Magical Re-make

Good morning,

Card companies pay designers to create beautiful cards using amazing imagery and colors. It heartbreaking to see these cards tossed in the trash so I like to try and re-use them to create new cards or gift tags. I hope this post inspires you to re-think ways to recycle and reuse those beautiful cards you receive, regardless of season!

I am still going through a box of old Christmas cards I received from the last several Christmas’s. I will apologize in advance; I had planned to take pictures of the card before I start dismantling it but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I really need to get better at that!

Anyway …

I loved this Christmas card from the moment I saw it. It was so festive and magical looking with the achromatic and foggy background and those pops of foiled red and green!

When trying to decide if I wanted to make into Christmas tags or a card, I remembered a set of stamps I had from Echo Park that would be perfect so a card it became.

Since the card was bigger than an A2 but small that a 5 x 7 I decided to trim up and bit then cut into strips. The sentiment was then stamped onto vellum and laid over the top so you can still see the colors underneath which I think is a perfect complement to that foggy looking backdrop of the trees.

 

Supplies

• Christmas card
• Ink from Tsukineko (VersaClaire Fine)
• Rhinestones from my Stash
• Sentiment stamp from Echo Park (Christmas Sentiments)
• Vellum from Stampin Up!

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Season's Greetings ...

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! ~Hamilton Wright Mabie, "Christmas Eve," 1885

Good morning!
Today I am sharing a card I made recycling an old Christmas card.

Supplies (5 x 7 card)

• Cardstock from The Paper Studio
• Die from Spellbinder (Romantic Rectangles)
• Embossing folder from Cuttlebug (Holly Ribbon)
• Gold & Red metallic cardstock from my scrap drawer
• Sketch, Verve VLVNov2017

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Winter Wonderland ...

Of winter's lifeless world each tree

Now seems a perfect part;

Yet each one holds summer's secret

Deep down within its heart.

~Charles G. Stater

Good morning, today I am sharing another card I made recycling an older Christmas card. This image just makes me cold looking at it! LOL

Supplies: 5 x 7

Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!

Glimmer paper from my stash

Ink from Stampin Up!

Sentiment from Close to my Heart (Joyful Garden)

Sequins from Unity Stamps

Silver strip from my stash

Stampin Up! Tag punch

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Oh Christmas Tree ...

Oh, the Christmas tree's my favorite

Of all the trees that grow.

~Laura F. Armitage, "My Favorite Tree," 1906

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

I happened to have two identical cards that had a big Christmas tree on the front. So I used a die to cut a bunch of little Christmas trees out and used one of Crafty Al's wonderful Sheetlaod of cards layouts resulting in 6 lovely Christmas cards to add to my stash.

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio and scrap bin
Die from Gina Marie Designs (Stitched Circles)
Embossing folder from Stampin Up! (Timeworn type)
Sequins from my stash

Sketch from Call my Crafty Al Sheetload of Cards
#SUYSNov2020
#Showusyoursheetloads

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Lovely Christmas Trees...

The Christmas tree is a symbol of love... ~Andy Rooney, "Just the Way It Is," in McCall's, 1982

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

This is another simple card but I think has a nice wow factor. The front of the original card was cut down them trimmed out with a scrap of gold glitter paper and green cardstock.

Still a bit unsure of my sentiment choice but not too unhappy with it. I colored in the holly with a bit of green and red to tie it all together.

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and scrap bin
Glitter paper from scrap bin
Sentiment unknown
Versafine Clair Ink

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Frosty, is that you?

Winter came down

To our home

One night

Quietly pirouetting in

On silvery-toed slippers

Of snow.

And we,

We were children

Once again.

~Bill Morgan, Jr.

Good morning, today I am sharing another card I made recycling an older Christmas card.

I just loved this image … all that red and green. So festive with the smiling snowman!

So simple layering for this one with the addition of a die cut sentiment.

Supplies: 5 x 7

Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!

Die cut sentiment unknown

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Christmas shared ...

In prickly green of Christmas wreaths

The holly berries glow,

The Christmas trees will sparkle soon,

With Christmas fruit bent low...

~Hannah G. Fernald, "Outside," 1906

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

Today I am sharing 3 cards I made from 1 card. Love the images that I punched from this card. These images are such an ingrained part of Christmas an although the card I used was not an old one, the colors and images evoke memories of Christmas past ...

Supplies

Cardstock from The Paper Studio and scrap bin

Embossing folder from Stampin up! (Subtle)

Sentiment from Stampin Up! (Tiny Talk)

Versafine Claire ink

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Celebrating ...

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~1800 Quotes, Quips, and Squibs, E. C. McKenzie, 1972

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

One of my favorite Christmas cards from last year. Love to see it given another chance to bring a smile!

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base)
Glimmer paper from Neenah
Sentiment from The Angel Company (Simple Joys)
Versa fine Clair Ink

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Festive ...

The bells ring out, and how they dance

Below, around the Christmas Tree!

~Hiram Ladd Spencer, "To My Daughter: A Christmas Reverie," 1878

Good morning, today I am sharing another card I made recycling an older Christmas card.

To be honest, I’m on the fence about this one simply because I think my choice of die doesn’t work as well as some others I have… as well as the silver strips I added (Which would have looked better with some other dies I have) but I mean overall it’s not a bad card.

Supplies: 5 x 7

• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
• Ink Versafine Clair
• Sentiment from Lisa Horton Crafts (Festive Banner Sentiments)
• Sequins from my stash
• Silver strips from my stash

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Golden Christmas ...

Remember this December,

That love weighs more than gold!...

~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon (1876–1961), "The Right Gift," 1912

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

A simple mini slimline.

I just rummaged through my die cut box and found one in read that worked perfect!

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

A Christmas Greeting ...

'T is Christmas morn! awake, awake,

Let each with care his stocking take,

Full to the very brim...

~M., "The Christmas Gift," The Children's Magazine, 1833

Good morning,
I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

I really like how this turned out … I trimmed down the card front and did a bit of layering using a sketch from Verve. Looks quite festive to me!

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) & scrap bin
Gold DP from my scrap bin
Sentiment from Unity Stamps (A Foxy Greeting)
Sizzix dies (Classic Circles)
Snowflake sequins from Stampin up!
Sketch: Viva la Verve, April 2016 (I changed layout from portrait to landscape)

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Partridge in a Pear Tree

Nature looks dead in winter because her life is gathered into her heart. She withers the plant down to the root that she may grow it up again fairer and stronger. She calls her family together within her inmost home to prepare them for being scattered abroad upon the face of the earth. ~Hugh Macmillan, "Rejuvenescence," The Ministry of Nature, 1871

Good morning, today I am sharing a card I made recycling an older Christmas card. I love giving new life to beautiful cards.

This one is pretty simple since I absolutely love the gorgeous image.

At the last minute I added the gold strip under the sentiment to pull out the gold in the card.

Supplies: 5 x 7
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
Ink Versafine Clair
Sentiment from Lisa Horton Crafts (Festive Banner Sentiments)

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Let us adore him ...

As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, then Christmas is. ~Eric Sevareid (1912–1992)

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

This is pretty simple slimline, I just trimmed off the card front, added a layer and attached to the card base.

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base)

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Merry & Bright ...

The bells ring out, and how they dance

Below, around the Christmas Tree!

~Hiram Ladd Spencer, "To My Daughter: A Christmas Reverie," 1878

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

Today I am sharing 3 cards I got from another old Christmas card. Always a bonus, 3 for 1!

These are so fun and I am delighted with the response!

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base)
Ink from Stampin Up!
Mulberry paper from Paperbilities
Sentiment from Unity Stamps

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Snowflake Wonder ...

Brick: Isn't it amazing how each snowflake is different?

Sue: I know. It took me, like, three hours to cut out ten, and God has to do, like, fifty billion. You can't tell me that's not a miracle.

~The Middle, "A Christmas Gift," 2011, written by Jana Hunter & Mitch Hunter [S3, E11]

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave me and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

Today I am sharing 3 cards I got from one old Christmas card which had beautiful iridescent snowflakes on it. I had a old 6x6 paper pack from DCWV that had some iridenscent paper that work womderfully with the snowflakes pattern.

Supplies

Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base)
Gold card stock from scrap bin
Iridescent White cardstock from DCWV
Ink from Stampin Up!
Sentiment from Stampin Up! (Wishing you Cheer)

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Christmas Blessings ...

A man is known by the Christmas he keeps. ~"Poor Richard Junior's Philosophy," The Saturday Evening Post, 1904, George Horace Lorimer, editor

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

This is pretty simple, I just trimmed off the card front, added a layer and attached to the card base.

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin up!

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Vintage Angel ...

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! ~Hamilton Wright Mabie, "Christmas Eve," 1885

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

This is a wonderful vintage Christmas card! Not that I don’t love and appreciate the art of modern-day Christmas cards, but I think the old vintage one just seems to convey a whole different level of Holiday feelings… Just me, I guess …

Anyway …

This card was actually one was among items that belonged to my grandmother that I found when cleaning out my moms’ house. I actually found a whole stack of vintage all occasion cards. I’m just trying to figure out what I want to do with them, but this was the only Christmas card I saw and it was a used one, so it got made over.

Not a lot going on with this one. I just let the wonderful image speak for itself! It wasn’t quite long enough for a full size slimline; I just trimmed at the bottom and covered the space with the banner sentiment and added some sequins. What you can’t pick up in the photo is that the a touch of gold glitter on her wings, the ornament and the stars around her. More bling would have been overwhelming.

Supplies
Cardstock from Stampin Up!
Sentiment from Inkahootz!
Sequins from my stash
Versafine Claire ink

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Poinsettia Pretty ...

Christmas is a guest that always comes a month before arriving. ~20,000 Quips & Quotes by Evan Esar, 1968 [And now it's two or three! —tg]

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

The original card was already a slimline but too large to work well as a mini and not long enough to work out as a full size so I just figured out the best place to cut the piece and then covered the gap with the glitter paper.

Supplies
Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin up!
Glitter paper from scrap bin

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Bottlebrush memories ...

A man is known by the Christmas he keeps. ~"Poor Richard Junior's Philosophy," The Saturday Evening Post, 1904, George Horace Lorimer, editor

Good morning, today I am sharing some more Christmas cards I made using some old Christmas cards and a layout from Sheetload of Card by Call me Crafty Al…

In this case, I used the old cards to cut out the flat back pieces of the bottlebrush trees then layered over them with gold and green cardstock. I know the colors are not traditional for Christmas but I really love how they turned out.

I love these bottlebrush trees and they bring back many memories from my childhood.

Supplies: 4.25 x 5.50 (A2)

• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
• Design Paper from American Crafts (Christmas)
• Dies from Spellbinders (Bottlebrush trees)
• Gold cardstock from my scrap bin
• Gold pearls from Close to My Heart
• Ink from Stampin Up! & Versa fine Clair
• Old Christmas Cards
• Sentiment from Hampton Art (Holiday Sentiments)
• Sheetload of Cards #SUYSAug2020 #Showusyoursheetloads

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Winter Birds ...

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! ~Hamilton Wright Mabie, "Christmas Eve," 1885

Good morning,

I finally went through a box of old Christmas cards I had from last Christmas as well as some a friend gave and proceeded to repurpose into new Christmas cards.

I had planned to take pictures of the cards before I start dismantling them but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I also didn’t keep great track of what I used on all the cards I made so it could be hit or miss there!

I absolutely love the picture on this card! A bit of a trim, some layering and a stacked sentiment and it’s ready for its next adventure!

Supplies

Cardstock from The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!

Pearls from Jot/The Dollar Tree

Sentiment from Lisa Horton (Festive Sentiments)

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara