It’s 12th night, all the decorations are down, and the Christmas cards are destined for the recycling bin. But wait… what else could you do with them? Here are three ideas I came up with for making next Christmas’ cards with last Christmas’.

TISSUE PAPER COLLAGE

Using Jet Black Archival Ink stamp Christmas words onto white tissue paper. Select a suitable card, cut to size and coat with a layer of matte multi-medium. Smooth on the tissue paper using a soft paintbrush loaded with matte multi-medium and cover the whole card so there is a matte layer over the tissue and the remaining uncovered glossy card. Stick down the excess to the reverse using double-sided tape, mount on kraft card and then onto new card stock. On some backgrounds, the tissue paper gives a lovely frosted window effect.

THE PERFECT GIFT CARD

This card uses up bits of discarded wrapping paper and ribbon as well as the cards. From a card (card back are ideal), cut a square and wrap with wrapping paper. Cut a narrow rectangle of card slightly wider than the square to form the top of the ‘box’ and wrap with paper in the same way. Stick down the top, and then stick down a strip of ribbon vertically over both pieces. Mount on a clean piece of scrap Christmas Card before mounting all this onto kraft card and new card stock. Finally tie a bow in another piece of ribbon and stick down on top of the ‘gift’.

PAPER-PIECED MIXED MEDIA CARD

Cut up several card front into sections – I used multiples of 1½ inches so that the sections would fit together. Mount onto another piece of Christmas card, sticking down with matte multi medium. Cover the sections with another layer of matte multi-medium and leave to dry. Next cover with a layer of white gesso and allow to dry. Add distress inks round the edge and through stencils, choosing a similar colour tone. Using metallic gold embossing paste, apply texture through a suitable stencil. Embellish with liquid pearls and splatter with white paint/ink and allow to dry before mounting onto card stock.