sparkles in it, I made my first jar. I think it turned out adorable – especially after adding the wire loop to hang it from the tree.

    Jar lanterns

    Once I hung it, I realized that the patterns I made in crochet were cast on the wall almost in a kaleidoscope type pattern. It’s pure awesomeness, and I had to make some for my etsy store!

    Not only are they good for the environment, they are great for sprucing up your backyard barbecue parties, weddings, and even for adding an awesome touch to your glamping! Add a citronella candle and hang from trees, summer umbrellas, or place on a table for a simple elegant barbecue or wedding centrepiece which will be talked about for years.

    Recycled jars crochet lanterns

    These come in 3 sizes – with the jar included.

    If you don’t wish for the jar included, I can sell the crochet cover separately -just message me.

    Small – about 4 inches in height

    Medium – about 6 inches in height

    Large – about 7-8 inches in height

    Recycled jars crochet lanterns

    For more pictures of what I have available, or if you’d like to buy some for yourself, check my etsy store at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PhoenixRoseDesign

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    Reddit Christmas Card exchange

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    For Christmas 2013, I signed up for the Reddit Christmas Card exchange. Often with the Reddit gift exchanges, folks don’t just exchange cards, they trade out little things in the cards that work as lovely surprises for their recipients. The person who sent me my card sent me a $15 itunes gift certificate and a lovely of Peanuts stickers. I was excited to receive them both.

    In return, I sent my cards (I opted for two rematches for those that didn’t get their cards) out with crochet ornaments made from recycled old Christmas cards and some metallic thread crochet around the border. I had done crochet ornaments to go in my cards (see other posts) but these were a new design (see how to in another post) that I created specifically to be holiday ornaments. Different on each side, they went over well and hopefully will decorate their trees for many years to come.

    Photos from the happy recipients below:

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    Front of ornament

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    reverse of ornament

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    If you like these, and would like to buy a couple for yourself, I do have a few posted in my etsy store for sale. For a small sample, check out the mini gallery below:

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