5 Charming Vintage July 4th Crafts Using Player’s Cigarette Cards

Bring Vintage Charm to July 4th: 5 Unique Crafts with Player’s Cigarette Cards

Celebrate July 4th with unique, vintage-inspired decor! Discover five creative ways to transform Player’s Cigarette cards into charming fans, framed art, postcards, and more. Perfect for adding nostalgic flair to your summer gatherings.

I have mentioned before how much I love perusing the Library of Congress and New York Public Library digital collections. I can get lost for hours scrolling through vintage photographs, postcards, and all sorts of ephemera that tell stories of another time. A few weeks ago, while wandering through these digital treasure troves, I stumbled across Player's Cigarette playing cards. Naturally, I tucked them away for “later,” as one does when inspiration strikes but life is moving a mile a minute.

With July 4th just around the corner, I decided there was no better time to finally bring those saved photos to life. I wanted something festive, a little whimsical, and definitely not your run-of-the-mill red, white, and blue paper plates and plastic flags. These Player’s Cigarette cards felt like the perfect jumping-off point for a truly one-of-a-kind vintage-inspired craft session.

My first thought was to create a simple garland — easy, quick, and always a crowd-pleaser. But you know me, I can never seem to leave “simple” alone. I started reminiscing about an online auction I had browsed not too long ago, filled to the brim with ephemera. Among all the paper scraps, letters, and mementos, there were old paper fans that caught my eye.

Now, if I ask whether you remember when paper fans were handed out at funerals, I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t around for that era either! But in this auction, there were fans printed with funeral home information on the back and cheerful photos or artwork on the front. It made me wonder: did they pass them out at parades too? Perhaps businesses used them as a unique way to advertise during summer events. Someone had carefully saved those fans, and now they were being sold off as a lot of old memories.

I didn’t bid on them, but the idea stuck with me. So, I decided to create my own spin on a vintage fan.

It’s easy, truly! I printed my chosen Player’s Cigarette photo - Nina Farrington - onto cardstock, cut it out neatly, and added a scrapbooking paper background to frame it nicely. For extra sturdiness, I glued on a thin piece of chipboard (though a cereal box works just as well — no need to overcomplicate things). I then hot glued a popsicle stick to the back, wrapped the handle with red ribbon for a little flourish, and voilà — instant July 4th home decor! And yes, the fan actually works if you find yourself in need of a breeze on a hot day.

These fans would make darling name cards (you may want to make yours smaller if using them as name cards) at a family barbecue, charming dessert markers, or even thoughtful favors for guests to take home. I can just imagine a whole basket of them on the porch, ready for friends to grab as they arrive. With the sweltering heat we’ve had lately, I imagine guests would be delighted to have a functional fan at your outdoor party.

Digital Collections 

Dorothea Baird’s project took on a slightly different form this time. I wanted to highlight her festive, fun spirit, so I chose a pretty blue paisley scrapbook paper for her background — it just felt right with her attire. I only attached her photo to the paper and used a clothespin to secure it to a popsicle stick. This way, I can easily change my mind later (which, let’s be honest, is likely).

Don't Forget to Pin for Later!

Digital Collections

I think Dorothea would look adorable peeking out of a summer floral arrangement or nestled in a brass bowl (like I did here) filled with vintage spools of thread, ready to greet guests with a little wink of charm. She might even look lovely perched on a shelf in the kitchen or tucked into a pitcher on the dining table. Sometimes these small touches end up being the pieces people remember most.

Then we have May Yone in "Little Christopher Columbus." Her image inspired a different idea altogether. I turned her into a vintage-style postcard addressed to Miss Lillian Rosefield at Rosefield Cottage in Cape May, New Jersey. In my imagined story, Christina (our sender) scribbled a quick note: “Save me a slice of berry pie, I'll be late to the fireworks!”

Creating this backstory was almost as much fun as the actual crafting. I love imagining what life might have looked like for these women, what kind of adventures they might have had, and what inside jokes they might have shared. I even tried my hand at drawing a five-cent stamp on the postcard — though my artistic skills fell a bit short. Thankfully, my stash came to the rescue and I found a stamp sticker that looked just right. The end result is a playful little nod to days gone by and adds a bit of storytelling to your decor.

Digital Collections 

Edna May Spooner came next. I tried to find more information about her, but she remains a bit of a mystery — perhaps she was a character invented by Zira Cigarettes or simply a forgotten star. Her card reads “Factory No. 7 Fifth District, New Jersey,” which makes me even more curious about her origins.

For Edna, I decided to create a framed piece. I chose a pretty scrap of scrapbook paper to use as a mat, and then I placed her in a frame I had on hand. To top it off, I made a red ribbon bow. I like to imagine that Edna might have worn such a bow in her hair on a special evening out, perhaps the night she met her beau or attended a spirited dance. By adding these personal touches and weaving stories into each piece, they feel so much more alive than simply sticking them on the wall.

Digital Collections 

And last but certainly not least, there was Lillian Thurgate. I’ll admit — I was a bit stumped at first about what to do with her card. I had resized the cards to a larger format, which made them a bit trickier to use. While staring around my craft room for inspiration, I happened to grab the last Clorox bleach wipe, and the empty container gave me an idea.

Rather than toss it into the recycling bin, I decided to give it a second life. I applied Lillian’s photo directly to the container, framed it with scrap ribbon running down each side, and added red and white twine around the top for a festive touch. To finish it off, I tucked in July 4th stars-and-stripes flowers. Suddenly, this plain old wipe container was transformed into a fun, decorative piece — perfect for holding extra napkins, utensils, or even sparklers for the big night.

Digital Collections 

 

So there you have it: five different ways to use these beautiful vintage cigarette cards without spending a dime (well, aside from some glue and scraps you likely already have).

Are you hosting a July 4th celebration this year? If so, why not try incorporating a few of these playful vintage projects into your table or outdoor space? The fans alone are sure to be a hit, and they’re incredibly affordable to make. No chipboard on hand? No problem — cereal boxes work perfectly and are a great way to recycle.

I hope this inspires you to dig into your own creative stash and look at old images or materials with fresh eyes. Sometimes the best ideas are hiding in plain sight, just waiting for a story to bring them to life.

Wishing you a safe and joyful July 4th — and if you happen to see Christina, don’t forget to save her a piece of berry pie. Until next time, friend!

Ciao,

Cara