Recycle and Reuse Christmas Greeting Cards

Make Memories - Not Waste

Everyone loves to receive postcards, and greeting cards for special occasions. They're simple, thoughtful, and beautiful - especially Christmas and holiday cards. They're so memorable and nice, that many people hold on to their greeting cards for years and years.

When they start to pile up, it can be a bit of a dilemma, deciding what to do with all these keepsakes. If you feel like lightening your load of cards, don't send them to the recycling bin right away! There are many ways that you can reuse your cards to make easy, beautiful crafts and decorations.

With Recycle It!, you can clear out some clutter, help the environment, and create something new and interesting, all in the same day! Try some of these craft ideas with the kids for a fun family afternoon.

Quick Crafts

These are some of the simplest ways that you can reuse old greeting cards. Even if you're not crafty, you can still go green with your holiday and party trimmings!

Cut the front of a card into six smaller squares to use as gift tags. Attach them to gifts with tape, or punch a hole in one corner and tie them with ribbon.
Remove the front of the card, and draw a line down the back, width-wise. Send it as a postcard to a friend who's far away.
Cut cards into smallish pieces to create mini jigsaw puzzles. Put them into homemade Christmas crackers or goodie bags for the kids.

Handmade Gift Boxes

Miniature Recycled Gift Boxes

These cute boxes use the entire card and leave no waste. They are so easy and fun to make, you'll be searching for gifts to fill them all! The tiny size is perfect for stocking stuffers and gift baskets.

You Will Need:

One Christmas or greeting card
Ruler
Pen or pencil
Scissors
Tape or glue
Decoration (optional)

1) Separate the back and front of your card by cutting along the crease.

2) Place the front of the card face down. Using the ruler, draw a line from the top left corner of the card to the bottom right. Repeat from top right to bottom left. Your card will now have a large X.

3) Fold the bottom of the card so that the edge meets the centre of the X. Press down the fold to crease. Repeat for the top edge of the card.

4) Unfold the card. Fold the left side so that the edge meets the centre of the X. Press the fold to crease. Repeat for the right side.

5) Unfold the card. Starting at the bottom right corner, cut along the crease from the bottom edge, to where it meets the X. Repeat for the other 3 corners. This will make 3 tabs on either end of the card.

6) Fold in the two smaller tabs at one end of the card. Fold the large tab over both small tabs. Repeat for the other end of the card.

7) Secure the tabs with tape or glue. If you use glue, hold the tabs together with a paper clip or clothespin until they are dry.

8) Repeat the above steps for the back of the greeting card. In step 5, make your cuts 2mm longer so that the box will fit together.

9) Decorate your box as desired, or leave it as is.

Ways to Use Tiny Gift Boxes:

- Fill it with a tiny gift for someone special.
- Decorate a tree with them, or fill a bowl with them to decorate a vanity or shelf.
- Fill one with potpourri or bath salts to keep drawers smelling fresh.

Origami Gift Box

By trimming a gift card into squares, you can use origami techniques to create all kinds of shapes and decorations.

This quick video features a step-by-step tutorial on folding a small gift box using origami. You can adapt this technique for left over wrapping paper or gift cards.

For a beginner friendly project, try an easy origami box.

This video also features a great holiday soundtrack, which you can listen to as you read on about ways to recycle your Christmas cards!

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Fridge Magnet Clip

Use your old cards to create stylish magnets for your refridgerator. By adding a paper clip, you can use these magents to easily hold and display bills, telephone messages, or shopping lists.

For One Magnet You Will Need:

Greeting card
Large paper clip
Magnetic tape
Scissors
Hot glue gun
Pen or pencil

Assembly:

1) Cut out a design from the front of the card that you would like for your magnet.

2) Use your cut out to trace the same shape on the back of the greeting card. Cut out the second shape.

3) Line up the cut outs side by side, and place the top of the paperclip at the bottom of the plain cut out. Make sure that the cut outs will not cover the opening of the paper clip.

4) Place a dime sized drop of hot glue over the top of the paper clip. Place the front cut out over top and press down gently.

5) Allow the glue time to dry. Cut a small piece of magnetic tape and remove the backing. Press the magnet to the plain side of your clip. You now have your own custom fridge magnet!

Tip: If you don't have any magnetic tape around, you can also tape your card clips to the fridge, or any surface that you would like to hang messages from.

You can make a whole set and give them as a gift, or put them in a "Home Office" gift basket.

Poetry Tag

This project uses three different cut outs from a greeting card. You can use a ruler to create square or rectangle tags. For round tags, you can use different sized measuring cups as stencils.

For one tag you will need:

1 greeting card
scissors
box cutter or precision knife
ruler or stencil
white or clear craft glue
hole punch
string or twine

1) Cut out a shape around the poem on the inside of your greeting card. Leave a border of 1 cm.

2) Centre the cut out over the portion of the card that would would like pictured on the front of your tag. Draw a similar shape around the cut out that is 1 cm wider on all sides.

3) Use your second cut out as a stencil, and cut a third shape from the front of the card for the back of the tag.

4) On the back of your second cut out, centre the first shape and trace around it. Using a ruler or stencil as a guide, draw the same shape again within your tracing, leaving a 3mm border.

5) Using the box cutter, cut out the shape that you just made from the middle of your second cut out.

You should now have three cut outs like this:

6) Turn the window cut out over and spread a little glue evenly on the back. Centre the poem face down over the window, lining it up with your tracing from step 4.

7) Place your third cut out face up over the window, lining up the edges. Place the tag between two books to dry.

8) Once the glue has dried, you can decorate the window with glitter, or use it to cover up any writing that may show from the greeting card.

Ways To Use Poetry Tags:

- Hang your poetic ornament from the tree, or decorate your kitchen by dangling one on each handle on the cuboards.
- Use them as gift tags or placecards.
- Attach them to scrapbook pages, journals or photo albums.

Spring Garland

This easy technique is great for making holiday streamers. For long streamers, use large circles cut from greeting cards. Smaller circles are great for making tree-like ornaments.

Cards with raised print are best, but you can use any colorful greeting cards to make these fun spiralling decorations.

Materials:

1 greeting card
green or red marker
scissors
round stencil
hole punch
string or ornament hook

Assembly:

1) Remove the front half of the card, and use a red or green marker to fill in the white area on the back.

2) Use a round stencil to draw a circle over the centre of the card, and cut out the circle.

3) Position your scissors on the edge of the circle, and begin cutting a spiral shape. Follow the edge of the circle, keeping a distance of about 1/4 inch between the scissors and the edge. As you turn the circle, a spiral will form.

4) Leave a small circle at the centre of the card.

5) Punch a small hole in the middle of the spiral. With the printed side of the card facing up, separate the spirals, and attach a string or ribbon through the hole in the centre.

6) Hang several spring garlands together for maximum effect.

Accordion Balls

Memorable Dangles

These ornaments can be made in any size, and are great for decorating doorways and bannisters. Six card circles are great for showing off the designs from the greeting cards, but you can use more for an even fuller-looking ornament.

For one ornament you will need:

6 greeting cards
Drinking glass or round stencil
Pen or pencil
Scissors
Sting or yarn
Masking tape
Craft glue
Clothes pins or paper clips

1) Using the glass or stencil, cut out 6 circles from the greeting cards. Fold each circle in half, picture side in, creasing them gently.

2) Apply some glue to one half of a circle, on the plain side. Press it to another plain circle half, lining up the edges evenly. Hold the cards together with a clothes pin and allow to dry.

3) Cut an 8 inch length of string. Line up the ends, and place them in the crease between the two card circles, on the exposed plain side. Attach the string ends (about 1 inch) to the card with a bit of tape.

4) Apply some glue to one of the plain circle halves, and press a third circle to it. Hold it in place with a clothespin to dry.

5) Continue adding card circles by gluing the halves together. The final circle will need to be glued on both sides.

You can decorate the ornaments further with glitter, or use even more circles for a different look. If you apply this technique to shapes such as squares or stars, you can also make free-standing decorations. For a tutorial and template, try the Stand Up Stars.

Greeting Banners

Create your own decorative greeting

Draw or stencil large letters on the front of some greeting cards (one letter per card). Use them to make banners in festive phrases.

To make a banner, punch holes in the tops of the letters and weave a bit of string or twine through them, or use ornament hooks or staples to hang them from a length of ribbon. Hang your banner over the fireplace or in the window!

You can make banners saying "Happy Birthday" or "Congratulations". Try some of these merry phrases for the holidays:

Happy Holidays
Happy Hanukkah
Joyeux Noel
Seasons Greetings

Merry Christmas
Happy New Year
Feliz Navidad
Good Tidings

Crafts with Style

There are so many great ways to personalize your recycled crafts and Do-It-Yourself projects.

Stamps, stencils, glitter and glue...the possibilities are endless. Try some of these popular craft supplies to take your projects from ordinary to extraordinary!

To learn more about these great craft products, just click on the picture.

4-Oz. Color Splash! Glitter Glue/Paint Set (Set of 4)

Put glitter exactly where you want it with easy to squeeze glitter glue bottles! Glitter glue is great for adding text.

Amazon Price: $7.96 (as of 12/06/2009)

Mod Podge 16 oz gloss

The ultimate puzzle and craft sealer! Mod Podge is easy to brush on for collage style projects.

Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009)

Tupperware Holiday Stencil Set & Packable Container

Never be without a shape again with a great set of stencils! They are great for cut outs, or draw them on and fill them with glitter!

Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009)

Handmade Placemats

Create you own custom table settings

For one placemat you will need:

Roll of self adhesive shelf paper or contact paper in a festive color or pattern
Roll of clear self adhesive shelf paper
Drinking glass or other round stencil
Pen or pencil
Scissors
Ruler
20 greeting cards

1) Center the glass or stencil over a greeting card. If the picture is a festive scene, capture the main focus within the glass. Patterned cards can be stenciled more than once. Trace around the glass with a pen. Cut out the circle and set aside. Make 5 circles to start.

2) Place 5 circles in a row, overlapping slightly (about ¼ inch). Measure the length of the row of card circles. Cut a sheet from each roll of shelf paper that is the same length, plus 2 inches.

3) Cut 15 more card circles. Arrange all 20 in a rectangle, 4 rows high and 5 rows long. Overlap the circles slightly, and make sure that all the pictures are straight.

4) Carefully peel the backing from the sheet of colored shelf paper that you cut in Step 2. Place the card circles down, one at a time on the sticky side, leaving a 1 inch border around all sides. Carefully press all the cards down to smooth them as you work.

5) Carefully peel the backing from the clear sheet of shelf paper. Line up the corners, and lay the clear paper down over the cards, sticky side down. Working from the middle and moving outward, smooth the shelf paper down with your hands, and remove any air pockets.

6) Cut around the edges of the cards with scissors or crimping shears, leaving a border of about 1/8 inch of shelf paper. You now have one custom placemat! Make 3 more for a set, and add coasters by using just single card circles and cutting them out.

What About the Scraps?

Don't throw away the leftover bits of card after you've cut out circles for placemats and ornaments. You can cut out shapes by hand, or with specialty hole punches. Use them to decorate a wreath (see below), or try some of these ideas:

String small card shapes together for a garland. Use circles, stars, teddy bears, candy canes - any shape you want! Just punch a small hole on either side, and weave a string through each shape, or attach them together with wire rings.
Decorate your table with holiday 'confetti'.
Use them in a scrapbook.
Make festive candles. Attach shapes to the base of a large candle with a few drops of wax from a taper candle. Dip the entire candle in melted wax to seal it. (Don't let the candle burn down to the card shapes).

Festive Wreath

A fun craft for kids

These all-recycled wreaths are great for hanging on the door to greet your visitors.

For one wreath you will need:

Cardboard (pizza box tops work great)
A dinner plate and a slightly smaller round stencil
Pen or pencil
Box cutter
Mod Podge or other craft glue
Decorative paper scraps (leftover wrapping paper, tissue paper or florist paper)
Paintbrush
Assorted greeting cards

1) Use the plate to stencil a circle onto the cardboard. Center a smaller stencil inside the first circle, and trace around it with a pen or pencil. Cut out the circles with a box cutter to make a cardboard ring.

2) Cut the scrap paper into 1 inch squares. Using the paintbrush, spread a bit of mod podge onto the cardboard ring. Place a square of paper over the glue, then brush with a thin layer of mod podge to smooth.

3) Continue adding squares of paper until the entire ring is covered, over lapping each square slightly. Add 2 or more layers until the cardboard no longer shows through. Allow each layer to dry before adding the next one.

4) Cut assorted festive shapes from the greeting cards. Arrange the pieces on the wreath until you are satisfied with the design. Apply the card shapes to the wreath with mod podge, and allow to dry.

5) Decorate the wreath with glitter if you wish, and hang from a door or window with a push pin.

You can also attach a string to the wreath for easy hanging. Simply staple a length of string to the back of the cardboard ring before adding the paper squares. Cover the staples with paper as you work to secure them.

What About the Card Backs?

Green Scrapbook Ideas

There's no need to toss the greeting part of your cards into the recycling bin!

Once you've transformed the front half of your favorite cards, save the back to create a scrapbook. On each page, feature the card with a photo of the person who sent it.

Add your own embellishments, such as poems, keepsakes, and left over card shapes from your other projects. You'll have a wonderful collection of sentiments to cherish forever!

Crafts for Recyclers

The Three R's are an important part of keeping the planet clean for future generations.

There are hundreds of ways that anyone can help prevent everyday materials from ending up in a landfill. For the crafty and creative crowd, the possiblities for rainy day fun are endless!

To learn more about these popular titles, simply click on the picture.

Gorgeous Gifts: Use recycled materials to make cool crafts (Ecocrafts)

by: Rebecca Craig, Editors of Kingfisher

Make gifts for everyone without breaking the bank.

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 12/06/2009)

Nature's Art Box: From t-shirts to twig baskets, 65 cool projects for crafty kids to make with natural materials you can find anywhere

by: Laura C. Martin

How to make wonderful crafts from nature's gifts.

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/06/2009)

Rubbish!: Reuse Your Refuse

by: Kate Shoup

It's only trash if you give up on it!

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/06/2009)

ReMAKE ReSTYLE ReUSE: Easy Ways to Transform Everyday Basics into Inspired Design

by: Sonia Lucano

Be green and stylish at the same time.

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 12/06/2009)

Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt

by: Megan Nicolay

Everything old is new again. As long as it's a T-Shirt!

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $10.37 (as of 12/06/2009)

Create Your Own Greeting Cards

In a world where conversation is just a click away, greeting cards, post cards and letters have become a rare treat.

Think back to the last time you received a hand-written message from a friend or family member. The excitement of finding a special note in your mailbox is one that you can give to someone any time of the year.

No special occasion is necessary to send a greeting - after all, it's the thought that counts!

Don't wait for someone else to write the perfect card for you! Make your own and send a personalized greeting to the ones you love. With just a few simple supplies and the right attitude, anyone can create memorable cards that will be cherished.

Greeting Card Factory 7.0 Deluxe [OLD VERSION]

Includes 24,000 cards and projects, 90,000+ graphics, and 1000+ creative fonts and text effects for making your own cards. This CD-ROM also includes tools for making your own custom calendars.

Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 12/06/2009)

The Big Book of Handmade Cards and Giftwrap: Over 50 Step-by-Step Projects

by: Vivienne Bolton

With straightforward instruction perfect for beginners, and a wealth of different techniques to appeal to crafters at an advanced level, this exciting guide will capture the attention of every reader who likes to create.

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/06/2009)

Making Handmade Greeting Cards

This step-by-step DVD will introduce you to the fun and rewarding art of handmade greeting cards. You'll learn a variety of craft techniques from which you can make hundreds of different greeting cards for any occasion, every recipient.

Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/06/2009)

Hallmark Card Studio 2005 Deluxe

This CD-Rom includes more than 1,000 new designs and more than 10,000 exclusive clip art images for making your own custom greeting cards for all occasions.

Amazon Price: $8.93 (as of 12/06/2009)

Fun Card Crafts

These Projects are Highly Recommended

Use these inspired ideas to recycle all of your greeting cards, postcards and wrapping paper. Many of these crafts are great year 'round. Just change the shapes and colors from festive to a theme of your choice!

Hole Punch Garland: Skill Level: Beginner

Use your old cards to make a colorful and beautiful Christmas garland.

Materials Needed:
Greeting Cards
Hole Punches
Button Cards: Skill Level: Beginner

Remove the front of your old cards and dress them up with buttons to make something new this year.

Materials Needed:
Greeting Cards, Paper, Buttons, Pipe Cleaner
Decorative Paper Balls: Skill Level: Beginner

Fill a bowl with these three-dimensional paper decorations, or hang them around the house!

Materials Needed: Greeting Cards, Glue, Beads optional
Collage Jewelry Set: Skill Level: Beginner

Use Christmas cards to make a necklace and earrings to wear during the holidays.

Materials Needed:
Greeting Cards
Glue
Beads
Jewelry Components
Snowstorm Window Curtain: Skill Level: Beginner

This easy to do project uses office labels to mimic snow. You can create the same effect with Christmas card cutouts and a gluestick.

Materials Needed:
Greeting Cards, Glue, Dental Floss
Custom Gift Tags: Skill Level: Beginner

Here are some great ideas for making your own gift tags from leftover cards. This project also includes a pattern for a folded gift box, and a paper bow.

Materials Needed: Greeting Cards, Paper
Square Gift Box: Skill Level: Intermediate

Make a perfect square box from your old greeting cards.

Materials Needed:
Greeting cards
Glue optional
Origami Card Box: Skill Level: Intermediate

Make a teeny tiny box from your Christmas cards using Origami style techniques.

Materials Needed:
Greetings Cards
Glue
Thank You Ornament: Skill Level: Intermediate

At the end of the holiday season, you can thank all of your generous friends and family for their gifts by returning their cards and wrapping paper to them!

Materials Needed:
Greeting Cards, Paper, Glue
Framed Collage: Skill Level: Advanced

This craft project is a bit ambitious, but well worth the effort. Use inexpensive wooden frames to create your own multi-photo frame, and save your most precious cards for years to come!

Materials Needed:
Greeting Cards, Photo frames, Wood glue, Clamps

A Handmade Gift

...is an Eco-friendlier Gift!

These great lenses can help you have a greener and more beautiful holiday, birthday, or any day!

SheKnows has 12 quick ideas for reusing your old greeting cards. For five more projects check out What to Do After Christmas

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Recycled Holiday Cards

There are millions of different designs for Christmas cards, with new ones coming out every year.

One of the easiest ways to make sure that everyone on your list receives a cheerful greeting is to purchase boxed sets of cards.

The best kinds of greeting cards are made from recycled paper. You can save time and money by using these bulk style cards.

Reindeer Sips Eggnog (Holiday Boxed Cards - 100% Recycled Paper)

by: Doodle Greetings

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/06/2009)

Usually ships in 24 hours

Holiday Giraffe (Holiday Boxed Cards - 100% Recycled Paper)

by: Doodle Greetings

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/06/2009)

Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks

Kissing Parkas (Holiday Boxed Cards - 100% Recycled Paper)

by: Doodle Greetings

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/06/2009)

Usually ships in 24 hours

Angels in Blue (Holiday Boxed Cards - 100% Recycled Paper)

by: Doodle Greetings

Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009)

People of Earth Join in Peace (Boxed Cards - 100% Recycled Paper)

by: Doodle Greetings

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/06/2009)

Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks

Fair Trade Cards

"Indego Africa Giving Tree" Recycled Greeting Card (RF11) Set of 5 - Rwanda

Amazon Price: $20.00 (as of 12/06/2009)

Usually ships in 24 hours

"For Better or Worse" Recycled Wedding Card (RF13) Set of 5 - Rwanda

Amazon Price: $20.00 (as of 12/06/2009)

Usually ships in 24 hours

Vintage Style Cards

If you see a card style that you like, just click on the picture to learn more!

Photographic Winter Holiday Cards

Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009)

Winter Log Cabin Holiday Cards

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/06/2009)

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Victorian Angel Holiday Cards

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/06/2009)

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Sled Holiday Cards

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/06/2009)

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

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WordVixen WordVixen Nov 8, 2009 @ 6:11 pm

My mom taught me years ago how to make gift boxes out of cards, but I love the idea of turning cards into placemats! We always have cards left over each year that I think are just beautiful, but obviously are not used again the following year. Now I can use those pretty cards to decorate! :-)

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aj2008 aj2008 Nov 4, 2009 @ 6:53 am

This is an excellent lens about recycling with great ideas and content. Well laid out too - SquidAngel Blessings for you and featured on my Green Christmas lens.

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nightcats nightcats Oct 25, 2009 @ 1:54 pm

Great lens. I so support anything that involves recycling and reducing waste.

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tandemonimom tandemonimom Sep 21, 2009 @ 4:15 pm

These are wonderful ideas! I especially liked the little magnets. This is now a featured lens on Wrapsacks Reusable Greeting Cards.

Reply

NatureMaven NatureMaven Jun 29, 2009 @ 2:48 pm

Your lens is great, I wish I wrote it! Love the clear photos too. But then I always like your lenses ;) 5***** and lens rolling to my own greeting card lens. Happy creating! NM
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