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 repurpose or upcycle old cards!
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Give your old Christmas cards new life with these great ideas!
Make tags for presents like these from Upcycle Your Life
You could make bookmarks out of old cards. See the tutorial at The Good Weekly
Make a colorful wreath like this one from Craft Sy
You can frame parts of cards like these from Better Homes and Gardens
Turn your Christmas cards into notepads! See the tutorial at Hope Studios
Take part of the card and glue it onto plain paper bags to create pretty gift bags via Garden and Angels
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?
Glenda says
December 23, 2013 at 7:21 pmUsed 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!!!
Penny @ The Comforts of Home says
December 23, 2013 at 7:41 pmAll great ideas, but that wreath is fabulous! Have a wonderful Christmas Manuela!
Marilyn at Pink Paper Cottage says
December 23, 2013 at 8:15 pmEven 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!
Manuela says
December 24, 2013 at 3:46 pmYes, 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!
Leann says
December 23, 2013 at 9:50 pmLove 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
[email protected] says
December 23, 2013 at 9:57 pmFabulous 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!
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says
December 24, 2013 at 8:20 amGreat 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!
Lola says
December 24, 2013 at 9:53 amYou 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!
Mary Ann says
December 25, 2013 at 12:37 pmThese 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!
Brenda Nuland says
December 25, 2013 at 2:42 pmI 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. 🙂
Joyce @ QN says
December 26, 2013 at 1:52 pmI made some cute initial gift tags this year… Love reusing Christmas cards!
http://quiltednestantiques.blogspot.com/2013/12/recycled-handmade-gift-tags.html
Laurel Stephens says
December 26, 2013 at 6:19 pmGreat recycling ideas. Thanks for the links. Merry Christmas!