We are extremely blessed to receive so many beautiful Christmas cards each holiday season from friends and family. For many years, I was always perplexed on where to display all the lovely cards. Usually the card racks found in the stores only hold about 15 cards or so. That wasn’t an option. I didn’t want to tape the cards to my wall or door possibly causing the tape to take paint off. Strike 2. I also needed something that Lexie couldn’t mess up. About three years ago, I came up with an idea that has worked out really well. A Christmas card hanging collage.
What you need:
- Any type of table runner
- Clothes hanger (preferably pant hanger – one with sticky arm)
- wire
- ribbon of your choice
- Decorative no nail wall/door hook
- safety pins
- Wire cutting scissors
Hang the hook in desired place of collage (remember to hang it a little bit higher if you plan on using almost the entire runner). I placed it on the door to our kitchen pantry. That way, all the cards will be on full display for everyone to see them. Using wire cutting scissors, cut the wire from the hanger leaving just the white/sticky part. Thread wire through the inside of the hanger. Leave enough wire on both sides to make a knot around the wall/door hook. It should be in the form of a triangle. Don’t leave too much slack or the hanger will fold in the middle once the fabric is placed on it. Fold the table runner over the hanger to the length of preference. I nearly used the entire length of the runner leaving about an inch to inch and an half to pin on the back. Pin each side using a safety pin. You could sew the sides together if you want to do something a little neater than safety pins. But once you have the cards on there, you won’t be able to see the pins. To hide the wire knot around the hook, I made a decorative bow. You can also attach the wire to the bow (to make it all one piece). That way after Christmas, all you have to do is fold the hanging runner with bow leaving the hook on the door for aprons, etc. Once you hang the runner in your desired place, start pinning your Christmas cards with a safety pin (you could use straight pins but with Lexie running around, I used safety pins to make sure there wouldn’t be any straight pins on the floor). I went from top to bottom. I tend to like things very neat and orderly, but this project is different and fun to just hang the cards in a “non orderly” way.
Decorative wall/door hook (I used the brand Command)
Here’s what it should look like before Christmas cards arrive. Just have a box of safety pins on hand. Every day during December is so much fun to get the mail. I love receiving all your Christmas cards!
After the Christmas cards arrived!
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Personalized Place Mats:
No what to do with the Christmas cards after Christmas/NY is over??? Like I said before, I love receiving all the beautiful cards and would hate to just throw them away. What about making Christmas card place mats for the next holiday season??
What you will need:
- 11x18 sheet of paper
- double stick tape
- Self adhesive laminating roll
Arrange cards on top of 11x18 paper. Once you do that, use double stick tape to securely place the cards to the paper. Peel the laminating paper back enough to cover both sides of the paper. Voila! Your very own personalized holiday place mats! For the 2011 cards, I will probably take the paper to have it professionally laminated. Trying to get each side completely straight with no air bubbles was quite the challenge. You could also make a collage but I chose to go the “neat and orderly” route. 
These also make quite bit. They are great not only for the kitchen table but for arts and crafts projects. BTW, if you have kids, they will enjoy eating off of these. Lexie loved to sit in a different chair each night for dinner just so she could point out the people she knew.
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