If you like to send out Christmas cards, you probably also get a dozen or more of them in the mail each year. What do you do with them after Christmas is over? Instead of adding to the trash pile, use those cards to create new ones that you can send out.

How can you do that, you might ask? Most people sign their names or have their Christmas cards personalized each year. But, you can use those cards to create new ones to give out the next year. Here are some ideas that can keep those cards circulating.

1. Cut the front picture off of the card. Most Christmas cards have quite decorative pictures on them. Glue the pictures on the front of a piece of construction paper. Fold it in half or fourths so the card can fit in an envelope.

2. Add more glitter. Some cards already come decorated with glitter but after a season in a box in the attic, some of it will rub off. Dot the front of your card with glue and sprinkle more glitter on the picture.

3. For more grown-up cards, use card stock. You can also matte these pictures for a fancier look. Then, affix them to the front of the card stock. Now you have a one-of-a-kind creation.

4. Create a collage card. Cut out portions of several old cards and put them together on the front of a piece of card stock. Add embellishments like the ones used for scrapbooking. Choose ornaments, tiny Christmas trees, small presents and the like to finish decorating the card.

5. Use craft scissors to create decorative edges on your cards. Who says that a card has to have straight edges?

6. Create construction paper cut-outs to add to your cards. Use green, brown, red and white to draw snowflakes, reindeer, Christmas trees and beautiful ribbons. Glue the pictures to the inside and back cover of the cards.

7. Staple an extra sheet of heavy paper inside of an existing card. Glue the edges down so that you won’t see any writing underneath. This becomes the place where you can write your special greeting to a friend or family member.

8. Spray cards with fragrant perfumes or room sprays. This works better for colored cards so that any fragrance droplets don’t stain the card. Use a fragrance that exemplifies winter: woodsy, pine, cinnamon, pumpkin and the like.

9. Laminate your new creations. Laminating protects your card after you have added stickers, embellishments and things like dried leaves.

10. Add family holiday portraits to the front of old cards. You may have to cut your picture down to fit flush with the edges of the old card.

Trying to be a little frugal this Christmas? Use old Christmas cards and these ideas above to create new cards to hand out this year.

Christmas is as much about the decorating as it is about the gifts. Everyone wants their home to look and feel cozy around the holidays. Do you need a decorating project for the younger kids? How about making snowmen out of items you have around the house?

It’s great to listen to CDs. You probably have a great collection at home. But, sometimes they get scratched or you outgrow the music. Use them to expand your decorating potential this holiday season.

Here is a step-by-step project you can help the kids with: a CD snowman. First begin by gathering your supplies.

You will need:

* Old CDs
* Juice can lids (frozen juice lids work better than the thicker lids from plastic juice bottles)
* Glue
* Plastic googly eyes
* Brown chenille pipe cleaners
* Old buttons
* Orange, white and black craft foam
* Non-toxic white acrylic paint, brushes and a couple of cups of water

1. Gather all of your old CDs. Lay them out on an old sheet on the table or spread out some newspaper. This is the area where the kids will work so they don’t make a mess.

2. Give each person a paint brush and a cup of water. The CD represents the body of your snowman. On the side with the label, paint the disc white. Set it aside.

3. While the paint is drying, trace the shape of your juice can lid out of the white craft foam. Glue the craft foam to one side of the juice can lid.

4. Use the orange and black craft foam to create carrot noses and hats for the snowmen. You can also create the mouth.

5. Once the paint dries, glue the juice can lid to CD. Use more glue to attach the wiggly eyes, the mouth and the carrot nose to the face. On the body, use three of the buttons. The pipe cleaners are used to create arms for your snowman.

6. Let your snowman sit and dry in a cool place.

CD snowmen can serve a lot of purposes. Use them on the coffee table as fancy coasters for drinks. Parents, place a hole in the top center of the juice can lid to run a piece of string so you can hang the snowmen on the wall.

These snowmen also work on the dining room table. Using a marker, place a name on each snowman and use it as a placeholder for holiday dinners.

CD snowmen are easy to make. It is a great project for kids who want to help decorate the house for the holidays. Also, it makes good use of those old compact discs you have lying around gathering dust.

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By Ilango Chokalingam

Christmas would be the most colorful day of the year. It is the day to show our beloveds and elders the love we have towards them. To show them we are lucky to have them and they are never forgotten though they are away from us. One of the most special decorations in any Christmas home is an excellent innovative and outstanding Christmas wreaths with gifts, candies, and cookies. Most Christmas wreaths are available at stores or one can choose them online. But it would be cheaper and much better if done at home with a personalized touch and home effect.

Procedure To Make Christmas Wreaths:

1. Get a pipe or some curving stiff rounded lengthy foam object so as to prepare circle for the Christmas wreath. This must be stiff enough to remain in shape until all decorations are made ready.
2. Circle it and stick the ends to make a complete circle. If you feel that the Christmas wreath need to be larger and thicker then roll the pipe as many roll as you want the thickness to be.
3. Now stick the ends very tightly and seal them. If possible tie it with a knot.
4. Now get Saturn ribbons, bells, balls, birds, herbs, foliage leaves, flowers, white lace and many more. Whatever you feel like adding onto your wreath get them ready.
5. Now wrap the pipe with ribbons or color papers.
6. Tie the bell exactly at the place of knot or glue where the pipe ends are joined.
7. Now slowly roll the foliage leaves or stick them over the round.
8. Make beautiful cute little bird model and stick them here and there over the green wrapped Christmas wreaths.
9. Now stick red balls on the wreath resembling cherries and other edible fruits on the wreaths.
10. Tie candies and hide them inside the leafy foliage. Conduct many games and ask the kids to trace out the candies and cookies.
11. Roll white lace over the top of hanging and tie balls and other small globules of various colors.
12. Tie a bow and stick it with the bell.
13. Now roll golden and silver thread combination over the circular ready Christmas wreaths.
14. Add tulip, roses and other flowers to the bow or pinned area where the bells hang.
15. Try to get colorful ribbon when rolling over the surface of the circular shaped Christmas wreaths.

Location To Hang Christmas wreaths

• Place Christmas wreaths on the top of the door hanging on a nail.
• Place a bang on the fireworks and have Christmas wreaths near Christ frame along with two candles. Let one candle be small and the other be big.
• Place Christmas wreaths at walls. This would require a contrast color design of the Christmas wreaths to the wall.
• Place Christmas wreaths on the table. Let this Christmas wreaths be made of edible fruits in order to use it after good party dinner or supper.
• Children would feel it exiting to prepare their own such enjoyment of adding eatables to Christmas wreaths

I enjoy Christmas, because for that celebration all Family Members will meet and enjoy that great day.

I have shared my Christmas experience on my website: http://www.ineedchristmas.com