What do you do with the holiday cards you get after the season is over?
By Suzieqmom
@Suzieqmom (2755)
United States
December 8, 2010 11:16am CST
I used to just throw them away, but that always seemed like such a waste. Here are some ideas I have come up with to "reuse, reduce, and recycle" holiday cards:
1. put them in your scrapbook/photo album
2. Make tree ornaments out of them
3. Store them in a decorative box
4. Frame them as single pictures or wall collages
5. Reuse theme--cut out the pictures and use to make your own cards
How about you? Any suggestions on what to do with all of those cards besides throwing them in the trash?
6 responses
@saizo6 (2199)
• United States
19 Dec 10
Those are actually really good ideas. We usually just keep all of our cards in a box afterwards. Throwing them away seems wrong since a lot of these cards had personal messages written in them. So now they are starting to stack up since we've accumulated so many over the years. I really like that fifth idea. It would put all the old cards to good use and for some reason it sounds more personal and special when a card is handmade.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
20 Dec 10
Glad you like them! Some of the other commenters have great ideas, too. 
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
13 Dec 10
I save them and store them with the Christmas decorations then I incorporate them into the holiday decorating. Right now my arch way that leads from my kitchen to my den has cards all the way around it on both sides. This is very cheerful and it reminds me of my friends and family. In years past, I have hung them on inside doors making it look almost as if it were wrapped.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
20 Dec 10
I do that the year I get the cards, but never thought about using last year's cards in that way. Hhmm...if you save enough, you could do entire walls! Thanks for the suggestion.
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
9 Dec 10
Here is another idea you might add to the list. You could scan all or part of a card and then use the image in an electronic greeting or newsletter. If you are concerned about copyright of the image, don't tell anybody about your great idea. After all, it is a way to get maximum use out of the card.
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
20 Dec 10
Interesting, although a bit risky. Certainly you could do it with homemade cards or picture cards.
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
9 Dec 10
Those are all wonderful ideas! I don't throw mine either..I use them later for something else. I have framed one that was a snowman...have used others in parts of other cards too....a long time ago I saw a basket that was made out of old cards...it was very cute. I believe they crocheted the cards together....
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
20 Dec 10
Oh, I like that. I don't crochet well, but well enough to do a connecting "strip" between cards. I do something like that with leftover ornaments and picks from outdoor wreaths and flower arrangements--arrange them in baskets and then secure them, either with yarn or hot glue.
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
8 Dec 10
These days I recycle my cards but years ago I always used to cut out designs from them with pinking shears (those scissors that cut zigzag!) and use them for labels for the next Christmas.
I also used to make Christmas baubles from them too, guess I've got too lazy in my old age!!
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
20 Dec 10
Great suggestions--I use funky scrapbooking scissors to cut out the pictures (make curves or other designs) I really like the ornament idea, and will try it next year.
@xinshunhe (132)
• China
9 Dec 10
As for me,i like making a storing.maybe i can store them in order in some book,so that i can enjoy when i'm free. the cards do have a meaning that i had ever had that experience,that's the treasure in life.
I also have an idea to handle these after-use cards that you can put them on a online store,maybe someone would like them and is trying to have them...
There is no waste in the world....
@Suzieqmom (2755)
• United States
20 Dec 10
Both excellent ideas, and I think there are charities and other organizations that do request used cards to be re-used or recycled in some way.
