Don’t just throw out those Christmas treasures – give these crafty ideas a go

IT’S nearly time for a post-Christmas clear-out but before you fill your bin, think of ways you can reuse those festive treasures.

From Christmas cards to broken baubles, everything can enjoy a new lease of life.

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Before you throw them, think of the ways you can reuse those festive treasures[/caption]

Make a green start to the new year with these ideas.

ALL THAT GLITTERS: You can recycle Christmas cards but anything with glitter should go in the general rubbish.

Glittery or not, you can give Christmas cards a second life by turning them into gorgeous gift tags for next year.

Cut out the pictures from the cards and use a hole punch to make a small circle which you can thread string or ribbon through.

You will have a unique set of tags using all the best bits from the cards you have been given.

CRAFTY IDEAS: If you have extra greetings cards — whether Christmas or birthday — keep them to use in craft projects with children.

They are perfect for cutting up and creating a collage.

You can also use them to make bookmarks to give as gifts.

BETTER BAUBLES: Broken baubles cannot be recycled, but you can turn them into new decorations.

One idea is to pack clear plastic fillable ornaments with the broken pieces.

You can buy a pack of six fillable ­decorations from Hobbycraft for £4.

It’s a brilliant way to keep hold of smashed ornaments that have sentimental value.

TINSEL TOWN: Tinsel that’s lost its lustre still has lots of life left in it.

Use to decorate parcels instead of ribbons and rosettes, hang it over a vegetable patch in the garden as a shiny bird scarer, or keep the Christmas theme and make decorations for next year.

If you stash it away for 12 months, you can use it to wind through homemade wreaths or use on DIY cards.

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