Greeting Card Wreath - How to Recycle Greeting Cards

GREETING CARD CRAFT

Christmas cards are an inexpensive way to decorate your home during the holiday season.  With old greeting cards and a few basic craft supplies already around the home, numerous greeting card crafts can be made and cost absolutely nothing.  What is better than FREE?

HOW TO MAKE A WREATH WITH OLD CHRISTMAS CARDS

Over the years, I accumulated a huge collection of greeting cards.  The reason I believe it was hard for me to throw cards away is because of a vivid memory as a child of playing with used greeting cards.  I enjoyed looking at the pictures, stacking them, arranging them in a row or design, and cutting them out to make collages.  

Want more greeting card craft ideas?  Visit our 30+ Creative Ways to Recycle Old Greeting Cards page.

With this video tutorial and the following photo tutorial with step-by-step directions, you can quickly make cute holiday wreaths with old greeting cards.

how to make a Christmas card wreath

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Old Greeting Cards
• Corrugated Cardboard
• Pencil
• Ruler or Templates
• Scissor
• Exacto Knife or Box Cutter
• Tacky Glue or Hot Glue
• Ribbon

greeting card wreath INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Cutting Designs

Begin by gathering your old Christmas cards and look through them.  To make the wreath, you can group the cards by theme or just make a collage with all different designs.  

After choosing the cards, cut around the designs.

Above you will see I cut out three themes - Santas, snowmen, and trees.  I just had to do a snowman wreath because I am obsessed with snowmen.  I collect snowman and enjoy displaying them around my home well into February each year.

After cutting out the designs, I decided to make two greeting card wreaths - one with Santas and the other with snowmen and trees.

STEP 2: wreath form

All those cut-out pretty cards need to be glued to something.  So let's make a cardboard wreath form.  All you need is a corrugated box.  Most of us have a shipping box around our home or if you don't, ask a local store for a box.  Most likely they would be delighted to give you one.

There are two methods for making the cardboard wreath form.  First, cut at least a 12" square piece from the box.

METHOD #1 - TEMPLATE METHOD

For this method, look around your home for plates, lids or something that is approximately 6 inches in diameter and 12 inches in diameter.  I found a plate and a plastic lid.

Place the 12-inch template on the cardboard and draw around the circumference with a pencil.

Then put the 6-inch template in the center of the 12-inch circle and draw around it with a pencil.

METHOD #2 - RULER METHOD

The second way to make the cardboard wreath form is to use a ruler and pencil.

Find the center of the cardboard and use a pencil to mark the center with a dot.  With a ruler, mark off a 12" circle around the center dot.  HOW?  Place the 6" mark on the ruler on the dot.  Draw a short line at the 0-inch mark and the 12-inch mark.  Continue moving the ruler around the dot and marking.  Connect the marks and viola you have a 12" circle.

After making the 12" circle, use the same process to make a 6" circle.  Place the 3" mark on the ruler on the dot.  With a pencil draw a little line at the 0-inch and at the 6-inch mark.  Continue marking all the way around in a circle.  Connect the lines and the 6" circle is complete.

Time to cut out the wreath.  You can use a scissor but you may find it hard with a scissor.  I prefer using an Exacto knife or box cutter.  If you use one of these tools, please make sure to protect your work surface by putting another piece of cardboard or something under the wreath form.

STEP 3: gluing cards

Play around with the cards, arranging and overlapping them on the cardboard wreath form until you are happy with the arrangement.  As arranging make sure all the cards are facing right side up.  Below is an example of the snowman wreath before it is glued.

After you have the desired arrangement, take a picture with your mobile phone.  This will be very helpful as you glue the cards to the wreath.

With tacky glue or hot glue, start gluing the cards onto the cardboard wreath.

STEP 4: adore with a bow and hanger

As the glue is drying, make a bow.  Then, simply glue a bow to the wreath.

Add a ribbon hanger by gluing a loop of ribbon to the back of the wreath.

A simple, cute, inexpensive holiday wreath is ready to hang and add a festive touch to your home's holiday decorations.

I am so happy with the way the wreaths turned out.  What a special addition to my home.

Here is my snowman greeting card wreath:

Here is my Santa Christmas card wreath: We hope you enjoyed this Christmas card wreath tutorial and you decide to upcycle greeting cards.

Happy Holidays!

  

MORE CRAFTS USING GREETING CARDS THAT YOU MAY LIKE

Have you enjoyed this post on how to make an upcycled Christmas card wreath? And you still have greeting cards left.  Then you may like these ideas.

• Greeting Card Basket by Needlepointers.com

• Gift Tags by Needlepointers.com

• Lacing Cards by Needlepointers.com

• Christmas Card Tree Garland by Make Today Creative

• Christmas Coasters by Ann's Entitled Life

• Gift Card Holder from Recycled Toilet Paper Rolls by Needlepointers.com

• Snowflake Ornament by DIY Inspired

SOME POPULAR WREATH TUTORIALS

• Holiday Fold 'n Stitch Wreath - The wreath can be used on your wall or door but it also makes a great table topper or centerpiece.
• No Sew Fabric Wreath  - This fabric wreath is quick and easy to make.  No sewing skills are required.  Click to learn how to make it.
• Loop Yarn Wreath - This is another quick and easy wreath which requires no sewing skills!  This is made using the new loopy yarn.  Click for a free tutorial.
• Easy Pom-pom Christmas Tree Wreath