CCC...Christmas Card Crafting

 This evening I went to a cookie exchange and happened to learn how to make little boxes out of used Christmas cards!  The person who made the boxes used them to store pieces of hard candy.  She cut some pieces of tissue paper down and folded them inside the boxes before adding the treats.  Anyway, I thought the idea was so cute and so easy that I would share.  It was really fun and I hope I get some more Christmas cards to play with! 

Step 1.  Start with your basic Christmas card.

Step 2. Cut in half.

Step 3. Take the back side of the card that has the sentiment and fold in half long ways.

Step 4.  Fold the same piece in half the other way.

Step 5. Fold each side in half to meet in the middle.  The side should meet at your original fold.

Step 6.  Unfold the flaps. Turn the card and fold the other edges together to make creases just like you did in step 5.

Step 7. Unfold.  At this point you have several creases in your card.

Step 8.  Place the folded card half on top of the front of the card. Using the creases as a guide to make 4 small cuts.  On each end you will just snip the farthest two sides to the closest crease.

Step 9.  You can see the four completed snips that went through both layers.

Step 10. This is where your box starts to take shape. Lift up two of your cut flaps and hold together.

Step 11. Holding down the edge of the box, prepare to fold the remaining piece over to form an edge.

Step 12.  Secure the folded piece and new edge with a piece of tape.

Step 13.  Repeat on other side.  You have now complete the bottom of your box.

Step 14.  To create the top of the box, repeat steps 10-13, creasing to create the lines in the top.  For best results be generous with the top half of the box.  The box will be a tight fit together.

Step 15. Voila, a cute little box made out of a recycled Christmas card!

Here are a few different boxes that we made.  It's really fun to see how the various art work on the cards turns out to make a fun, new box!  We made a couple out of non- Christmas cards and those turned out cute too.  Sometimes the wording lands just right.  Enjoy making this fun, new, craft!