Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

Tip: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I save my Christmas cards each year and recycle them by cutting gift cards from the front of the cards. It's amazing what unique and beautiful gift cards you can make. Just be sure there is nothing written on the inside of the card on the left side. You can use a hole punch to attach ribbon to the gift card or you can tape it to your wrapped gift.

These are also beautiful to use as gift cards for homemade goodies. It's so much after the rush of the holidays to sit down and look at the cards again and then see creative I can be in cutting my gift cards for next year's presents. No one else will have gift cards like these either!

By GG from Greenville, NC

Feedback:

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

Cut the cards apart and keep the picture side. Put two that kind of go together and get a solid color contact paper and place them onto the paper (picture side up) then put clear contact paper on top of the cards and either cut all around with different sissors then you can decorate them of use as is for placemats on the table or under a potted plant. From t4family5 , Cromwell, Indiana (11/14/2009)

By t4family5

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I also make gift tags from cards but go a step further and add glitter around the edges. I also use old CD's and trace around the CD on pretty cards, cut them out and glue one to the back and one to the front of the CD. Add soft metal tape in silver gold or copper around the edge. (Can be purchased from framing stores.) Then I add a small bow at the top of the CD so they can be hung up or used for an ornament.. They are very pretty and make quick gifts to keep on hand for any occasion. (11/16/2009)

By pinkrose345

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

The first year I was married we had no money and every ornament on our tree was homemade. My husbands mother had a box full of rusty canning jar lids and my husband spray painted them for me,drilled a small hole on the "top" (really it was on one side of the lid ring) and I traced out a part of the picture on the card and glued them into the jar lid. I then decorated them with ribbon, lace, etc. and put an ornament hook through the drilled hole. I have also seen this done with photos and given as gifts. (11/16/2009)

By Tatorbug

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I have cut the fronts off the cards and am using them as Christmas postcards this year. I may turns some into greeting cards also (by attaching them to cards stock), but many cards are the right size for a postcard. I don't know how well they will be received (do I look like a cheapskate), but I am trying to be green and recycle. Thoughts? (11/26/2009)

By shupfer

Request: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

What do I do with my recycled Christmas cards? I took the fronts off and in the past have made gift tags with them. Now I am thinking of making them into a post card for Christmas next year. What does everyone else do with them? Amy from Long Branch, NJ

Feedback:

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I especially love the Christmas cards that have outdoor snowy scenes with cozy looking cottages or little churches. I put them in picture frames that I buy at the dollar store and hang them up on the walls in little collage groupings during the holiday season, in the bathroom even. Also, if some have an especially nice Christmas Prayer, I also put those in frames and set them around on end tables, etc. (01/25/2009)

By Arlinn

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

A member of our Thriftyfun Community posted this idea last year.

Craft Project: Crocheted Recycled Christmas Cards (01/25/2009)

By MCW

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I used mine to make a very pretty fire screen, measure the fire place. Make a frame with 2x2's to fit it then wrap paper around the frame. I used brown wrapping paper for this. Use hot glue gum, then hot glue the cards to it, good luck. (01/27/2009)

By kw

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

You can make them into gift boxes.

http://www.craftypod.com/2007/10/29/how-to-make-a-gift-box-from-an-old-greeting-card/ (01/27/2009)

By chriself

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I keep the backs of the cards which are shiny and plain and use them for encaustic art. (01/28/2009)

By Isobel44art

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

You could also check with your local Special Needs foundation. They accept old Cards of any occasion use them in different craft projects and also recycle them to make new ones. (01/28/2009)

By Jodi

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

St. Jude's Ranch for Children (home for abused and neglected youths) has a card reuse program. The kids cut off the front covers and use them to make new cards that are sold to earn money. I told my son's teacher about it and their whole class is involved now! The kids are so proud of the fact that they are helping other kids this way! (01/28/2009)

By By Susan

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I used them to make photo albums for gifts this year. I used the front of the card and glued it to card stock. I then had pictures printed from our Christmas celebration from the previous year and glued them to card stock. I punched two holes in the top of all the cards and put ribbon through the holes and tied it so the pictures could be turned. I gave them for Christmas gifts to my family and every one loved them. (01/28/2009)

By Terri

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

Here's a site that has directions to make a Christmas tree, A bowl/basket, and an ornament from recycled cards. I thought they were great--hope you like them too!

http://www.canadianliving.com/food/50_days_of_holidays/a_recycling_christmas.php (01/28/2009)

By susanmajp

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I use the card front to make new cards. I mount on scrapbook paper, sometimes I add embellishments (words, sequins, ribbons, sparkles, etc) They are beautiful. I have fun making and am recycling to boot! (01/28/2009)

By Diana

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

Donate them to your local elementary school for art projects. (01/28/2009)

By louel53

Request: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

Here are a couple of ideas for using old cards. Please add your ideas below (you'll need to log in) or send them in using the contribute form.

Uses for Christmas Cards

If nothing is written behind the front picture, I cut off the front, and use them as recipe cards. I have many holiday recipe cards in my file with family favorites handwritten on the back of them. Makes them easy to spot, and helps to recycle.

Marjorie

Answers:

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

What I do is use them for decorations. I take last year's cards and use them in a garland chain or as part of the ornaments on the tree. (10/21/2003)

By ThriftyFun

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

Craft stores sell inexpensive wooden tea trays and cardboard boxes in all sizes that can be covered or lined with cutouts from cards and a thin layer of matte varnish finish. I have seen a tray done up in only snowmen that was adorable. (04/27/2004)

By Petra

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

Ignoring the picture on the front of the card, cut a spiral, starting large and spiraling inward to the center of the card front. When finished, pull the spiral slightly so that it will hang three-dimensionally like a Christmas tree.

Use a pin to poke a hole in the top center of the spiral and loop some thread to it for hanging.(09/05/2004)

By lorac456

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I've received gifts that the tags are made from recycled cards. Cut whatever shape you want out of them and punch a hole for the string. We made a table runner once of cards we sandwiched between clear contact paper. The ladies at church used to somehow crochet them together to make handbags. I have cut off the back flap and used some of them for Christmas post cards instead of buying a box. (10/06/2004)

By melody_yesterday

Gift Tags

Don't throw away all those pretty Christmas cards you received.

Cut out the small pictures, be sure to check the back of the card, too and use them for gift tags, holiday decoupage projects, etc. for next year. (01/08/2005)

By Becki in Indiana

Reusing Christmas Cards

I use the cards for recipe cards. I trim them down, trying not to cut off any of the pictures. Then I type the recipe on the computer and I can run the card through my printer balancing the card so the recipe does not get cut off. What fun, seeing the nice cards and saving on recipe cards. (01/08/2005)

By Lois

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I use them for scrapbooking. You can cut them apart and use the pictures or the words.(01/08/2005)

By Charlotte

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I cut them down to post card size and send them next year. A post card stamp is much less expensive.

Make lines with a pencil and ruler on reverse side for addressing and separating message from address.(01/09/2005)

By ralphed

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

First of all, I save my Christmas cards I receive and then starting on Jan. 1st I randomly pull one of them out and sit it on my kitchen table. It is a reminder to pray a little prayer for that person through out the day. The next day I pull another one and then use the one from the day before and cut it into gift labels that I will use for the following Christmas. Be creative, sometimes I get several tags from one card. Most cards have a little picture or phrase that can be cut into different shapes and used for tags or labels for gifts. I was in the hospital for a month and received lots of get well cards. I plan on doing the same with them. It's a nice way to remember the person who took the time to send you a card. It's a nice way to recycle and no one has gift tags like mine. (02/10/2005)

By Marcy

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I just thought of a neat use for some of these cards. If there is a empty page on the card. Fill it with a picture of your family or some original artwork and write a few of your own words stating how much the original sender's friendship means to you. Remember they picked the card out in the first place,so they must have liked it. (02/11/2005)

By Mr. Thrifty

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I think it would be cool to take few of the best Christmas cards and turn them into a collage and frame them to hang at the holidays. (02/11/2005)

By Vicki

Post Cards

I have been using old greeting cards, valentines, excess scrapbook paper, etc. to make postcards. I just use the scraps and a glue stick on 4X6 index cards. This is great for all the sweeps entries I mail out. Other people have used other creative materials to make post cards, cereal boxes, etc. (03/03/2005)

By Mary Beth

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

You probably won't believe this but we have great fun with old Christmas cards and any other holiday ones. My sisters and I send each other used greeting cards. We just cross out the names and insert ours. Right now my one sister's birthday is coming up and I saved a card that she sent me years ago and I am putting it back on her. The best fun we had was a card with a hugh family photo inside and we sent it to each other with the "It took a long time for us to all get together for this photo, so enjoy" which was great as we're so spread around the country. (03/07/2005)

By kstiles808

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

I have two ideas for uses for old christmas or greeting cards, both of which my grandmother has done with cards all of her life.

1. Using a cheap photo album put the pretty cards in it and group by like pictures. My grandmother had 13 kids and now has tons of grandchildren. Growing up before we learned to read we enjoyed looking at this "picture book". As we got older it was neat to see the cards from different years (styles and pictures).
2. My grandmother also cuts off the back part of the card and just keeps the picture front part and uses them as a postcard, sometimes she sends them in envelopes. (07/08/2005)

By catsnfrogs84

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

Apart from using cards for postcards etc. I save all the very special ones from my children and grandchildren and every year on the appropriate dates, i.e. Christmas, birthday, I make a special display of them. I usually put the grandchildren on one door and the children on another. I have some going back to when they were tiny and made their own and these are real treasures. I also display again any others that I think are too pretty to throw away, and the cards I have still got from my late parents and departed friends also have a special area. It takes a bit of time to do but it is fun to see again all the lovely cards, and know that they are never wasted after just one use. (08/30/2005)

By Fitz

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

Save the metal lids from frozen orange juice cans, cut pictures from cards and glue in center of lid, trim with gold cording. Glue two lids together with pictures on both sides, wrap and glue thin colored ribbon around outside of lids and make loop for hanging. Instant ornaments. We have also glued family pictures onto the juice lids. My kids loved making these ornaments. Enjoy. (12/21/2005)

By Patricia

RE: Uses for Old Christmas or Greeting Cards

St, Jude's is accepting recycled cards from Nov 28, 2008-February 28, 2009. (01/02/2009)

By Heather