Monday, January 4, 2010

Waste Not, Want Not, and All Those Cards

I love getting Christmas cards. It’s the time of year when we hear from family and friends, distant and near. We catch up on all of the family goss with the Christmas letters. We line the mantel with cards in a colourful row of good cheer.

And then, the inevitable happens. Christmas is over, the tree is taken down, the stockings are stowed, and there are all of those beautiful cards. What to do? I am basically a pack rat but there is probably a limit to how much can be stored away. In fact, I don’t think I need to save the card from the insurance agent, beautiful though the card is. But I really do hate to throw them away.

So I took the front of some of my favourite cards and made them into little pillow boxes. They turned out a perfect size for earrings, pendants, and small stocking stuffers. Yes, there is one in every crowd who starts prep for Christmas in January. Usually, that is not me. So I’m feeling quite virtuous now with my creative re-use & advance Christmas prep. These little boxes are folded flat and put away where I can find them next year. In the closet with all of those Christmas bags that I saved and the little bits of wrapping paper that were still good. Once a string saver, always a string saver. And if you’d like to feel virtuous too, you can find instructions and a handy template here.



18 comments:

SueBeads said...

What a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!! I already threw mine away, but I guess I'll keep the idea in my head for next year!

Barbara Lewis said...

You are a genius! The ultimate ... and extremely useful ... recycling idea!

peacockfairy said...

Awesome idea! I am going to make some!

Mellisa said...

Love it LeAnn, thanks for the link!

Judy said...

That is a wonderful idea LeAnn, clever girl!

The Joy of Nesting said...

You Are Good!!!! I bet you had a parent or 2 that did the same thing (break out in hives to throw anything away)!! I'm not sure cuz I've never seen a research article but I truly belive there is not only a genetic link to the inability to throw "good stuff" away but the onset of Memopause seems to trigger this behavior ;) Oh and yes I am the pot calling the kettle black!!!!!! :) Got any good ideas for plastic thread spools??? :)

Pattie ;)
Mazatlan Mx.

sharon said...

Oh, how pretty! I'll add it to my evergrowing list of things to do for next year! You are already one step ahead!

Marie Cramp said...

I am the same way, I feel that everything Might have a purpose down the road, and I hate to waste. lol. Love what you did with the cards.

Marie

stregata said...

What a fantastic idea and the boxes look fabulous! Thanks for sharing - must put this on my list!!!

Cindy said...

What a WONDERFUL idea!! I am so impressed!!! And impressed that you already made them and put them away for safe keeping. You'll be one step ahead of the game when December rolls around. Thanks for the link for the template.
Cindy

Lucid Moon Studio said...

That's a very clever idea! I have been hanging on to years of Christmas cards with the hopes that I would find something crafty to use them for, and this is it! I haven't put the storage containers of holiday stuff away yet, so I will take your cue and get busy making boxes. Thanks for sharing!!

Lisa

Esther said...

hi leAnn!! thanks for sharing this extra idea!!

sasha + max studio said...

Great idea LeAnn and nice results - thank you for the template link too - will save it up for a crafty afternoon.

Sharon said...

Love your idea! Good thing I've saved several years worth of cards!

Silver Parrot said...

Good for you! What a great idea!

Unknown said...

your pillow boxes look great! What a great idea for spent cards. I'll have to remember this for next time.

Mari said...

thank you for the excellent idea!!!

Leslie @ Bei Mondi said...

They are so cute! What a fun idea.