Recycle Old Christmas Greeting Cards into a Basket

Today's tutorial is one of my favorite craft ideas for recycling all of those old Christmas greeting cards received and stored away over the years. Recycle Christmas cards into Christmas card baskets creating a project which is genuinely useful.

I am not the inventor of this recycled greeting card idea, but I have modernized it. 

The greeting card basket tutorials found on other websites punch holes in the basket pieces with a sharp scissor, awl or needle (which can be difficult) and use the blanket stitch to frame the pieces. 

Our modernized version of the Christmas card basket punches holes with a hand-held hole punch and crochets around the pieces making the framing process so much easier and faster.  

The finished recycled Christmas cards basket is fairly sturdy and would look attractive anywhere in the home filled with scented pine cones or potpourri, shiny Christmas ornaments, fruit, newly received Christmas cards or holiday treats. 

These would make a lovely Christmas gift for a hostess, teacher, co-worker or friend filled with bags of homemade cookies, wrapped candy, bagged-up goodies, and/or gift card.

This Christmas Card Basket idea isn’t just for Christmas either. Yes, for this tutorial old Christmas cards were used to make the basket. But you could use birthday cards, other holiday cards, wedding cards, get well cards, really any type of card.

So, it is time to show you how to make a Christmas card basket that will be treasured year after year by you or the recipient. Learn how to make a recycled Christmas card basket by watching our video Or keep reading this post for written instructions supported with photos.  

What to do with old greeting cards?

Before we get into the actual Christmas Card basket step-by-step photo tutorial, there are other greeting card crafts that are a fun way to upcycle old greeting cards into new items that will be cherished. 

Upcycle Them!

• Ornaments
• Bookmarks
• Gift Boxes
• Coasters
• Placemats
• New Cards
• And More

Our Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose and Upcycle Greeting Card page has over 50 craft ideas.

Donate them!  St. Jude's Ranch for Kids accepts the front of cards (Christmas, Birthday, any type) for their Recycled Card Program where the children take used cards and make new ones which they then sell on the St. Jude's Ranch website. 

Besides St. Jude's Ranch, check with local area daycare centers, schools, senior citizen centers and nursing homes to see if they have a use for them.

We are planning to make more greeting card crafts so sign up for our newsletter, that way you will be notified each time we release a new tutorial! 

here is how to Create A Christmas Card Basket from holiday cards

This is a really simple, uncomplicated DIY card craft that can even be made while watching TV.

written INSTRUCTIONS for greeting card basket

STEP 1: greeting card basket template

Print the free Christmas basket template and cut out the pieces. To get the free template scroll to the product section near the end of this page.

The paper template pieces are very flimsy.  It is suggested to make a sturdier template by tracing around the paper pattern pieces on the back of two old greeting cards and cutting out these patterns to use as templates.

STEP 2: Choosing and Cutting Cards

Look through your used greeting card stash and decide which cards to use by theme, such as snowmen, angels, nativity, animals, and so on, or simply make the basket with all different pictures.  Choose 14 greeting cards that will fit the pattern pieces.

Since the bottom basket pattern piece is larger, it is wise to choose the cards for the bottom first.

Try to center the nicest part of the card picture in the middle of the pattern and use a pencil or pen to trace around it.  Cut along the traced line.  Repeat because two bottom pieces are needed.

Next, repeat the process with the basket side pattern pieces; center on the card, trace around it and cut out with a scissor.  Twelve side pieces are needed.

STEP 3: Glue the Pieces together

After all of the pieces have been cut out, glue two sides together so the pictures are showing.
Repeat with all the sides and bottom pieces.

Let the glue dry. You may want to weigh down the pieces with some books so they don’t curl during drying.

After the glue is dried, a little trimming with a scissor may be necessary.  If the back of the card is showing, trim it off. You should now have six sides and 1 bottom piece.

STEP 4: punching holes around card pieces

Starting with the side pieces, use a handheld 1/8" hole punch to punch holes at each corner about 3/8 inch from the edge.  

The side pieces (counting the corner holes) will have 5 holes at the bottom, 6 holes on each side and 7 holes around the scalloped top.

To punch the holes, begin by punching holes in each of the four corners.  Then along the bottom edge punch a hole between the two corners and then one right and left of the center hole.

Along the top punch a hole in the middle of the two corners.  Then punch two holes to the right and left of the center hole.

On each side of the side piece, punch the 4 holes between the corners trying to evenly space them apart.

For the hexagon bottom piece, again punch holes at each corner.  

Then punch three holes evenly spaced between the corners. Each side of the hexagon piece has 5 holes.  Try again to space them evenly apart.

STEP 5: Crochet around the edges of the pieces

Crochet Stitch Guide

ch = Chain Stitch
sc = Single Crochet
slip stitch = Slip Stitch

Crocheting around the edge of each piece gives the basket an attractive appearance. 

Let’s start with the side pieces.  Take the crochet hook and insert it into the middle hole along the bottom edge of the piece, loop the yarn around the hook, pull it through the hole, loop both yarns (both the tail end and working yarn) around the hook, and pull it through the loop.  This is the anchor stitch.

After anchoring the yarn, crochet around the edge of the piece by ch2, and sc in next hole, ch2. In the corner hole, sc, ch1, sc, ch1, sc, ch2.

Continue working around the entire piece in this manner ending with a ch2 and slip stitch in the top of the anchor stitch.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

NOTE:  When crocheting around the pieces, always start in the middle holes; not the corner holes.

Crochet around the six sides and the one bottom piece.

STEP 6: sewing bottom and sides together

When all the basket pieces are crocheted, use the crochet stitches as a guide to sew all the pieces together.

Thread a tapestry needle with a long piece of yarn. 

Begin by sewing all the side pieces to the basket bottom.

Then sew all the side pieces together.

To finish weave in all the tails. 

The absolutely charming crocheted edge Christmas card basket is complete and ready to use or gift.

I bet you can't just make one!!!  I couldn't!!!  As you can see below.  After looking through the cards and sorting them by theme, I wanted to create more and more baskets.

I hope this Christmas Card Basket tutorial was helpful and you decided to upcycle some greeting cards.  If you enjoyed this project be sure to pin, bookmark and share. 

Happy Crafting,
Annette

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