Handmade DIY Project - Reuse and Make Stunning Christmas Cards

Like many crafters, my stash of materials and tools seems endless, yet somehow it’s never quite enough. If you're a crafter, you know exactly what I mean. Not only do I love buying new supplies, but I also hang on to anything that might be useful later or could be repurposed. I even have a box labeled “To Be Crafted,” filled with all kinds of materials and objects that might come in handy someday.

Last weekend, while reorganizing my craft room, I came across an empty tissue box with cute mittens on it. I’d saved it last year to make a Christmas card, and now, the time has finally come!

DIY reuse project

I never throw away any type of paper - whether it's from magazines, wrapping paper, or gift bags - if it has an interesting pattern, graphic, or text. That’s exactly why I saved this tissue box! The cute mittens on it make the perfect addition to a Christmas card. I cut out these mittens with scissors and added them to my handmade Christmas cards, using two mittens per card. I still have plenty left over for future cards too!

DIY handmade christmas card idea #1

For the first card, I used subtle patterned paper from a magazine and heat-embossed a greeting onto it. I glued it onto white cardstock and added two mittens above the text. I could have left it as is, but I decided to add a few die-cut snowflakes and some decorative drops.

Tip: If you don’t have an embossing tool or die cuts, you can simply handwrite the text with an ink pen, which can make the card even more unique and personal. And if you don’t have snowflake die cuts, you can use simple white circles (I make mine with a hole punch) or any other interesting cutouts you have - or just leave it as is!

DIY handmade christmas card idea #2

For the second card, I chose a bold patterned paper from my stash. I added a piece of red cardstock with a heat-embossed greeting and placed two red mittens on top. The blue and red create a striking contrast that really makes this card stand out.

Tip: If you don’t have patterned paper, you can use wrapping paper with an interesting design or pattern instead.

DIY handmade christmas card idea #3

For the third card, I used patterned paper and a pre-made "Season's Greetings" decoration from a papercraft magazine. I positioned the two mittens to look like they're holding the Season's Greetings sign.

Tip: Christmas-themed packaging, like tea or cookie boxes, often has interesting text and graphics. Instead of tossing them, try using them on your cards!

I love collecting paper materials and reusing them in my projects. Take a look around - you’ll find all kinds of interesting, reusable materials in everyday items, especially if you’re into paper crafting. You never know what creative treasures you might discover!