I saw this great idea on Mer Mag’s blog for using various bits and pieces found around the craft room and office to make a book. I liked it so much, I made my own along this fashion. It was a lot of fun collecting the folders, cards, papers, stickers, labels, etc. that I used to make my final project. This neat idea led me to think that this would be an interesting concept to apply to Christmas cards. I am always at a loss as to what to do with the stack of beautiful and thoughtful cards I receive over the holidays.

As my Christmas cards arrive, I am now punching holes in them with my hole punch and adding them to book rings. I am also adding any party invitations we receive this year and affixing loose pictures to the coordinating card. I then hang the cards on a hook so anyone can flip through.

After Christmas morning, I will also save pieces of decorative boxes, handmade tags, Christmas stickers and even pieces of the packaging from the “big toy” for the year. When I add all of these pieces to the cards and affix some more pictures, I will have a wonderful keepsake for this year that took minimal effort on my part. Make sure you put the year somewhere on your makeshift scrapbook!

Stay tuned: in January, I will give you some more ideas for received Christmas cards.