Recycle Holiday Cards

Every holiday season, families all over the country and all over the world have a plague that fills their home - tons of Christmas cards! But before you get ready to toss out that huge box full of cards you've accumulated, there are many creative ways to use those cards and have fun with your kids! Make cinnamon stick ornaments for your tree! Wrap a small bundle of cinnamon sticks together with a ribbon tied in a bow (leave a loop for hanging). Using a tiny bit of glue, attach a shape cut from a Christmas card with pinking shears to the center of the bow to accessorize. These are simple to make, look pretty, and make your home smell incredible! Are your kids into puzzles? Make a Christmas jigsaw! Get together ten to twenty cards and cut each one into three or four pieces in straight lines. Shuffle them and lay them out on a flat service such as a dining table on the floor - then put them back together again. If you're extremely crafty, cutting the cards into actual jigsaw puzzle piece shapes can make for a bit more challenging experience. Store your card-puzzles in a shoebox for next time. This is a great family activity, perfect for the beginning of the season as it helps to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Make scented sachets which make beautiful gifts or add fragrance to your own home. Simple glue the bottom and side edges of the card together, then slip a small amount of potpourri (or cotton balls dropped into a small bit of Christmas essential oil) into the space. Use a hole punch to make two holes on the top edge, through which you can thread a pretty ribbon before tying a bow. If you leave a loop in the ribbon, the sachets can be hung on a door handle, coat hook, hanger, or a radiator. The heat will help release the scent, but it won't last near as long. Sachets in Christmas scent help to create a warm and welcoming holiday atmosphere. For a fun game, cut playing-card shapes out of the cards. You can stick a piece of plain card over any writing if necessary, and use the cards to make a Christmas game or quiz for your kids. If you want to protect them and use them year after year, laminate them. Laminating machines, thanks to the return of scrapbooking trends, are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. For a cute decorating idea that your kids can do, cut out shapes in the cards in matching pairs. Stick the cards back to back and laminate them. Punch a hole in them at the top of each image and use them to make a colorful mobile or string to decorate with. You can add to this every year and make it a family tradition. As a variation, you could back each shape with a plain colored piece of card and write on it the date and name of the card's sender. Gift tags, though a traditional activity with holiday cards, never fails to amuse the children. Using pinking shears, a hole punch, and holiday ribbon, you simply use your Christmas cards to make gift tags for next year's gifts. Simple and easy. In the same instance, you can make gift bags by saving pretty paper bags, or buying colored paper bags. Cut a nice shape out of each card and stick it to the front of the bag Sometimes, just one Christmas card will yield many different bag decorations! Add a ribbon bow above the card graphic and wrap your present in tissue paper before putting it into the bag. This looks particularly lovely with brown paper bags and tartan plaid ribbons. Looking for a great new holiday screensaver? Scan your favorite cards into the computer, as well as some of your favorite messages from inside the cards as well. Make them into a screensaver or wallpaper with a photo program. It's a great memento, and truly touches the card sender should they come to visit and find their card or message appearing on your computer screen. Little children still love lacing cards! On cards with large central images, cut out the picture and punch holes around the edges with a hole punch. Add a shoelace or brightly colored yarn with tape wrapped tightly around the ends, and you have a cheap and cheerful holiday lacing card for young ones to play with. Like with other activities, you can laminate them to make them last longer. Finally, if you just have way too many cards and are looking for something to do, make confetti! Use a plain hole punch and a holiday-themed punch (which can be found at any scrapbook store) and choose the most colorful areas from each card to punch. This also works with leftover wrapping paper. With all these fabulous holiday activities, you can keep your children (and yourself) busy for hours, and filled with the holiday spirit!