Many people prefer to recycle
things rather than toss them into the landfill. Crafters find creative
ways to recycle objects such as bottles, cans, cereal boxes and tissue
paper. Crafters enjoy finding ways to recycle old greeting cards because
of their beauty and the durability of the card stock. Sort through your
old memory boxes and let’s get crafty.
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Puzzles
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Craft stores carry blanks for puzzles. The blanks come prescored so you can separate the pieces. You supply the picture for the puzzle. Old greeting cards create attractive tops for the puzzle. Cut the card to the size of your puzzle blank and glue it into place. Score the card with a thin knife, cutting from the bottom of the puzzle blank. Seal the card with a spray sealer if you want to preserve the beauty of the card. Alternatively, glue the back of a greeting card front to the back of another greeting card and create a two-sided puzzle. Use a sharp craft knife to create your own puzzle pieces or check high-end teacher supply stores to see if they have a press that will cut the puzzle lines for you. Cutting your own pieces allows you to choose the complexity of the puzzle.
Decoupage
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Recycled greeting cards work well for decoupage crafts. The sturdy paper adds texture and vibrant color to mugs, vases. boxes, handbags and Christmas balls Cut the cards into pieces and mix and match cards into an attractive pattern or use the intact card face on a large surface. Cover the back of the card with a layer of decoupage glue and place the card on the item you are decorating. Smooth out the bubbles with a craft stick and move to the next piece. Once the decoupage dries, add a second layer of decoupage glue to the surface of the craft.
Seasonal Serving Tray
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Start with a bamboo serving tray to make a festive holiday serving dish. Cut themes of cards for your tray. For example use all Christmas cards for a tray you will use at Christmas or birthday cards to make a tray to hold birthday presents. Cut the cards so you have both large and small pieces to mix and match. Place each piece in the tray individually and create a colorful blend all over the bottom of the tray. Once your design is set, pick each piece up individually and glue into place. After the glue dries, cover the tray with several layers of lacquer to give it a waterproof finish.
Fabric Transfers
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If you have a card you really love and want to wear, take the card to a print shop and have them reverse print the card in color on a laser copier. Iron the copy onto your shirt or dress using a warm iron. Carefully peel off the copy. You can paint over the card imprint with fabric paint or cover it with a fabric sealant. Wash it inside out to preserve the image.
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