Holiday

Recycle Christmas Cards Idea: Make an Adorable DIY Banner

January 5, 2015 by Bre 27 Comments

Looking for a way to recycle Christmas cards? Let me show you how to repurpose them into a decorative banner you can enjoy all winter long!

I received so many gorgeous Christmas cards this year! It was as if everyone I know decided to send out their best card ever. Seeing all of the beautiful holiday greetings displayed throughout my home helped make Christmas even more special!

Because of that, it was really hard to part with the holiday cards when putting away the Christmas decor (like my DIY Holiday Card Holder).

So I got to thinking . . . instead of throwing them out, why not extend the fun and recycle the holiday cards into something else? And that’s when I decided to upcycle my Christmas cards and turn them into a decorative banner to enjoy all winter long.

Need a way to recycle Christmas cards? Why not upcycle holiday cards into an adorable winter banner you can display all season long? This post shows you how to reuse those old holiday cards in a new way!

This was a totally mindless project that only took about 20 minutes to put together – perfect for when you’re watching those reruns at night!

Recycled Christmas Card Banner Supplies

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

All you need in the way of supplies are the following items:

Christmas cards or holiday cards (photo cards with printed backs worked best for me!)
Large shape punches in the shapes and sizes of your choice: I used a 3″ circle punch. (Note: you could use a Cricut machine to cut shapes, too!)
1/8″ hole punch
Bakers twine or thin string
Optional: extra cardstock if you want to substitute in some non-Christmas card pieces

How to Make an Upcycled Christmas Card Banner

First, spread out all of your holiday greeting cards and separate them into piles arranged by color scheme and/or style. Then, pick the colors that work with the overall look you’re going for.

Once you have selected your Christmas cards (and supplemental cardstock, if you’re using it), use your large hole punch to cut out lots of circles.

Next, use a small hole punch to put two holes in the top of each circle.

Next, thread bakers twine through the holes in the top of each circle to create your bunting or banner.

Hang it up and you’re all set! You may need to adjust the placement of some of the shapes on your banner or bunting, but that’s an easy fix.

This DIY banner made from old Christmas cards is such a great way to recycle holiday greetings! It adds a fun pop of color wherever you hang it, and helps brighten some of those gray winter days!

I must say that it’s also a nice way to ease some of the pain of putting away all of the Christmas decorations.

What do you do with the Christmas cards or holiday cards once the holidays are over? Tell me in the comments below!

A Clear Ornament Snowman

December 10, 2014 by Bre 22 Comments

Friends!

It’s that time again! Time for the Monthly DIY Challenge where some of my talented blogger friends and I take the same basic craft supply and turn it into something fabulous! This month we’ve chosen the ubiquitous clear ornament, which seems perfectly fitting for December, if you ask me!

Being perfectly honest, I found this challenge to be, well, quite challenging! Pinterest revealed that every single ornament idea I had was “so last year” (or the year before, or the year before that). Luckily, my mom and sister were more than generous with alternate suggestions, as we had a lot of time to think about this during a recent weekend stay at the hospital with my dad. One of the many ideas was to turn an ornament into a snowman.

And so . . . please let me introduce you to my new clear ornament snowman friend, Pierre. He’s channeling his inner Frenchman with his jaunty cap and fashionable scarf.

Easy DIY Holiday Card Holder

November 24, 2014 by Bre 20 Comments

This festive DIY holiday card display can be made in a snap and treasured for years to come!

One of the best times of the holiday season is when the holiday cards start arriving! Finding actual greetings – sprinkled amongst the typical bills and marketing postcards – brings excitement each time you open the mailbox!

And the best way to extend the fun of receiving Christmas cards is to actually display them. Don’t just put them in a basket, or even worse- toss them in the trash (pssst check out this Upcycled Christmas Card Garland project for an idea of what to do with those cards once the holidays are over).

Instead, let me show you how to make this easy DIY holiday card holder. You can display Christmas cards and holiday greeting cards, and enjoy the smiles of your friends and family all season long.

I mean really, how festive is this wreath holiday card holder?

DIY Christmas Card Holder Supplies

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

18″ wood wreath form (or 18″ chipboard wreath form, if you can find one)
Clothespins (I used 25)
Wired ribbon
Wood glue
Hot glue (and glue gun)
Gold glitter paint
Green acrylic paint
Paint brush (a foam brush works great)
Green craft felt (in two shades); red craft felt
Sharp fabric scissors

How to Make a DIY Holiday Card Holder Display

You’re going to love how easily this adorable Christmas card display goes together!

Step One: Paint the Wreath Base and Clothespins

First, paint the wreath form and clothespins green using regular acrylic paint.

Alternatively, you could use green spray paint for an even quicker project! (However, remember to spray paint outdoors or where there is a lot of ventilation. That could be tough at this time of year!)

Step Two: Create a Hanger for the Holiday Card Holder

Once the paint dries, tie a ribbon into a loop at the top of the wreath. This will allow you to hang the card holder anywhere you like: on a blank wall or empty wall, on a vintage window for an antique look, or even on the back of a door.

Then, make a bow out of the same ribbon and hot glue it to the front. This adds a decorative touch and helps hide the knot in your ribbon hanger.

Step Three: Glue Clothespins to the Wreath Base

Next, it’s time to attach the clothespins! Glue them around the wreath form with wood glue, alternating the opening ends on the inside and outside of the wreath form.

Step Four: Embellish the Card Holder with Felt Leaves and Berries

After the glue has dried, cut holly leaves and berries out of felt. These don’t have to be perfect – don’t stress about this! The key is to have sharp scissors.

Glue the felt leaves and berries to some of the clothespins, and add some gold glitter paint to some of them for some sparkle.

Not only is this a beautiful way of displaying Christmas cards and holiday greetings, but you’ll have the pleasure of knowing you made it yourself!

This easy way to hang Christmas cards will last for years to come, and will be the perfect way to display those cherished holiday greetings.

Now tell me in the comments below – how do you usually display your Christmas cards?

Funky Pilgrim Silhouette Vases for Thanksgiving

November 7, 2014 by Bre 16 Comments

Okay, you might think this project is weird. And that’s OK, because yeah, it’s kind of weird.

See, I know that Pilgrims are such an important part of Thanksgiving, but I find them kind of stodgy and boring. That’s why I decided to make these funky Pilgrim silhouette vases for Thanksgiving! My Pilgrim friends are now fashionable with a diamond necklace and a feathered cap! They’re ready to P-A-R-T-A-Y!
[Read more…] about Funky Pilgrim Silhouette Vases for Thanksgiving

DIY Light Up Halloween Porch Sign

October 8, 2014 by Bre 39 Comments

Hi, friends! I have such a fun post for you today! Remember back in August when some of my blogger friends and I teamed up for The Great Crate Challenge, and showed you how we each transformed a plan wooden crate from Michaels in totally different ways? Well, we’re at it again, but this time it’s with foam craft pumpkins as part of the Pick Your Pumpkin Challenge!

At the bottom of this post are links to everyone’s amazing projects, so make sure you check them out and find tons of inspiration on how to transform a plain craft pumpkin into something fantastic! Here’s a sneak peek!

For weeks I racked my brain, trying to come up with a new way to decorate a craft pumpkin, but unlike the other ladies who participated in this challenge, I just couldn’t think of something original. So I decided to keep mine plain, but to use it in a different way – on a sign! A LIGHT UP Halloween wood sign, to be exact! [Read more…] about DIY Light Up Halloween Porch Sign

Cozy Sweater Gift Jars: a Sweater Upcycle Idea

September 23, 2014 by Bre 14 Comments

Looking for a creative sweater upcycle or repurposing idea? Try making these cozy sweater gift jars! They’re perfect for fall!

I have never used a mason jar for anything in my life. Preserving, crafting, containing . . . nothing. Because mason jars are everywhere these days, I sort of feel like I should win some type of medal for that. Agree?

Being of German heritage (translation = I am stubborn), I declared that I would not break my mason-jar-free existence at any cost.

But, I am also a lawyer, so I easily found a loophole in this declaration, and am now able to present to you these cute and cozy sweater gift jars that do not use mason jars, per se, but instead, plain glass jars. (Is there a difference? Probably not. LOL!)

And, they’re an awesome way to repurpose or upcycle that ratty sweater from college. Win!

Gotta love loopholes (when they work to your advantage at least).

Anyway, these jars were really fun to make and I know they’ll be really fun to give, too. You only need a few simple supplies, which is a total bonus.

Sweater Jars Supplies Needed

Some of these are affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Note: when I published this post back in 2014, Mod Podge had a pre-tinted product that came in orange. It is no longer sold, but this tutorial has been updated to account for that!

Glass jars
Mod Podge in any finish
Orange acrylic paint
Old Sweater
Twine
Artificial Leaves
Mixing bowl and spoon

How to Make Upcycled Sweater Gift Jars

Start by mixing a small amount of orange acrylic paint with Mod Podge. Continue adding paint until you have a shade you like!

Next, pour a generous amount of Mod Podge into each jar. Then, swirl it around and coat the inside of each jar in its entirety.

Next, turn each jar upside down and let the excess Mod Podge drain from the jars. This took a long time – like hours.

(Remember: the Mod Podge shown in this photo is no longer sold, but this written tutorial has been updated to account for that!)

Once the excess product finishes draining, turn the jars over to let them begin drying out. The Mod Podge product will still be thick and opaque at this point.

If the Mod Podge isn’t drying as fast as you’d like, you can use a blow dryer to speed up the drying process. And, once the Mod Podge is dry, it will become translucent instead of opaque!

Here’s Another Great Sweater Upcycle Idea!

Sweater Embroidery Hoop Art

Next, grab an old sweater and cut parts of the sleeves off.

Then, put those sweater sleeves around the jars. The parts with the cuffs look best.

Finally, tie some twine around the sweater portion and add some artificial fall leaves to the twine.

Pop a little candy, coffee, or a gift card in there and you’ve got a cute little gift for someone special!

I’m handing my first one out tomorrow to thank a friend for helping me out with my daughter. I hope she loves it!