recycled...

Do you still have your Christmas cards from last year?  or the year before?  or the year before that?   I have stacks of old cards.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who just can't seem to part with them.  I always save the cute family pictures we get of friends and family, and I try to incorporate those in a holiday layout or something...but sometimes the cards are just too big or bulky or there are just too many to include every single card in our albums.  SO...here's an idea to use/re-use those cute cards you've been hanging on to.

Here's a stack of cards - this cute Santa one looks fun...and here's a quick picture of the back of it too.

Next, I went through my assortment of blank gift bags - just waiting to be decorated and used.  I found one just the right size.

After I cut the front off the card, I stitched around the edges with my sewing machine.  I also cut a scalloped edge from a piece of scrap paper (this is my favorite border punch).

 

See the cute little tag?  Recognize the tree?  It's from the BACK of the card!  I used some foam squares to give it a little bit of dimension.

I added some buttons with thread on top of the cute tree ornaments, and on Santa's hat.

I thought this little Santa bag turned out cute - and it's super unique - there's not another one like it anywhere!

So...do you have any fun ideas for recycling your holiday cards?