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mailto:joyce@emersonpublications.com
Recycling Christmas Cards
by: Joyce Moseley Pierce
A few years ago a dear friend of ours mailed us a beautiful Christmas card
with Mary and Jesus on the front. It's probably taken from an original
painting because the artistry and colors are absolutely gorgeous. It was
much too pretty to pack away at the end of the season, so I put it in a pretty
brass frame and placed it on my piano. It has remained there throughout
the year, and when I look at it, I am reminded of this season where the
Christian world celebrates the birth of Christ, and also remember my good
friend who sent the card. I know she spent a lot of time picking out just the
right card to express her feelings about the season, so that card represents a
piece of
her heart. Each time I look at it, it gives me a warm feeling inside.
At the end of the season I usually take all of the Christmas cards we've
received and pack them away with the ornaments and decorations. Then, the next
year when I open the tubs again, I find them there waiting for me. I read them
again and find that I enjoy reading the letters as if for the first time. It
also helps me remember who sent a card last year so I don't forget them this
year. Through the years I've found ways to either preserve the cards for myself,
or pass them on to someone else. Either way, the card is recycled and not
destroyed.
1. Frame them. If they touch your heart, put them in a nice frame. If they're
just something that helps set the mood for the holiday, a clear acrylic frame
will do the job. Most cards will fit in a standard 5 x 7" frame. You can then
pack it away for next year, or put a new card in front of it when the next
holiday comes along. I have done this not only with Christmas cards, but
Valentine
and Mother's Day cards. It helps keep the sentiment in front of me for more than
a few seconds!
2. Decorate frames. Cut the artwork out of the card and apply Mod Podge (TM) to
protect it. Follow
the directions on the bottle. Once the artwork is dry and ready to use, glue it
to an acrylic or plain wooden frame. Include a picture and give it to a friend.
3. Make a card. Cut the front and glue it to a piece of
cardstock to make your own card for someone else. Or, cut out shapes and
use them to make your very own original! Get creative and use cutouts from
several cards to make your own.
4. Posters. Take these cutouts and glue them to construction paper or poster
board. Grandparents
love homemade projects.
5. Gift tags. Either use the front of the card whole, punch a hole in it and tie
it to your package
with a ribbon, or cut out the trees, snowmen, santas and do the same. You can
also use this artwork to decorate packages you've wrapped in kraft paper.
There is no right or wrong way to do any of this. Make this a family night
project and let everyone get involved. You'll be making memories of your own as
you work together as a family.
Copyright 2002 Joyce Moseley Pierce
Joyce is a freelance writer and owner of
Emerson Publications. Her latest release is “24 Days of Christmas,” to help
families center on the birth of Christ during the holiday season. She is also
the creator of “All They’ll Need to Know,” a book that will be invaluable to
your loved ones when you can’t be there to guide them. Visit
www.emersonpublications.com for
lots of good family-friendly information.
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