12 DIYs That Transform A Deck Of Playing Cards Into Stunning Home Decor

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From a fast-paced game of poker to a relaxing round of solitaire, a deck of playing cards affords hours of fun. You could even teach yourself magic tricks with a basic deck. But you can also come up with creative home decor ideas, like making paper roses, banners, fridge magnets, or mini photo frames. Since you're starting with a deck of cards, your project will be relatively inexpensive, especially if you grab the cards from Dollar Tree or other discount retailers. The smooth, flexible (yet durable) paper used for playing cards also makes them hold up well for various projects. These crafts are also versatile enough to use with trading cards or other collectible cards to customize them to your interests.

Some of the projects involve cutting or folding the cards, so you'll want a pack that doesn't have any sentimental or monetary value for those. But you can also frame unique or vintage playing cards that you've collected over the years to create a custom wall hanging. Some of the projects, like the altered playing cards and playing card characters, encourage you to let your creativity loose. No matter which project you choose, these playing card DIYs could come in handy if you're looking for design ideas for your home game room or bar area. Or, place them anywhere you want to show off your love for playing cards and creativity. Whether you simply love card games, used to work in a casino, or moonlight as a magician, these craft projects let you show off your love of the game.

Choose a few favorite trading cards or playing cards with unique designs to create customized fridge magnets. Protective cases, like these Eliamo hard plastic card sleeves, prevent any damage from happening to the cards. Simply slide the card into the protector, and add strips of magnetic tape or flat magnets to the back. One of the tips you need to know before making your own fridge magnets is to choose the correct magnet. The type you choose should be strong enough to hold the weight of the plastic case.

There are many stylish ways to add personality to your home with family photos — this one uses playing cards as frames for small images. For  the simplest option, you just need to cut a hole in the card, and attach the photo to the back of the card so it shows through the hole. Or, embellish the card with paint, papers, stickers, and other ornamentation. You can display the card-framed images on little stands, add magnets to the back, or use them as frames in your scrapbooks.

For this wall decor idea, you'll need a deck of cards that you love. Maybe it has a unique pattern or the designs are art-like. Then, attach them to your wall in a creative design — it's a great way to decorate a large wall. The inspiration for this project used four rows of cards with a subtle curve in the rows, but you could make a giant spiral, arrange them in a heart, or come up with another pattern. Poster putty or Command strips work well to hold the cards on the wall.

DIY garlands offer an inexpensive, personalized way to dress up walls or mantels. The inspo for this home decor strings yarn through holes punched in cards with homemade yarn pompoms in between, but you can customize how you attach and accent your playing cards. Use only the heart cards with giant bows between the cards if you're looking for DIY adorable Valentine's Day decor using a few budget-friendly materials. This idea is perfect for an Alice in Wonderland themed party or for a casino night fundraiser. Or, leave it up year-round in your game room.

You can make paper roses from baking cups, coffee filters, and doilies, but what about playing cards? Fold a card in half widthwise. From the folded edge, cut up and outward. Along the top, cut a V-shape — the folded card looks like a whale tail. Unfold it and roll the corners, which become the petals. Bunch the corners up like a flower bud and staple them. The outer petal layers remain looser as you stack the cards to create the rose along a floral wire. Add artificial leaves to finish.

Create small-scale art by carving a deck of cards. Cut out sections of cards with a craft knife, removing more of the design out of each card. For the first card, you might only cut out a small circle. On the next card, cut the circle and another section. Continue cutting progressively more of the design. Cut several cards leaving just the outer frame as spacers. Then, layer the cards with the fuller cards on the bottom and open cards on top, putting several spacer cards between each one.

Looking for ways to incorporate resin art in your home? This card project could work. You'll arrange cards into a hand with the cards fanned out, like you would hold them during a game. In the original design, the creator also makes molds of fingers to make it look like someone is holding the cards. Or, arrange the cards any way you want to customize the design. You might make several individual resin blocks, each with a favorite card inside. Add lights under or behind the resin blocks to highlight the cards.

This resin project falls under ways to DIY coasters to protect wood furniture. Resin coaster molds come in several shapes and sizes — choose one that's large enough to hold a playing card. Then, search for decorative playing cards that you want to showcase on your bar or game room coasters. From there, it's a matter of mixing your resin and embedding the card to create the custom coasters. If the mold is large enough, you could also add a poker chip or two, or add other little embellishments, like glitter.

For this project, choose your favorite card to create the body of your whimsical character. Adding fun designs and embellishments to the card gives your character personality. Cut a head out of another card or a piece of cardstock. The arms and legs are made out of thin wire and beads, shaped and styled to add to the card creature's personality. This project is something that the whole family can do — create your family of characters and display them in your game room.

Altered playing cards let you express your creativity in small doses – decorating one small card at a time can be less intimidating than tackling a large canvas. The best part is there are no rules for altered cards. Common techniques are painting, stenciling, stamping, decoupaging, and distressing the cards. Grab your art and craft supplies, and let your creativity flow. When you're done, you can add a decorative chain or ribbon to hang the card from, or use it in a journal or scrapbook to decorate the pages. 

Instead of making small decor with individual cards, grab a large frame and display several cards together. This is an ideal way to preserve vintage playing cards or a collection of unique cards you've found over the years. Maybe you visit casinos wherever you go or pick up decks of cards based on destinations you travel to — the card display becomes a time capsule of your travels. Or, if you don't have any unique or vintage cards, use this same idea to display your altered cards. 

If you don't have individual cards you want to highlight in wall art, use any deck of cards to create a collage. Grab a frame with or without a mat. With the backing off and the front of the frame facing your work surface, place one card with the face side showing through the glass. Then, layer additional cards to cover the glass fully with the back of the cards showing through the glass — they create the background. Use tape to hold the cards in place before replacing the backing.