Recarding should be the wave of the future. I save all my old greeting cards and even ask others to donate to me. By cutting certain words, pictures, trim, and colored parts of the cards you are able to recard or recreate a new card.
I use paint card samples from the hardware store that are being thrown out. These bright colored card backgrounds support the scrapbooking design papers or scraps from magazines or the computer. They actually look professional and no one will even know that you recarded. I keep glitter, buttons, ribbons, and stickers handy to embellish the new cards.
Making envelopes is easy too. I measure the card and reuse the back pages from hardback books as the envelopes. Old wallpaper or scraps of cloth are sometimes used too.
By lnygaard from Billings, MT
Give the gift of love, "cards to recycle", to friends and they will definitely remember your card!
For those who are into crafting, this can be a fun money saving thing to do to recycle those cute and pretty card fronts.
If you're like me, you hate to throw out pretty wrapping paper. I use it as many times as I can to wrap gifts.
Any suggestions for recycling old birthday and greeting cards?
monnat96 from Pingree Grove, IL
I teach repurposed workshops to kids of all ages (preschool to "seniors"), and we use greeting cards to make all sorts of things - from doorknob hangers to bookmarks, banners, gift boxes, magnets, etc.
Does anyone have any ideas about what to do with old birthday cards, mother's day cards, etc.? I get them every year and I hate to throw them out. I try to hold on to the more meaningful ones but I still hate to throw out the others. Thanks for your help.
I don't see why you couldn't take the cards and arrange them on a board, tray and put a protectant seal on it. That way you could use it for serving or as a decorative piece in your home. You could possibly take a picture frame and arrange them for display. Good luck!
have you considered donating them to nursing homes so the residents can use them in crafts.
I cut the fronts off then mount them with white glue or glue sticks to a piece of cardstock to reuse all over again!... They are great for school art projects, as teachers are always looking for something new & inexpensive to do in their class. They also make wonderful puzzles if you mount them to a piece of chipboard, then seal with mod-podge then cut out the puzzle pieces.
Thanks everyone. Your suggestions are great. I guess I needed a little jarring of the brain to awaken my creativity. Again thanks! Kathy
I use to work with children at a school program. We would have the parents bring in old cards and envelopes. We would have the children make a new card and send them to soldiers, veterans hospitals, nursing homes, meals on wheels, etc.
I cut the picture out and wrap it in plastic wrap, then it makes a great center piece for a birthday or holiday cake.
love the ideals so far
Take a card and matte it and frame it. this is nice way to save it and use it I did one up from a post card for parents anny. old post card with the year they were married on it and framed it. They loved it. When you frame your cards you can bring them out at the time of season, and then put them away later.This way you get to see them and you can smile and remember.
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.
I save photo Christmas cards and birth announcements through the year, then collage and frame them in one big poster frame. They decorate the kid's playroom.
What do I do with my recycled Christmas cards? I took the fronts off and in the past have made gift tags with them.
Save your Christmas cards for gifts for next year. Use craft scissors for unique designs to cut out pictures on Christmas cards and glue thin magnets on the back.
If you end up with a card without an envelope for a birthday or anniversary, you can cut the card with scalloped craft scissors. Cut the front of the card out and the message from inside the card. Embellish a gift bag with the card and message.
Re-use Christmas and Hanukkah cards for recipe cards to include with a holiday food gift.
Don't throw away all the pretty Christmas cards you get away. There are so many things you can do with them. Everyone knows you can make postcards and name tags for gifts with them, but you can also cut out the design you might want to use when you scrapbook.
