It’s officially the most wonderful time of year and part of the fun is sending and receiving holiday cards! I love this idea from Amy of Maker Mama to use old holiday cards to make easy DIY ornaments for your tree. These adorable ornaments can be made with any kind of patterned paper, but Amy actually used vintage Christmas cards she found at a thrift store. If you are looking for more ideas to up cycle Christmas cards, be sure to check out 11 creative uses for old Christmas cards. I also love the idea of using old holiday cards to make gift tags!
I found the cutest set of vintage Christmas cards years ago, but they’ve been hidden away because I didn’t want to use them up! I’ve done this with more thrift store finds than I’d like to admit, but pretty vintage items are so hard to resist. Inspired by some other paper ball ornaments I made a couple years back, I decided to make a more modern version–and still keep those gorgeous cards to myself!
How to Make Easy DIY Ornaments
The main tool you need is a circle punch
Fold all the circles in half and then glue the back pieces together alternating the white and colored circles (I think they kind of look like peppermints that way, don’t you?).
Make sure and add your string before gluing the final pieces and then tie off and trim the bottom.
How easy was that? These are a simple way to add a handmade touch to your Christmas decor–and perfect for an ornament-making party!
If you loved this holiday craft, Amy has tons more Christmas themed thrift store crafts you don’t want to miss like how to turn holiday cookie tins into a beautiful garland and this DIY citrus garland that is sure to make your house smell amazing.
What a fun way to reuse pretty papers!! Great idea.
I love it. I think I might save all the Christmas cards I receive and do this next year with them.
Pinning to my “Seasons: Winter” Pinterest board.
Cheers,
Stephanie
Finally, thank God, an ornament with instructions I can follow. Yippee!
Haha! You can do it!
I loved this tutorial! I’ve linked back to you on my ‘festive inspiration’ post 🙂 http://doingittheopenway.wordpress.com/2013/12/15/festive-inspiration/
What a great way to reuse Christmas cards and left over scrapbook paper! It was super easy to do, thanks for sharing your idea!
That’s really cute and fun 🙂 Makes me excited to decorate the tree, despite the fact of Winter fast approaching!
Hi Jamie, your ornament is so pretty. I would love if you would link your project up at our Creative Challenge Link Party. Best wishes, Darlene
These are so adorable. Love being able to reuse materials. Pining.
Thanks for sharing at Turn It Up Tuesday,
Bev
This seems so easy! I will do it with my daughters, I’m sure they will enjoy it a lot!
Thanks for sharing it at Two Uses Tuesday
I saw this project on i Heart Nap Time’s link party and I have to say they are just beautiful! I love how you used vintage cards with bright colors! Beautiful 🙂
I always love ways to use Christmas cards. This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty
I love this idea! Very classy reuse~Thanks for sharing on Throwback Thursday!
These are so cute, and I love how simple they are! I want to use some old cards of mine to make these. Stopping by from SItS, thanks for sharing!
Some very light glitter would kick the ornaments up another notch. These are really pretty anyway. So cute.
Thanks for the inspiration. i tried these a few years ago and it did not work out so using your tips I will give them another go.
I got a new idea to work on Sunday. Thanks a lot, Jamie! Hope, I will make awesome ornaments that you had done.
Great tutorial! These Holidays cards look so amazing. I love your creativity. Thanks for sharing with us.