DIY

DIY Credit Card Crafts

Updated: Aug 30, 2011 07:34
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The bane of many a broke-ass – myself included – is credit cards. Most of you are probably carrying some credit card debt – statistically, the average consumer carries four credit cards, with the amount of debt per person at roughly $7,800. Those tiny plastic demons plague me, so I’ve recently declared a moratorium on the malignant fiends. In celebration, here are seven crafts to use to refashion those vile plastic squares into a clever reminder not to dance with the devil again.

Image courtesy holykaw.alltop.com

Guitar pick: This one’s a little cheaty since the example uses a punch, but if you’ve got a steady hand you could probably trace and cut the shapes you need as well. Once you’ve got the pick-shapes, you can also turn them into guitar pick earrings pretty easily. If the pick shape isn’t doing it for you, check out these alternatives.

Image courtesy readymade.com

ID Necklace: This is actually one of my favorites, just cut out the portion of the card with your name on it and attach to a necklace using two jump rings.
Bracelet: Again, cut shapes and attach with jump rings.

Image courtesy instructables.com

Stencil: This one is straightforward but dangerous. You’ll draw or write your image or text onto the card then poke holes around it using a push pin (and something solid underneath the card), then you can use an exacto blade to finish the job.

Image courtesy intstructables.com

Flower Box Fridge Magnet: you’ll need to draw a grid on the back of the card with a sharpie, then cut out the corners and fold up the flaps. Tape them in place and decorate as needed. (Pro tip: if you want to color or draw, cover the sides with masking tape). Attach a magnet with more tape, add compost or soil and your flowers or herbs.
They can also be effortlessly repurposed into a variety of other things like an SD holder, a cell phone stand, a dough scraper (I’m told they’re also good for scraping ice and snow off of car windshields), a grappling hook (Nope. Not joking.) and, of course, cut up and used for mosaic. Now see, isn’t that a smarter way to use your credit cards?

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Amber Bouman - Crafty & Cashless

Amber Bouman - Crafty & Cashless

A freelance writer, blogger and poet based in San Francisco, Amber has written for PC World, InfoWorld, and the 16th & Mission Review. She has performed at City Hall, Litquake, the Brainwash, 16th & Mission, BlueSix, and SFSU among other places. Amber is also consummate fan of swearing, organizational freak, yoga practitioner, music geek, caffeine addict, and tattoo enthusiast who enjoys platform shoes, making out, thumb wrestling and fighting the good fight. She owns a bicycle named Gretel, a motor scooter named Elroy and a cat named Simon. She can be found in various virtual locations all over your interwebs.