Every year, I make Christmas ornaments for our five nieces. I love making them, and the girls tell me they love putting their own ornaments on the tree. Some years I’m stumped for ideas, but last week I came up with an idea that I really like, and I’ve made three ornaments so far. Here’s a picture of the first two:
In my craft stash, I had kept a pile of old Christmas cards (this goes against my new clutter-free lifestyle, but my craft corner is exempt). To make these ornaments, I cut squares and rectangles out of the cards, used a needle to punch small holes all around the edges, and then stitched them together with embroidery floss. Each one took me about an hour to make, and they are a thoroughly enjoyable project.
Overall, we’re planning to skip Christmas this year. Our son is only 18 months old, and gets just as much pleasure out of a drawer full of wooden spoons as he would from a tree piled with presents. So we plan to skip the tree and all the craziness this year. But the ornaments for my nieces is a tradition that I enjoy, it’s stress-free, fun, and in this case, turns old Christmas cards into something new and pretty.
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That is so neat!! I’ll have to try that if I can find some cards.
Great idea. That would also look cool with playing cards from an incomplete deck
I might have to steal that idea! I have tons of old cards saved. I had originally seen the idea to turn them into cute bookmarks. I have also recycled them into cards. But this sounds like a great idea for a gift to send to my and my husband’s grandmas!
What a great idea! And good for you for skipping Christmas… that’s something I would love to do but I’m not sure I’m brave enough.
At the very least we’re going to have a very scaled-down one. I read this online somewhere and thought it was great. Each person gets 4 gifts: Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read. Nice and simple. 
Alissa
Thanks for the reminder Alissa! I couldn’t remember how it went…couldn’t remember the wear part! I think this is perfect and how I am going to shop for my daughter and any future kids…and probably my husband too!
Those look fabulous!
love those ornaments–might have to try a few…………
[...] And finally the Frugal Babe shows us how to make Homemade Ornaments from Recycled Cards, and what a great picture, these really look [...]
i do have to say, this year we ARE skipping our traditional Christmas just due to our circumstances.
i so love your idea. i must use this idea to get rid of my hording tendencies!
These are absolutely adorable. What a great way to recycle Christmas cards.
[...] the season ends, so who not do something creative with them like making ornaments for your tree? The Frugal Babe blog has a great idea of how to just use some cards, embroidery floss and a needle to make these nifty [...]
Very cool! It definitely should be tradition make our holidays a sustainable one. Your effort is very much in line with Kokua Hawaii Foundation and Kanu Hawaii’s campaign to Simplify the Holidays. It is said we produce 25% more trash during the holidays than any other time of the year. http://bit.ly/STHkanu09
Cute idea—a more lasting way to decorate with Christmas cards than just stringing them up on a line with clothespins, which is what I usually do. This year I cut up old saved cards to use for gift tags. More ideas for reusing, recycling X-mas cards and other items for gifts and decorations here: http://trueadventuresinmoneyhacking.blogspot.com/2009/12/give-homemade-wrap-homemade-how-to.html
How adorable! I found another way to recycle Christmas cards – Shimmering Christmas Card Ornaments – http://judyransom.com