Greeting Cards

[FeralFemale]

What do you all do with your old greeting cards people have sent you.

I am going through some old papers and found a pile of Christmas cards. My birthday just passed, as well. I hate to throw them in the recycle bin, on the otherhand, I don't want them cluttering up the house.

Is there something worthwhile I can reuse them for? Or should I just toss them?

[Bonnie L]

If the picture part doesn't have writing on the back, you can use them as postcards. Just make sure to cut the card to the right size or it will cost more. They can also be used for scratch paper (we keep a bunch of things like that in a basket by the phone) and, of course, bookmarks.

[uncle Will in In.]

You could do like my older brother, and his wife done with theirs. It seemed like they got really nice ones from several people every time some event of any size took place. I was the executor of their estate. They were everywhere. Boxes, on shelves, in paper bags, and I felt obligated to look in every card to be sure my brother or his wife hadn't stuck something of importance in them somewhere. It took me several days, (found nothing) and 8 large 50 gallon size garbage bags to get rid of them. So whatever you do with them, make every effort to get them out of the house. <> UNK

[Shepherd]

Originally Posted by Bonnie L

They can also be used for scratch paper (we keep a bunch of things like that in a basket by the phone) and, of course, bookmarks.

What a great idea! Thanks Bonnie.

[bluemoonluck]

Well, the christmas/yule/chaunukkah cards that we get we turn into yule tree ornaments. We cut out the pretty pictures on the front, have them laminated (I do it myself with laminating paper and an iron), then put an ornament hook or yarn loop on them (tape a folded over piece of yarn on the back so the loop is at the top).

Violla! Nearly free ornaments!

[Windy in Kansas]

In my area they are donated to centers that use the front of the card for craft projects. They advertise for them all of the time meaning they never get enough of them.

[bugstabber]

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

In my area they are donated to centers that use the front of the card for craft projects. They advertise for them all of the time meaning they never get enough of them.

I've visited a couple senior citizen centers where they have made cards from old ones and sold them. I sometimes will take a Santa card with the big white beard, and use it as a gift tag.

I've also heard of places collecting only religious Christmas cards for the Kids to remake into new cards. (Boy's Town? or maybe McCossen's boys ranch?)

[mnn2501]

Originally Posted by FeralFemale

What do you all do with your old greeting cards people have sent you.
?

Look at them once and throw them away. Personally I'd rather get an e-mail from someone saying Happy Birthday (anniversary, get well soon, etc) than have them send me a card, since its a big waste of time, money and resources -- and I know others will disagree with that - but thats how I feel -- your mileage may vary)

[Alice In TX/MO]

Fire starters in winter.

[Tricky Grama]

I save the fronts of the ones I like best, then when mailing gifts, I use them to glue onto packages instead of bows b/c bows get crushed in the mail.
Also, St. Judes center takes them for crafts-I think. I'll see if I have the address...

Patty

[luvrulz]

Salvation Army and other such centers take them and use them for crafts for their clients/customers.... Just give a call to your local office!

[mkdoceaneye]

Years ago we did a craft where you turned the front of the card into the top for a box, and the back into a bottom....and then you could put a gift inside the box (they were small...like jewlery/rosary bead size) and not have to wrap it!

[Tricky Grama]

Originally Posted by Tricky Grama

I save the fronts of the ones I like best, then when mailing gifts, I use them to glue onto packages instead of bows b/c bows get crushed in the mail.
Also, St. Judes center takes them for crafts-I think. I'll see if I have the address...

Patty

You can send them to-

St. Judes Ranch for Children
100 St Jude St.
Boulder City, NV 89005-1618

[MELOC]

re-gift them by gluing new paper on the printed inside. you can get colored paper and print new text on a pc printer or write a hand-written messege.

[fransean]

Please don't throw them away! Donate the fronts - they can only use the pictures- to your local nursing home. They will be used by the activity department for craft activities and much appreciated.

[Calfkeeper]

For the Christmas cards I use a template, center it over a nice image on the front and cut out shapes to use as gift tags (write your to and from info on the back) and tape on the presents. Then burn the rest.

But if you have kids surely somewhere there must be a source for crafts you could make with them from used cards.

[cc]

I make ornaments out of old Christmas cards (like the ones from the HT Christmas Card Exchange) that way I can enjoy them for a couple of years and then when they get squished I can throw them away without feeling bad. I have also made the little boxes out of them. They do look really pretty for a tiny gift even if it is something like a candy kiss it looks special!

[FeralFemale]

Thanks, everyone!

I really am tempted to toss them out, but hearing that so many places use them for crafts I think I might be sending them there. (I'd make stuff out of them, but I never seem to be able to finish a craft project.)

[blufford]

You might want to hold on to them.

http://collectibles.about.com/gi/dyn...m/history.html


http://collectibles.search.ebay.com/...0QQsacatZ35889

[HermitJohn]

I have one elderly aunt that still sends a Xmas card. I try to hang onto the last card or at least the envelope she sends just so I have a current address. Easier than writing address down someplace. Other than that, the handful of people that know me, know better than to waste their money.