Aussies will send over 70 million cards this Christmas, and most will be read once before being unceremoniously dumped in the bin along with Great Aunty Dorris’ leftover triffle.

Sure, there are other options available, but e-cards can be impersonal and you’d be hard pressed finding cheap cards from the two dollar shop that don’t feature tacky Santas and Frosty The Snowmen.

This year, I set aside a few hours on a rainy afternoon (at least this weather is good for something) and revelled in crafty fun with with last year’s cast offs and other scraps I found around the flat…

And even if you’re a non-crafter, you can still produce fantastic results…. Your card will have so much more meaning than the generic store bought variety!

Here are some ideas:

• Collect ribbons, doilies, lace or sequins or embellisments off last season’s clothes, and stick them on cardboard.
• Use last year’s cards – just cut off the front and glue it to a new folded up piece of cardboard
• I found an old calendar from a charity shop and used this to craft a series of beautiful gift tags
• Collect scraps of old wrapping paper and get creative! You can also embellish with stickers and glitter.

• Buy a few stamps from a craft store or make your own simple ones from a potato
• Get the kids crafting! Spread out a nice big piece of butcher’s paper, and let them go wild. When they’re finished, cut up the painting into card sized art!
• Wax seals are always a nice way of persalising your DIY cards.

• This is a beautiful way of making a truly beautiful Christmas Card that will be treasured forever – it can even be framed after. Just photocopy an old photo and get embroidering – instructions HERE

• This year, after everyone’s devoured the gifts under the Christmas tree, collect old cards and pretty wrapping paper that you can use for next year.

Horray! Merry Crafty Christmas everyone…

Got any other ideas for DIY Christmas cards? I’d love to hear about them! Let me know y commenting below.