Hi everybody! Today I have a super fun and retro craft for you, Christmas Card Bowls. I recently saw one of these at an antique mall, and it was so cute! I googled around and found several vintage bowls made from different cards for different occasions. I have a ton of vintage greeting cards at home, so naturally I just had to try it out and make one for myself. This is so nostalgic and it is a great way to preserve your favorite greeting cards! It’s really easy too, just a lot of hand stitching. It took me a few hours over a couple of nights of watching tv before bed with the hubby. I was so happy to see it come together!
Greeting card bowls are really simple to make. First you cut out all your card pieces with the template below. Next you glue all your pieces together with craft glue or rubber cement. Then you blanket stitch around the edge with embroidery floss, and finally stitch the wall pieces to the bottom and then the sides together. I found a fantastic template at about.com Here. They also have a tutorial on how to crochet a greeting card bowl. I may have to try that one next time.
I really enjoyed making my little bowl! I just love the way it turned out! You could make these in different sizes as well if you enlarge or reduce the pattern. I would love to make one using birthday cards, or anniversary cards. I think it would be so cute! How could you not love something made with vintage cards, they’re so fantastic! I hope you enjoy this fun and simple little retro craft! Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a Thanksgiving DIY!
Happy Crafting!
edwina
super cute!
My So Called Crafty Life
Thank you 😀
Cindy @ NeatoKeen
You’ve done it again ~ I see these while treasure hunting but none nearly as cute as this! Happy Thanksgiving, Ashlee!
My So Called Crafty Life
Oh thank you Cindy! I hope you had a fantastic thanksgiving too 😀
kb mckenzie
My MIL gave me a bunch of vintage craft magazines from the late 50s to mid-70s and I actually have a book with the tutorial for this bowl!! Looks awesome, can’t wait to try it myself!!
My So Called Crafty Life
Oh that’s so cool! I love old craft books! If you make one and want to share it on my pinterest board let me know. Have a great holiday!
Anneke Struving
ik zou graag een patroontje willen om het te maken de maten van de kaarten
groetjes Anneke
Irene
My goodness me – I remeber doing these as a child – I still have a hanky box I mase and a basket/tote that my mother did – thanks for the memories
My So Called Crafty Life
That’s so sweet! I’m glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
Marcie
Where is the template? I don’t see it linked here.
My So Called Crafty Life
Hi Marcie, you have to download it from the link for about.com listed in my post. Here is the link to the page: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/greetingcardcrafts/ss/CrochetCardBowl.htm if you scroll down a little you’ll see where you can download the template in jpeg or pdf format. This is the template I used for my bowl.
Emily
love it! I have a vintage bin made like this, using old christmas cards. I think I will have to make it a matching bowl now! thank you 🙂
My So Called Crafty Life
Thank you Emily! These are so fun to make! I’d love to see yours if you make one, send me a pic!
Linda McClain
I saw this on Pinterest – so adorable.
Craftymemer
My aunt who is a nun made these in the past. They would put plastic on both sides before stitching to preserve the cards, it also had a lid. Of course the bowls were made with religious pictures.
My So Called Crafty Life
Wow, I bet they were lovely!
Christmas Card Bowl « Friendly Shares
[…] cards this year, why not make a lovely bowl? You could put pinecones or baubles in as decoration. Find the how-to here. […]
Helen
How gorgeous is that! Another excuse to go hunting for vintage cards 🙂
olga foley
love the bowl where is the pattern? olga
My So Called Crafty Life
Hi Olga, there is a link to an about.com article in my post. On the about.com post there is a link about halfway down the page where you can download either a jpeg or a pdf. Hope that helps
Alice
Maybe I Don’t understand when you said cut all the pieces with the template below.. I Don’t See The Template.. Could you explane where the template is on here?
My So Called Crafty Life
There was a link to the template on about.com near the bottom of that paragraph. It was not my template so I could not post it directly to my post. Here is the link: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/greetingcardcrafts/ss/CrochetCardBowl.htm there is a link about half way down the about.com article page that says download the pdf template. Hope this helps
24 Cool Vintage Crafts For Christmas
[…] diy vintage Christmas bowl (via mysocalledcraftylife) […]
Betty
You have yourself a real gem there. We won’t be seeing those charming images again anytime soon. A lovely theme, Santa and Christmas trains. Delightful.
My So Called Crafty Life
Thanks! They really don’t make cards nearly as cute as they used to.
Betty
I do like the idea of laminating the card pieces first. You can do that at your school or church or a teacher supply store for very little, if not at home.
Betty
My So Called Crafty Life
Great idea Betty! Thanks for sharing!
What To Do With Old Christmas Cards? Make a Holiday Collage! | The Jenny Evolution
[…] My So Called Craft Life created Christmas card bowls. […]
Dianne Scetrine
I have been searching for some time for these as a couple of my aunties made them for me and my four sisters when we young and we used them to store handkerchiefs. Cant imagine where they have gone but I am going to give them a go!! Thank you
My So Called Crafty Life
That’s so awesome Dianne! I hope you enjoy making one yourself 🙂
Main Ingredient Monday- 20 Ways to Recycle Christmas Cards
[…] Serving bowl from My So Called Crafty Life […]
corlyn
Thank you for sharing this. My sister and I each made one when we were little girls – about 50 years ago, with my Godmother. Happy Memories brought back thanks to you!
My So Called Crafty Life
Oh I’m so glad! Thank you!
hgkc4
Where did you purchase your vintage greeting cards?
My So Called Crafty Life
I have been collecting for a while, some of them have come from antique shops and flea markets, some from Etsy. I would suggest looking on Etsy or Ebay as they are the easiest place to find them.