Don't throw your
Christmas cards away! Here is our compilation of creative ways to use your
Christmas cards - and we are sure that you will find something that will
appeal!
Make
little Christmas boxes for next year. You will find the instructions
here
(but beware, this is addictive!). These work particularly well as
little gift boxes on a Christmas table, with a tiny present for each
guest tucked inside.
Make a card stacking game which everyone - adults
too - will enjoy! Use our template
to cut down your Christmas cards into a set all the same size, and
very carefully cut the slits as marked. Stack them in a box or tie
with a ribbon. You can use these cards to build all sorts of
"structures" - castles, sky-scrapers, whatever takes the
kids' fancy! Save the template with the cards and you can add to your
stacking game every year.
Cut
shapes out of the cards in matching pairs. Hearts work nicely, as do
simple Christmas tree shapes and even plain squares and circles. You
may find some inspiration on our template
pages. Stick the cards back to back and laminate them, then punch
a hole in them and use to make a colourful and child-friendly mobile
or “string” to decorate next year. You could add to this every
year. As a variation, you could back each shape with a plain-coloured
piece of card or construction paper and write on it the date and name
of the person who sent the card.
Cut playing-card
shapes out of the cards, stick a piece of plain card over any writing
if necessary, and use to make a game for your children to play next
year. Laminate to protect. Look for inspiration on our
learning
games pages.
A traditional
activity, but one which never fails to amuse the kids, is making gift
tags for next year's presents. Use pinking sheers, a hole punch, and
leftover ribbon
Make gift bags for
next year by saving smart paper bags. Cut a nice shape out of each
card and stick it to the front of the bag (covering any shop labels if
necessary). Add a little ribbon bow just above the card and wrap your
present in tissue paper before putting it into the bag. This looks
lovely with brown paper bags and tartan ribbons.
Some
designs can be cut and folded into miniature Christmas cards for the
kids to give next year, or for decorating the dolls house.
Scan your
favourite cards into the computer – and some of your favourite
messages from inside the cards as well – and make them into a
Christmas wallpaper or screensaver with a photo program. Children love
this and it is a great memento if you do it each year.
Cut out the
pictures on the larger cards, punch holes around the edges with a hole
punch, add a shoelace or brightly coloured wool (with sticky tape
wrapped around the ends) and you have a cheerful and cheap lacing card
for little ones. If they are particularly popular you could laminate
them to make them last longer.
Make some
Christmas confetti to use next year. Use either a plain hole punch or
a special Christmas one (both together look great) and choose the most
colourful areas from each card to cut. Gold and silver looks very
effective, especially mixed in with red and green. Small scraps of
left-over wrapping paper can be used too. You can keep the children
busy with this for hours!
