Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The Craft Corner ... Circles!

A few years ago I decided to do something creative with all the old Christmas cards I had in a box.  I had been saving them for years.  These were the regular old cards, not photo cards.  I put all the photo cards in a scrapbook.  It's great to go back and see how every one's kids have grown over the years.

But all those old regular cards ... here's what I did ...
I got out my trusty Creative Memories circle cutter ...

... and I made garland out of the cards!
I chose the best spot on the card to cut out a circle.
I think I even used a circle punch on some of the smaller ones.

Then I dug some gold thread out of my sewing box.  You know, the gold thread that cost something like $11 a spool, but I absolutely had to have it in order to sew the detailed top-stitching on my oldest daughter's maiden costume when she was younger, because I decided it would be so cute to dress my kids as characters right out of history since we were studying the renaissance period?  Yeah, that thread.  Good thing I saved it huh?  But you could use any color thread, embroidery floss, yarn, or even fishing line.

Anyhow, I sandwiched the thread between 2 circles of the same size, and used double-sided tape to hold the thread in place and stick the 2 circles together.  So you can look at the garland from both sides!

I have 3 garlands put together and enough circles cut out to make a couple more.  Next Christmas season I should have enough to hang them in 5 different areas.
Here it is hanging between the kitchen and family room.  That's my son, supposedly doing his math, sitting at the table.  I can see that my dishwasher drawers are sticking out.  I never run the dry cycle on my dishwasher.  I just open the thing up when it's still hot and let them air-dry.  Am I the only that does that?  All I know is that I constantly run into it when it's open and I have perpetual bruises on my shins.

So there ya go ... something crafty that will make you smile every time you look at it!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are so incredibly crafty. I don't have a circle cutter, though. I'm too cheap.

Robynn's Ravings said...

That is just the cutest, most clever decoration. It looks darling and festive. I love it. I, however, do not have a creative bone in my body so I chuck my old Christmas cards. I love it that you thought of something so pretty!

Anonymous said...

Very cute. I hope you saved it for next year!

Tara said...

Linda! what a great idea...i have BOXES of cards...hum...i think i know what to do now! ♥

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

Very cool. Can I send you my cards?

And I do that with the dishwasher too. I used to work for a family who ran their dishwasher while they were gone for the day. Well...it got stuck on dry...and all the plastic in it melted. They are lucky that a fire did not start. And ever since...I have been leary. Scarred for life :-)

Lula! said...

You are brilliant. Seriously, you could make a bunch of these and sell 'em for a fine profit.

Sondre Lyn said...

That is really cute! It looks very retro, like something you would see in a magazine. Very nicely done!

Leila said...

Great idea with the garland! Just lovely.

Christmas cards are a wonderful resource. You are very good to make a scrapbook with the pictures people send you. I throw those away and feel soooo guilty. I can hardly keep up with pictures of my own kids. Too late to do anything about it now :(

Barb said...

What a great idea!!

Robynn's Ravings said...

Hey Linda, There's a little something for you over at my place. Come see...! :)