Vintage Christmas Card Decoration + a Free Printable
Hi there! It’s time once again for our monthly Thrifty Chick’s challenge, where a select group of bloggers create projects based on a specific item. This month, it’s books. I took pages from a vintage music book and used them as part of my project, along with vintage-inspired scrapbook paper and vintage Christmas cards.
You can replicate this project with a few supplies you might already have on hand, along with my free printable that contains four vintage Christmas cards, including the two that I used for today’s projects. How about we get started making our vintage Christmas card decoration?
I purchased this card and the others on the free printable at the World’s Largest Garage Sale in Warrensburg (NY) this past October. I paid $10 for a very large bag of holiday cards; I’m still going through them all(!).
Be sure to check out each of the other Thrifty Chick’s book-related projects!
Materials List
Cardboard (8″ x 10″)
Scrapbook paper
Music page
Modge Podge or glue stick
Paint brush
Ribbon
The most difficult part of this project is selecting the various colors and patterns of paper that will both coordinate with each other and compliment the image on the card you choose to use. For this wonderful Santa image, I chose gold and red for matting…
…and two different green patterns and the music page for the background.
I also made a similar decoration using a snowman card, and I chose light blue and red to matte it. You can use Modge Podge or a glue stick to create a double-matte for the card.
I chose a navy blue and a light blue piece of scrapbook paper to use as the background, along with the vintage music page.
Glue your first piece of background paper (cut to 8″ x 10″) to your cardboard using Modge Podge or a glue stick.
Next, cut your music page to approximately 7.5″ x 9.5″ and glue it to the center of your page.
Cut your second piece of scrapbook paper to approximately 6″ x 7″ and glue it on top of your music page.
Glue your matted card off-center, on the right side.
Cut a 10″ piece of wide, coordinating ribbon and glue it to your project (down the left hand side). I applied a line of Modge Podge down the center and then covered up the glue line with a piece of thin ribbon that I just lightly tacked in place in the exact spot where I glued my bow.
[Note: On my snowman decoration, I actually used three layers of ribbon.]
The finished product is headed to the Shaker Craft Fair, priced at $15.00.
I have already sold one of these Santa decorations at the fair. Like the snow couple, this one will be available there for $15.00.
Free Printable!
Click on the image to download or print out your PDF.
For the best quality, print on matte finish photographic paper or
“presentation” paper, both available at office supply stores.
Please be sure to visit my fellow Thrifty Chicks to discover their creative, book-related projects. You don’t want to miss them!
1. How to Create a Holiday Vase by Recycling a Bottle by Shoppe No. 5
2. Vintage Christmas Card Decoration + Free Printable by Adirondack Girl @ Heart (you are here!)
3. How to Make an Easy Book Tree by Lora B.’s Create & Ponder
4. DIY Secret Safe by Little Vintage Cottage
5. Book Wreath Made Out of Vintage Mini Books by Thrifty Rebel Vintage
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That $10 sack of cards was a great find! Love what you did with it too. Does it mainly make a wall-hanging that you’re showing you did with it? Or is it another card? I guess it can be either of those, but whatever it is, it’s lovely. Those old cards are such treasures.
Yes, it was! I’ll be sharing more of the cards as time goes on. I displayed it on an easel at the fair, but it could be hung if a hanger of some sort were attached. I guess I just imagined setting it on a shelf 🙂 So glad you liked it, Florence!
Oh, Diana, what a fabulous idea! I have a treasure trove of vintage cards at my disposal and have scanned many. I love this project and will definitely be making some of these. Thanks so much for sharing this idea!
I’m so glad you like the idea, Mrs. T! Would love to see your finished projects 🙂
These are adorable! I love vintage cards and never want to part with them, so printing them off is a great way to keep them alive! I love all the patterns and textures you brought together with them also.
Thanks so much, Lora! I plan to scan some more of mine for perpetuity 🙂
So beautiful and such a creative way to display vintage cards. Thanks for the printable!
Thank you for the sweet compliment, Debra 🙂 And you’re very welcome for the printable!
How lovely. I can see giving this to a special person or for myself and it will become a treasured decoration.
Thank you, Debra, so sweet of you to say 🙂
What a great project! They turned out beautiful…so professional looking!
Thanks Tania, that’s such a lovely compliment!
These turned out so cute! Thanks for the printable images!
Karee
Thank you Karee, and you’re welcome! Hope they come in handy sometime 🙂
What a fabulous way to honour those vintage cards Diana. Such a great idea. I especially love the snow couple. So adorable!
I looked at all the “entries” but I like yours best, Diana! It’s not only thrifty it’s ecologically sound because of recycling the old Christmas cards, right? You win on both counts, altho’ I know it’s not a contest.
Hope your Christmas is Merry!
Wishing you much success at the market with your Vintage Christmas Card Decorations, Diana. I always keep my favorite cards each year with the intention of doing something with them and I like this great idea for recycling them!
So cute, Diana! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!