Tuesday 12 January 2016

Upcycling Christmas cards - yet again

As usual, I carefully went through our 'shop bought' Christmas cards when it was time to take them down and selected any that might be useful for a spot of upcycling. I thought pickings seemed a bit lean this year - or perhaps I'm looking more critically and only keeping cards where I truly can see potential? All the hand made ones we were sent are treasured and tucked in a safe place needless to say!

The current challenge over at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge is 'Red'. And this is what I came up with:
I used:

- 4" x 6" white card blank

- an upcycled off cut from a Christmas card (complete with the word NOEL), die cut using a die from the Lil' Inkers 'Stitched Rectangles' set and mounted onto a slightly larger snippets of SU's 'Lost Lagoon' card stock to pick out the colour of the birdie

- another snippet of SU's 'Lost Lagoon' card stock, trimmed just a smidgen smaller than the card front

- a snippet of white card, embossed using the Darice 'Snowflake Background' embossing folder and trimmed down

- at this point I could work out the spacings for the image and the ribbon so next I wrapped a snippet of brown ribbon, edged with turquoise, around the lower part of the embossed piece of white card then stuck that piece of card to the larger snippet of 'Lost Lagoon'

- stuck that whole panel onto the card front and popped the image panel on top

- tied a knot of ribbon around the ribbon strip and (as always) to keep it in place I just tucked a little piece of double sided red line tape behind the knot 

Really quick and easy card - but I do think the image could pass for being hand stamped and coloured :)

This is also for Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra for January, where it's always 'Anything Goes'. I love both of these challenges run by Hazel - a great way to steadily produce Christmas cards throughout the year rather than have a big rush in November time.

And there's also Rudolph Day each month over at ScrappyMo's plus Merry Monday every week - two more challenges I love to join in with.

Although I accept that some folk just can't face even thinking of making Christmas cards much before November, being well ahead certainly saved my bacon this past Christmas!

Di
x

27 comments:

  1. This upcycled card works a treat Di and love the blue card you have used and the snowflakes in the background are extremely pretty. It is my intention to keep making some Christmas cards throughout the year but sometimes I waiver a bit but will try to keep on track. x

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  2. What a great re-purposed card, and I just love how that two-toned ribbon matches the deer and bird so perfectly! Well done Di!

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  3. Beautiful image Di and lovely snowflake BG! The ribbon matched perfectly!
    And many Thanks for your generous giveaway, I have received it, its too beautiful:)))))

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  4. What a gorgeous store bought card & perfect for upcycling! I love this, Di!

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  5. This is such a cool up-cycling. Beautiful card Di.

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  6. Excellent idea Di - I do that too with mine and my friend just had a birthday so I've snagged those as well hahaha :-D
    Great little card - I love that sweet reindeer.
    I hope that your foot clears itself up really soon and behaves itself for you this year xx

    Hugz
    IKE xxx

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  7. Hi Di, it's gorgeous... I have one beautiful card sitting here a bauble with velcro dots and a honeycomb paper centre! Just not sure what to do... Megan

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  8. Great idea to upcycle Di, I still have all of mine in a pile so might need to follow suite.

    B x

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  9. What a lovely card Di....I upcycled some of mine to die cut tags...they look great. The embossed background is perfect. Hope your trotter is starting to trot xx

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  10. Great up cycling Di I must look through my pile of cards

    Anne

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  11. A lovely card Di. Like you, I found I have kept a lot less cards this year in my upcycling box, although there are some lovely ones in their for me to play with later in the year!
    Kath x

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  12. A great bit of recycling and such a good idea to keep ahead of the game with Christmas cards to save the December rush.

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  13. Hey great minds think alike Di - I too am upcycling my cards. Love what you have done here. Annie xxx

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  14. I can see why you saved this image, it's so cute. I looked through ours but they were mainly uninspiring. It's sometimes hard to get christmassy in March but so worth it as the stash of cards builds.

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  15. Great recycling Di with lovely colour co-ordination by you. I think that topper could be mistaken for hand crafted . I still have my bad of shop bought cards to sort through as I do the same each year. As I make about 120 it gives me a good quick start in the new year. Barbxx

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  16. I forgot to say that's a great tip - glue dot behind the knot. I've never thought of doing that. Barb xx

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  17. I always upcycled the bought Christmas cards too Di! Like you too, I have got a lot more discerning and only upcycled two this year (my hand made ones are always kept too - I jot the year down on the back of each one and then keep each year together tied with a ribbon). Nice to see I am not alone in this! Perhaps I should post mine on my blog too? Have a lovely day! Hazel xx
    My Card Attic

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  18. Hello Di
    Ow ere I do love your fabulous up-cycled Christmas card - especially love how you have co-ordinated the colour of the card stock with the birdie!!
    Eve xx

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  19. Oooo what a fabby bit of upcycling - gee i should have saved my Xmas cards, instead of putting them in the recycling bin - Muppet springs to mind !!, luv Sam x

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  20. Yep I thought it was a stamp when I saw it on my dashboard, great job of up-cycling and I have actually done a few this year myself, a couple from CC's but some from gift cards too.
    ow do you get the thingy for how many Christmas cards you have made so far?

    Kath xx

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  21. Very well done with this upcycling, Di!!Love so much the deer, so cute!!! And the red & white is so classy and festive!

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  22. I love upcycling! I save all my Christmas cards for this purpose! Beautiful card and I'm glad it's seeing new life!

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  23. Brilliant upcycling card. Yesterday I went through all our Christmas cards, (plus those we received Christmas 2014, which were still in a drawer!) sorted out those I could upcycle and die cut them all ready to use as toppers. Handcrafted ones were carefully put away. xx

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  24. This is a lovely card Di, and a great idea to up cycle, not one I've really thought about before, so might just have to give it a try.
    Janice x

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  25. I kept several store bought card fronts like last year (or maybe the one before) made a couple of cards and then tossed the rest. I didn't even think of it this year. I feel too guilty using them when I have SO MUCH Christmas stash of my own. Maybe someday when I use up most of my stash... you know in 153 years from now. Cute card and thanks for reminding me of Rudolph Days! I am so getting a head start on Christmas cards this year.

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  26. Great Christmas card. Thanks for joining us at Crafty HazelNuts this month.
    Hugs
    Fiona DT x
    Hope you are well! I do sneak in and view your blog when time allows. I do enjoy seeing your makes xxxxx

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