Vintage Christmas Craft Idea: Making Gifts From Old Children's Books

Making A Recipe Book From A Vintage Christmas Golden Book

I saved all my children's Golden books for years and than finally gave them away to a young couple who just had their first son.  Here is a neat idea for those of you who still have a few vintage Golden

books hanging around. Or if you too gifted your Golden books long ago, you can visit a local flea market, thrift shop or Antique mall and hunt for some.At this time of the year, pick out some Christmas themed books because you are going to adore this idea.

Using Vintage Golden Books To Craft With

On the blog Vintage Street Market I learned about making a Golden Book Recipe Book.This is right up my alley because I have been making art out of old books for months. This is a whimsical twist to altering old books.

Altering The Vintage Christmas Book

The crafter in this project separated the cover into two new pieces and inserted some new pages to decorate and personalize . The new book is than bound.  Family recipes are added in an envelope which is  attached to one or more of the pages.

For all the details on how to make this project please visit Vintage Street Market http://blog.vintagestreetmarket.com/archives/2948 , a website dedicated to vintage crafting. Be sure to read their blog and also visit their online store.

Where To Buy Vintage Christmas Craft Supplies

This is the time you can use all your vintage Christmas notions,  Christmas wrap, yarn scraps, tinsel, snowflakes etc. If you want to carry the vintage theme through out this altered Christmas recipe book theme, be sure to read my post "Shopping For Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper, Notions, Christmas Craft Supplies" so you will know where to buy vintage materials for the holidays.

This wonderful idea was spotted on "Vintage Christmas Crafts" a delightful board on Pinterest.com
Thank you to Kathy Westaby for sharing this pin.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Using Old Christmas Cards In Mixed Media Art Projects

What To Do With Old Christmas Cards: Make Art 


As a mixed media artist I am always tearing up old papers and re constructing pictures with these paper elements. I am also a saver and have been for as long as I can remember, saving "stuff" that I might need someday in a craft project. Right now I am using glue sticks with orange caps. I have accumulated quite a collection of  discarded "tops" which are sitting in a bowl. Someday, I might need to boost up something and the "tops" might just be the little boosters I am looking for.

Creative People Are Crafty Hoarders 

 Santa Claus Christmas Art Block 

Creative people are crafty hoarders. We see the possibility in objects that other don't see. Artists and crafters also have an easier time of joining together ordinary objects in a new ways. Sometimes savers like myself hold onto paper items because the image, content or color is exciting or intriguing to us.

At this time of the year, I am drawn to nostalgic holiday images such as the vivid colors in 1940s-1950s Christmas cards.  But mixed media artists can not be trusted to  preserve old Christmas cards the way they are.
We excel at creating new ideas with old stuff.
Suzanna Scott of Sushipot Art Objects collages on  art blocks. Her wonderful Christmas themed art block is shown.

Mixed Media Artists Are Scavengers

Many of us are scavengers and constructionists who will totally interrupt the original look or design and create a very different interpretation of what we originally found.

Cutting Christmas Cards Into Strips Or Small Squares

For example, we might cut cards into strips of paper and weave  the paper together in a  totally new pattern. Or  we are apt to randomly tear up cards and reassemble in an abstract with very little resemblance to the original Christmas image.
Many artists cut papers and cards into small squares to form a matrix.

Paper Christmas Trees Using Stacked Circles

On a lovely blog Art Studio 522, I found a mixed media project using cut out circles. The artist cut about 100 circles from 1"-3" in size and stacked the pierced circles in a holiday tree.

Cardboard Star Ornaments And 
Using Vintage Sheet Music in Christmas Inspired Collages

 Christmas Art Bird Collage 

    Another easy paper project is to start off with a cardboard star form and to collage with old Christmas cards right onto the star form. Or you can paint the star white and doodle with a black Sharpie pen as I did last year for an exhibit. In the bird collage, vintage sheet music is collaged.

Adding Embellishments To Mixed Media Christmas Collages 

 Mixed Media Collage With Beeswax on Board

Using Fabric Or Textiles For Christmas Collages

 Carol Larson Mixed Media Fiber Collage

Additional Update

Linda Hardy contacted me about her beautiful bird collage above , she can now be reached at
   www.doorno2.blogspot.com .


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists