What is it?:

A deck of playing cards strung together to create a table cover, placemat, curtain, wall hanging - pretty much anything.

Usefulness factor:

Playing cards often get discarded once a few are missing from the deck. This craft transforms all those cards sitting around into something useful. Use your creation to cover up an ugly table, hang in front of windows that need dressing up or in place of hanging beads in an entryway.

Items needed:

• Playing cards

• A hole punch

• Scissors

• String or yarn

Get started:

1. Arrange the cards in any pattern you want. Try putting some face down and others face up, this might work better if your deck has pictures or designs on one side. For a table covering, curtain or anything else large, arrange the cards in even rows such as seven rows of seven. For placemats, try three rows of five cards.

2. Punch holes in the top and sides of the cards to string them together.

3. Loop little pieces of string through the holes and tie together. Keep going until the entire pattern or set is complete.

4. Trim the string so no long pieces hang down and you're ready to put your mat of cards to use.

Total cost:

This craft requires no purchases and uses items easily found around your home or dorm. The project will essentially cost you nothing, unless you want to get creative with your cards and buy a deck with special designs on the back.

Challenge level:

On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the Martha Stewart Challenge, this is a 1. Punching holes and tying string to the cards is much easier than playing poker.

Our thoughts:

Most college students own multiple decks of cards, this simple craft utilizes all those cards to make a fun and functional piece of art - our definition of art does not include a house made out of cards.