I’m not really the sentimental type when it comes to keeping Christmas cards. I’ve only kept the ones my daughter has given me when she was little and few others now and then. So what do you do with with Christmas cards when Christmas is over (or for that matter what do you do with any cards you get)? There are lots of ways to reuse and upcycle old Christmas cards!
How To Reuse or Upcycle Old Christmas Cards
- Nostalgic. Old Christmas cards can send you back to a time and place when you first received them. Preserve those loving memories by repurposing them into a treasured keepsake.
- Christmas Card Crafting Day. Have a fun day with friends as you all bring your own inventive ideas for different ways to upcycle.
- Economical. Use supplies you already have and create a work of art on a budget!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to Amazon and/or Etsy, which means that I may earn a small commission from some of the links in this post. Please see our Disclosure Page for more information.
Give your old Christmas cards new life with these great repurpose ideas!
1. Present Tags
Make tags for presents like these from Upcycle Your Life. These are a great way to recycle and spruce up your gifts.
2. Bookmarks
You could make bookmarks out of old cards. See the tutorial at The Good Weekly. These could be a gift or stocking stuffer too!
3. Colorful Wreath
Make a colorful wreath like this one from Craft Sy. I would keep it on an inside door since it won’t be weather proof.
4. Ornament
Try these easy to make ornaments by folding, cutting, and gluing that will bring you this beauty at Imperfect Homemaking.
5. Notepads
Turn your Christmas cards into notepads! See the tutorial at Hope Studios. These are such a wonderful way to reuse and regift Christmas cards.
6. Gift Bags
Take part of the card and glue it onto plain paper bags to create pretty gift bags via Garden and Angels
7. Christmas Banner
Upcycle Your Christmas Cards Into a Festive Christmas Banner from Average But Inspired. This is so much fun and festive!
8. Keepsake Ornament
Create a keepsake ornament by saving a special card. Simply write the name of the person on the back from Artsy Chicks Rule. Next Christmas, enjoy putting these on your tree.
9. Home Decor
Cottage At The Crossroads upcycled vintage children’s Christmas cards into home decor for the season.
10. Fabric Ornaments
Lovely Etc. delivers the most beautiful ornaments, made from fabric and vintage Christmas cards.
11. Holiday Jar Toppers
These holiday jar toppers are a festive way to decorate gifts with old Christmas cards from The Birch Cottage. Use them with your pantry items or as gifts.
12. Christmas Shadow Box
Create an adorable shadow box using old Christmas cards to give your home a vintage feel. Find the tutorial here by Running with Sisters.
I also want to mention that St. Jude’s Ranch for Children accepts new and used cards all year round (some exclusions apply)!
So what do you do with your Christmas cards? It’s easy to reuse & recycle old Christmas cards in fun new ways!
Used to recycle cards, but have not done so in years. There are so many pretty ones, and really don’t like pitching them – thanks for the link to the St.Jude’s Ranch for Children. Wish I had known about it a year or so ago when I did a massive clean out. Did not receive near as many this year – people are really cutting back.
Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas!!!
All great ideas, but that wreath is fabulous! Have a wonderful Christmas Manuela!
Even my mom used to recycle the old cards by cutting them up into little squares and making tags. We would sometimes recognize our card from the last year! I made cards a few years ago by cutting parts off of cards I got, and also the sentiments. I almost felt like I was cheating! We’ve also always recycled our wrapping paper and carefully folded it up to reuse year and year. We had a huge roll of wrapping paper with trains on it that my dad got from the shoe store he worked at, and we used that paper for probably 25 years! (Just reminiscing). Our family were real recyclers of everything!
Yes, it sounds like your family were into recycling before it was hip! We’re careful with the ribbons and bows – the paper not so much since I buy it after Christmas and can get it pretty cheap!
Love the wreath idea. My friend takes her cards and creates Christmas ornies with them and gives them back to the person who sent the card.
Merry Christmas!
Leann
Fabulous ideas as always Manuela! I must confess I too throw them out, except for the ones my husband and daughter give.
Have a fabulous holiday and may Santa be extra good to you!
Great ideas, Manuela. Some cards have such pretty images that it’s a shame to stick them in the recycling. Last year I saved some cards that had images that I thought would work well for tags. I used them on a few gifts this year.
Merry Christmas!
You can also make tree ornaments. I found a box of vintage ones make up with glitter and ties! used them on our simple cedar tree this year with vintage garland and candle lights. Love the old fashioned feel of it!
These are all great ideas! I have recycled Christmas cards by using them to decorate gifts wrapped in recycled brown paper. I got one this year that is so pretty I plan to frame it for Christmas decor next year. Also, the 4 year old class where I work has asked for recycled cards to use in the writing center–so whatever I don’t want to keep will go there!
When I was maybe 1st grade, we cut old Christmas cards into circles then overlapped them and glued onto a remnant of wallpaper (the backing). My teacher then covered them with clear contact paper and cut it out–kind of a scalloped oval shape to use as a placemat/doily. It was a gift for our parents. Pretty sure my mom still has it and uses it!
I love the idea of using them on packages. Although I don’t receive a lot of cards because I don’t send out many these days.
Merry Christmas! Even if I don’t comment, I am reading. 🙂
I made some cute initial gift tags this year… Love reusing Christmas cards!
http://quiltednestantiques.blogspot.com/2013/12/recycled-handmade-gift-tags.html
Great recycling ideas. Thanks for the links. Merry Christmas!