Ask Holly: Holiday Card Wreath

LOVE: Getting loads of cute holiday cards and pictures
HATE: Throwing them away
SOLUTION: Make a holiday card wreath!

The best part of this project is you can hang these wreaths up all winter. Then hang them up again next year. Make one with all pictures or group cards for a winter theme in January or a Christmas theme for next year. Add more pictures every year or start  new one:

Here is what you will need to make a Holiday Card Wreath:

• Scissors
• White glue or hot glue
• Poster board or foam core
• Holiday cards
• Card stock or colored paper
• A piece of ribbon for hanging
• Round objects to trace in different sizes such as drinking glasses and or a circle template (optional)

Step One: Trace and cut out the larger circles from colored paper for your background. Trace circles onto cards with pencil and cut out. I love using a circle template for all kinds of projects. It is a great tool for kids and parents in general

Step Two: Layout your circle in a wreath pattern to determine how big your wreath will be. Cut out your form by tracing two large bowls (one smaller than the other) to the size you need. Cut out with scissors or an  X-acto knife.

Step Three: Lay out the circles colored paper circles over the wreath form and glue down.

Step Four: Starting with the largest circles first, place them around the wreath and glue them down. Move onto the medium circles—place around and glue down.  To give your wreath some depth, put 2-3 thick dots of hot glue on the back of the smaller circles and let them dry. Now glue in place. To do this with white glue roll a small piece of left over card and cut it in to 1/8″-1/4″ bits. Glue them on the back of the circles.

Step Five: I had so many pictures I decided to add more colored circles to the back of the wreath to add depth and make the photos pop. Finish by gluing a piece of ribbon on the back to hang.

*TIP Cut out the year (2012) from one of your cards and or anything that you think was a nice message to add to the wreath. My friend Polly had her son make a “L” with his little hand on her card. The card read “L is for Love.” I cut that out and put it next to his picture. My niece was giving Santa the “Whatchu talking about Willis” look in her photo so I made sure to cut both her and Santa out to recreate the look on the wreath.

You can also add glue around the edges and sprinkle with glitter.

Crafting questions? Just Ask Holly in comments.

As you try to stay warm this cold January, sit and cut out cards and pictures for a wreath or gift tags and decorations—my other favorite thing to make with old cards.