GETTING CARDED

One of our favorite things about the holidays is opening the mail.  Every day brings a new crop of holiday cards with smiling faces, some of which we haven't seen since last year's cards.  We love seeing the new babies, where everyone's traveled, and who's lost their teeth.

So what to do with all those cards?  We've tried piling them into a big bowl, but we never feel like they quite get the attention they each deserve.

Propping them up on a mantle or table is a disaster as soon as some little person runs by fast enough to create a breeze.   And so, a few ideas from friends on displaying all the merry-wishes...

Go on a hunt for a good-looking, substantial, fallen branch.  Clean it up and attach picture hangars to its back, then hang it on the wall.  Use invisible wire to hang cards (with holes punched in their tops) at different levels.  If you're feeling colorful, intersperse a few different-sized ornament balls hanging among the cards.

Without getting too crafty, put together a simple mobile out of invisible wire, some crossed sticks or straightened-out hangers, and clothespins.  Clip the cards to the sticks or hangers a few at a time.

Paperclip the cards to the greenery in garlands, whether on the mantle, banisters, wreaths, or all of the above.

And, finally, our favorite...Simply tie ribbon around the banister.  Punch holes in the tops and bottoms of every card that comes in (our kids love to do this each day).  Use ornament hangers to hang the cards from the ribbon, and then from each other. 

Super-easy and cleaned-up.  The kids check out the stairs daily to see what's new and study all the faces.  What's not to love?