I got some really nice holiday cards this year, and I hated to throw them all away, so I decided to incorporate some of them into craft projects. This one is a tray I designed using red and green acrylic paints, Mod Podge, two cards, some specialty paper and beads. To make this tray, paint the tray red and the bottom rim (which you can’t see here) green. Let the paint dry, then give it a second coat of both. Round the corners of the cards if you want to, then Mod Podge them to the bottom of the tray. I stamped “peace, love and joy” to the thin specialty paper in red ink, then tore the paper’s edges gently to give it a ragged look. Then I adhered it to the tray with the Mod Podge and gave it all another two coats, letting each coat dry in between. The last step was to adhere three green beads to each side, near the handles.

I plan to make a few more like this one and incorporate them into next year’s gifts.