Upcycle Holiday Cards
The holidays are over and you’ve taken down your decorations and packed them up for another year. But what about that beautiful collection of holiday cards? If you’re like me, you love sending and receiving these cards but feel a twinge of guilt when tossing them in the recycle bin. I’ve done some fun research and found 10 simple ways to reuse them.
Mini photo book—This is a fun and easy way to reuse the family photo cards. You can get a small photo book from Target or The Dollar Store. Cut your pictures to size, slide them in, and—voila!—you have an instant memory book. It’s a good way to keep your kids (and maybe yourself) familiar with people they don’t see often.
Flip book for coffee tables—This is similar to the picture book and even easier to make. Just punch a couple holes on the side of the photos and attach them all together with a binder ring. For a fancy touch, add a cover that includes the year. Keep the photos in a small basket or bin for everyone to flip through during the holidays. Gather enough of them and see how much the kids have grown over time.
Mini puzzles—This is a great way to keep your kids occupied, and it works for both photo and non-photo cards. Tear the front of the greeting card off, flip it over, and draw some shapes. If you’re doing multiple puzzles, assign each picture a number and write it in each shape. This helps your kids sort by number to get the right pieces. Cut the pieces out and enjoy! If any of that sounds confusing, check out this tutorial for step-by-step instructions.
DIY gift tags—Gift tags can get pricey, and you can only use them once. So why not make your own tags using old cards? You can make them by cutting any shape you want or by using a gift tag punch. They come out perfect every time!
Frame them—This is another easy one, and you can use your favorites for next year’s decor. Swap out existing photos for some instant festive flair, or layer in new frames on mantels and shelves to freshen up your decorations every year.
DIY postcard—You can make your faves into postcards to send them out to family and friends. Cut the front off and trim the card to standard postcard size. Add some finishing touches by rounding the corners or adding some other design elements.
Art Collage—Let kids of any age go to town with some glue, scissors, and glitter. They get to create, and you get to declutter. It’s a win-win! Get some collage ideas here.
DIY Garland—This one takes a little more patience, but it’s still fun and easy. Create one-of-a-kind tree decor with some craft punches, glue, and yarn. Get the full instructions here.
Coasters—I tried this as a gift idea last year for my sister. I took a mix of lovely and embarrassing photos to create a hodgepodge of coasters. Her family loves them and finds the memories hilarious. Follow this tutorial to make some unique coasters for your next holiday party or to give as gifts.
Donate them—Don’t worry if you aren’t feeling crafty. You can donate your cards to organizations like St. Judes Ranch, and they will be given a new life for a great cause.
These ideas don’t have to be just for holiday cards either. Use them for all types of occasions and never feel wasteful again!