A Spoonful of Sugar

Make. Bake. Create.

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Press
    • FAQ
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Contact Us
  • Crafts
    • Crochet
    • DIY
    • Embroidery/Cross stitch
    • Gift Wrapping
    • Knitting
    • Miscellaneous
    • Paper Crafts
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Australia Day
    • Back to School
    • Valentines Day
    • Easter
    • ANZAC Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Bars & Slices
    • Bread & Pastries
    • Cakes
    • Cookies
    • Confectionery
    • Cupcakes & Muffins
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Ice Cream
    • Jams/Preserves
    • Main Meals
  • Sewing
    • Sewing Tutorials
    • Quilting
    • Sewing & Quilting Patterns
  • Family
    • Back to School
    • Family Fun
    • Our Home
    • Parenting
    • Travel
  • Shop
    • Pattern Store
    • Etsy Store

Recycled Christmas Cards

November 16, 2011 By Spoonful of Sugar - 27 Comments

One way to save money this Christmas is to make your own gift tags out of recycled Christmas cards. This is a great craft idea that kids can help with and would be perfect for them to attach to gifts for friends and teachers.

Use a shipping tag as a template, and trace a tag shape onto a Christmas card. Cut it out, punch a hole, and stick on some reinforced rings to strengthen the hole. A quick and easy activity!

I wish I had saved more Christmas cards last year for other Christmas Card Craft projects. Martha Stewart has a lovely roundup of ideas on her site.

Here are some of the other recycled gift tags we have made over the past few years:

Postage Stamp Gift tags
Christmas Tags for Bridge Lovers
Paint Chip Gift Tags

Do you have any ideas for making gift tags or Christmas decorations out of recycled materials?

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway to win a set of gorgeous Incomparable Buttons valued at $10. We have 10 sets to be won and entries close on Sunday Nov 20.

Filed Under: Christmas, Paper Crafts Tagged With: card making, recycle

« JOY Bunting
Cinnamon Swirl Bread »

Comments

  1. two hippos says

    November 16, 2011 at 3:32 am

    lots of brilliant ideas!

    Reply
  2. Janellybelly says

    November 16, 2011 at 2:46 am

    Gorgeous (& Green) idea 😉

    Reply
  3. Sharon Manning says

    November 16, 2011 at 3:01 am

    Great idea!

    Reply
  4. Susie says

    November 16, 2011 at 3:20 am

    Fantastic!

    Reply
  5. Nicky says

    November 16, 2011 at 3:30 am

    I’d like to make some permanent gift tags for use within our family every year out of fabric with a motif, oolour and message particular to the recipient!

    Reply
  6. Mela! says

    November 16, 2011 at 3:39 am

    I Love your Blog (and Christmas Cards :D)
    Zuckerwolke (:

    Reply
  7. Rachael Rabbit says

    November 16, 2011 at 4:57 am

    I save all our cards to recycle – hubby thinks I am mad – the photo cards people send aren’t so eat to recycle though … I so had this on my list of ‘to-do’s’ for this week – need to be more ahead of the game!

    Reply
  8. Vickie says

    November 16, 2011 at 5:01 am

    To recycle Christmas cards is so fun! We have made ornaments, boxes, tags! I have saved every card we have received for the last 31 years! We are slowly using them up, though!
    We also have a group of people who ask for old cards for them to recycle and sell for their organization!!!

    Reply
  9. Stephanie says

    November 16, 2011 at 5:11 am

    Great idea with the recycled Christmas cards. My daughter made paint chip gift tags her first year in college…2004. Perfect for the poor college student! :o)

    Reply
  10. notes of sincerity says

    November 16, 2011 at 5:35 am

    Good morning. :0)
    Please drop by my blog where you will see a few tags that I made too. :0) I love your tags! Too cute!! Have a great day. Sincerely , Trish

    Reply
  11. Simone de Klerk says

    November 16, 2011 at 5:41 am

    Yum yum post!
    The ornament you link to is great, but, lots of work ;o)

    Reply
  12. Cheiro de Vanilla says

    November 16, 2011 at 6:11 am

    Just adorable, I love simple ideas that adds so much.

    Reply
  13. Terriaw says

    November 16, 2011 at 6:56 am

    I love this idea! I have been wanting to make something using shipping tags lately, so this is perfect. I have saved my Christmas cards for a couple years now, hoping to find just the right project to reuse them. This one is just perfect.

    Reply
  14. Sheena says

    November 16, 2011 at 7:12 am

    Cute idea! I like the paint card idea too.

    Reply
  15. em's scrapbag says

    November 16, 2011 at 7:28 am

    Fun, green, and very cute!

    Reply
  16. Celestial Charms says

    November 16, 2011 at 8:59 am

    These are so beautiful and such a great idea. I’m besotted with the beautiful aqua blue background one, with the shiny white tree. Stunning!
    Maureen

    Reply
  17. Lynne says

    November 16, 2011 at 9:23 am

    Those tags are super! We made the Martha ornaments (on your link) several years ago, it was a fun project and we still put them on the tree every year. Thanks for a great idea!

    Reply
  18. Happy Cottage Quilter says

    November 16, 2011 at 10:05 am

    I love this idea. When my children were little, we would take our Christmas cards, cut off the fronts and paste them to construction paper and make a new card. These cards were taken to the Nursing homes for the Elderly. The children would distribute the cards and sing Christmas Carols. It was always fun and the senior citizens always enjoyed the visits from little people.

    Reply
  19. Kiwifruit-Shiree says

    November 16, 2011 at 11:22 am

    another fabulous idea!

    Reply
  20. Veronica says

    November 16, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    Great idea….Love your blog….

    Thank you

    Reply
  21. Susanne says

    November 17, 2011 at 6:10 am

    Isn’t it great when you can save money and reuse something! And the best part is that I have a scrapping punch in just that shape. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  22. Suzie says

    November 17, 2011 at 9:05 am

    Love the ideas!

    Reply
  23. Jodie @ The Haby Goddess says

    November 19, 2011 at 2:16 am

    Love this idea! I feel so guilty throwing out all of the goorgeous cards I receive so now I have the perfect use for them.

    Reply
  24. Rhissanna says

    November 25, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    These are lovely ideas. I have a stack of red and green paint chips for my Steampunk Sherlock study ( a decorating project thatis so over-the-top it has its own blog) and at last, I have a use for them!

    Reply
  25. carlottalittlekitchen says

    December 7, 2011 at 12:42 am

    Bellissimi!!! …and also a great idea. Xxxx

    Reply
  26. Pamela says

    December 10, 2012 at 7:45 am

    Here from Esther’s Card Creations. I’m happy she posted your link–your tags look like such fun.

    Reply
  27. Heather OCain says

    December 19, 2012 at 8:45 pm

    I use flower punches to make flowers for the “bow” but I like the tag idea!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Threads
  • TikTok
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
×

Categories

Archives

PURCHASE PDF PATTERNS

We offer over 100 affordable PDF sewing patterns available for download from our store website or Etsy store. Each pattern includes detailed instructions, numerous photos, and templates.

WEB STORE ETSY STORE

Instagram

A lot can change in 10 years ❤️ It’s been fun look A lot can change in 10 years ❤️ It’s been fun looking back at where I was in 2016 and how far life has come since then. Swipe for a little trip down memory lane.Back in 2016, my priorities were firmly centred around family. I was working full‑time, sewing in the guest room, sharing tutorials on my blog, and slowly dipping my toes into selling a handful of patterns on Etsy. It was a busy, full season — and creativity was something I fitted in around everything else.  Fast forward to 2026… I’m now retired and living the creative life I once dreamed of. My kids have grown up and are living in their own homes nearby. My husband and I are free to travel, explore, and enjoy this stage of life. And I get to spend my days designing, sewing, and connecting with this beautiful community.Life looks different now — in the best possible way.Were you following me back then, or what has changed for you over the past 10 years? I’d love to hear your story too.Tagging the lovely makers of my quilt: @arabesquescissors @ministryoffabric @belloquacity @alittlepatchwork @sameliasmum coleandtaffy @quiltymamaof4 @shequiltsalot @downgrapevinelane @lizzierosesews @lovethatfabric @sew_mimi.k #2026isthenew2016 #10yeartransformation #sewingjourney #sewingcommunity #aspoonfulofsugardesigns
Fall in love with sewing all over again ❤️I’ve Fall in love with sewing all over again ❤️I’ve rounded up 10 heart‑themed makes — from quick gifts to charming quilt blocks — perfect for weekend stitching or using up your favourite scraps. Whether you’re sewing for Valentine’s Day, birthdays, or just because, there’s something sweet for every maker.Comment HEART and I’ll send you a link to my Heart Pattern Collection.#sewingproject #heartsewing #quiltblock #scrapsewing #easytosew
Raw edge appliqué doesn’t have to feel fiddly or i Raw edge appliqué doesn’t have to feel fiddly or intimidating. With a few simple techniques, you can create neat, crisp shapes — even tiny details like penguin beaks and hearts.I’ve put together My Top 5 Secrets for Raw Edge Appliqué to help you feel confident, whether you’re brand new to appliqué or looking to refine your finish. Save this for your next sewing session.If you’d love a quick, beginner‑friendly project to practise these tips, my Penguin Love Mugrug is the sweetest Valentine’s make — scrap‑friendly, gift‑ready, and such fun to sew.Comment PENGUIN and I’ll send you the link to the pattern. Available now in our Pattern Store and Etsy shop.  #rawedgeapplique #appliquetips #sewingtipsandtricks #mugrugpattern #penguinlove
If you’ve ever wanted to add eyelets or grommets t If you’ve ever wanted to add eyelets or grommets to your sewing projects, here’s a quick look at how I install them using my DK93 snap press. It’s the same tool I use for snaps — and it makes installing eyelets beautifully quick and consistent.For this Ribbon Pouch, I used the Liberty Gifts from the Garden collection (printed on Lasenby cotton and released in January 2026). The colours and motifs pair so well with the little ribbon tie detail.Here’s how to install the eyelets:Punch out the four holes using a hole‑cutting die.Place the eyelet into the hole.Press it into place using the snap press.That’s it — easy peasy, and it gives the pouch such an elevated, professional finish. I love how clean and sturdy the result is.Fabric is Gifts from the Garden by Liberty - kindly provided by @regent_street_fabrics — thank you!If you’d like the Ribbon Pouch pattern (it comes in 3 sizes), comment RIBBON and I’ll send the link straight to you.Ribbon Pouch Sewing Pattern: available in our Pattern Store and Etsy shop ( links in profile).#SewingInspiration #SewingProjects #Eyelets #Grommets #SnapPress
The Twirling Treasures Hot Pad & Placemat Set show The Twirling Treasures Hot Pad & Placemat Set showcases one of my favourite FPP designs — a stunning kaleidoscope‑style block that always turns out beautifully. Kaleidoscope blocks are some of my most popular FPP patterns, and this set is such a fun way to use them.  This set includes six sizes, making it incredibly versatile: use them as hot pads, trivets, placemats, or simply as a way to add a pop of colour to your kitchen.For these samples, I went with a monochromatic scrap‑busting approach, pairing fabrics from the same colour family with a low‑volume background. The black‑and‑white striped binding adds such a crisp, modern finish. It’s a wonderful project for building your FPP confidence — and a fantastic way to use up those treasured scraps.The Twirling Treasures Hot Pad set is our Pattern of the Week. It is currently 25% off this week in our Pattern Store and Etsy Shop.If you’d like to sew your own set, comment TWIRL and I’ll send the pattern link straight to you.Happy sewing! Lisa 🌸#FoundationPaperPiecing #Quilting #HotPads #ScrapBuster #KitchenSewing
The Ribbon Pouch is one of those little makes that The Ribbon Pouch is one of those little makes that feels special from the very first stitch. I made this sweet trio in the Liberty Gifts from the Garden collection, and the colours couldn’t be more perfect for gifting, organising, or adding a little beauty to your everyday.Each pouch features: 🌼 A simple ribbon tie closure 🎀 Optional sew‑in tags or DIY felt/fabric labels 🧵 Three practical sizes — perfect for notions, treats, or small gifts ✨ A quick, beginner‑friendly sewIf you’d like to make your own, comment RIBBON and I’ll send the pattern link straight to your inbox. Save this for your next weekend project — it’s such a satisfying little sew. Pattern is available in our Pattern Store.Thanks to @regent_street_fabric for the Gifts from the Garden fabric collection. (released Jan 2026)#SewingInspiration #SewingProjects #LibertyFabric #SewingPatterns #BeginnerSewing
Follow on Instagram

Featured Pattern

Travel Sewing Kit Pattern

Featured Tutorial

Retro Drawstring Bag

Featured Recipe

Lemon Pound Cake

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Threads
  • TikTok
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
×

Popular Posts

  • Charm Square Fabric Tray
  • Merry Little Christmas Sewing Projects
  • {Back to School} Tissue Cover
  • Raw Edge Applique Tips
  • Sewing Gifts 101: Easy and Affordable Ideas for Your Crafty Friends
  • Fabric Gift Pouch
  • Free Holiday Sewing Tutorials

Copyright © 2026 Lisa. K. Cox - A Spoonful of Sugar