How to Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle Your Holiday Cards

If you're anything like me, you are still feeling the effects of the Holiday Hangover. The tree is still up because you don't feel like digging out all the ornament boxes yet. Christmas music is still in heavy rotation on your iPod because you couldn't be bothered to update your playlists. The Christmas cards are still hanging up because you haven't had the motivation to take them down yet.

Hold it right there!

Before motivation sets in and you take down those cards, check out these ideas to reuse, repurpose, and recycle them. It will be quick and painless; I promise.

STEP ONE: Separate.
Separate your cards into two piles:

1. Cards to Keep - I like to keep some of the photo cards; one day I will make a scrapbook entitled "Other People's Kids" to document how the kids have changed from year to year. Someday. Right now they get banded together in an envelope marked with the year, and then tucked into a box labeled - you guessed it - "Other People's Kids."
2. Cards to Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle - this is all of the other cards.

Set aside the Cards to Keep, and we'll focus on the Cards to Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle. 

STEP TWO: Separate, again. Then, REUSE.

Separate out all of the greeting cards (as opposed to the photo cards) from the Cards to Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle pile. 

St. Jude's Ranch for Children repurposes used greeting cards into new greeting cards for all occasions. These cards are sold in packs of 10 for $10 to support their programs and services. Customers receive a fun, "green" set of cards and the children at St. Jude's Ranch receive payment for their work, learn about basic job skills, and learn about the importance of recycling. 

St. Jude's cannot accept Hallmark, Disney, or American Greetings cards, so those must be sorted out and set aside. The remaining cards can be sent to:

St. Jude's Ranch for Children

Recycled Card Program

100 St. Jude's Street

Boulder City, NV 89005

St. Jude's accepts greeting cards for all occasions. So save this address and do the same with birthday cards and thank you cards throughout the new year.

STEP THREE: REPURPOSE.

Make some gift tags out of those other cards. 

I don't know about you, but I'm always sure I have gift tags on hand. I buy wrapping paper, finish making my list and checking it twice, wait until the kids are asleep, dig out the scissors and tape, turn on Elf, and - what do you know? No gift tags.

If you are a crafter and have large punches or decorative-edged scissors, now is the time to bust those out. If not, no problem; regular scissors will work. Just get busy punching and cutting out shapes and background designs from those unwanted cards. 

You can get fancy and layer the cut-outs, or just leave them as is and use a permanent marker such as a Sharpie to write on them next year. A white address label could also be a good layering element since it would give you a great spot to write the "To/From" part. The possibilities are endless. But the point is to complete this step now. If you set aside the cards to do it next year, it just won't happen. Trust me.

STEP FOUR: RECYCLE.

Gather what is left of the cards and deposit them into your recycle bin. 

Now smile with the knowledge that you helped a charity, made progress for next Christmas, and helped the planet. Go You! 

I hope you find the motivation to undecorate, if you haven't already done so. And have fun reusing, repurposing, and recycling your holiday cards. If you have another tip for used cards, please Post a Comment and let us know. Thanks for sharing. As always, thanks for reading.