Do you have a collection of old cards that you would like to reuse to make something beautiful? As a printmaker I have a drawer of misprinted cards and it is at this time of year that I love to create card baubles from some of these. Even if you don’t have a drawer of misprints, this project can be applied to old Christmas cards. They make lovely Christmas decorations and don’t cost a fortune to make.
Please don’t be put off by the number of steps here! These card baubles really are easy to make and a relaxing project to do.
To make a single bauble you will need:
- An old greetings card.
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Guillotine if you have one
- Hole punch
- Two brads (split pin paper fasteners)
- Thread or fine ribbon
NB: The greetings card can be square or rectangular, portrait or landscape but for best results I recommend using a card measuring 120mm wide or larger.
The notecard I use for this demonstration is A5 size and landscape mode.
Step 1
Take your old greetings card and cut along the crease. The card front with the design is all you will use (the card back can be recycled or saved for another project).
Step 2
Turn the card over and working from left to right draw a vertical line every 1.5cm from the last. You should have a row of columns. On each column make a central mark 7mm from the top edge. Turn the card 180 degrees and repeat this process, marking 7mm in from what was the bottom edge.
Step 3
Using a guillotine or scissors, cut along the first line so you have a strip of card.
Step 4
Now use a small hole punch to make a hole either end of this strip 7mm in, where you made the marks in Step 2.
Step 5
Looking at the strip, identify the bottom of the original card design. At this end of the strip, place the hole over a brad/split pin with the design facing downwards.
Step 6
Cut the next strip, you will need to cut the strips methodically, in order, to insure the finished bauble has the original card design presented in the correct sequence. Now punch the holes in the ends and place the bottom hole of the strip over the first card strip and brad.
Step 7
Repeat this process with all the remaining strips before securing the brad pin by pushing apart and flattening the ends.
Step 8
Cut a piece of thread or fine ribbon and thread it through the gap between the wings of your second brad/split pin. This thread or ribbon will suspend your bauble.
Step 9
Push the brad/ split pin through the top holes of the strips and secure it at the back, the same side as the first brad/ split pin.
Step 10
Give the card strips a bit of a curve by pushing the ends in towards each other.
Step 11
Carefully move each strip of card around and apart from each other until they create a globe shape. In order for the original card design to be shown in sequence, insure each strip overlaps the next strip on the same side as the last. The card strip directly underneath the split pin will overlap all the others. Gently squeeze the top and bottom of the card globe inwards to make the bauble more spherical.
You can now tie a knot or a bow in the end of the string/ ribbon of the finished bauble. These baubles look great in groups of three or more. I hope you enjoy making these as much as I do.
If you like this, you may be interested to see more ideas for repurposing cards.