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Tips for Tuesday
Am I the only one who still hasn't done anything with those Christmas cards I received? I didn't think so! If you don't consider yourself "crafty," skip down to numbers 4 and 5 for other options for recycling. Happy New Year!
Christmas is over and now comes the task of getting our homes back to normal. Most people display the Christmas cards they receive in one way or another, but what do you do with them once the holiday has passed? It seems like such a waste to throw them out, but saving them all takes up precious space and odds are we'll never look at them again (or remember where we put them!)
Christmas is over and now comes the task of getting our homes back to normal. Most people display the Christmas cards they receive in one way or another, but what do you do with them once the holiday has passed? It seems like such a waste to throw them out, but saving them all takes up precious space and odds are we'll never look at them again (or remember where we put them!)
I do save a few special cards, but for the remainder I've put together some ways to put those used Christmas cards to good use. There's something for everyone, so even if you're not "crafty", please keep reading!
1. Convert them into Christmas postcards to use next year.
I have a friend that has been doing this for years. Using a card front with a clean back (no writing on it), cut it to postcard dimensions. According to usps.com, postcards must be rectangular and measure between 3 1/2 and 4 1/4 inches high and 5 to 6 inches long. Once it's cut to size, just draw a line down the middle of the card (while in landscape position). Next year, put your message on the left (you could even use a rubber stamp if you're crafty) and the address and stamp on the right. You can even save a little money by using postcard stamps rather than first class!
2. Turn them into next year's Christmas cards.
usps.com says cards must be rectangular and measure between 3 1/2 and 6 1/8 inches high and 5 to 11 1/2 inches long. I like to make mine 4 1/4 inches by 5 1/2 inches. This fits well within the guidelines, and just happens to be the size of an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of card stock cut and folded in half.
Cut the design from the card front and using double-sided tape, adhere to the folded card stock you've prepared. To add interest, you can layer with a mat cut from card stock 1/4" to 1/2" larger than the design.
This card also had a recycled message inside, mounted on a layer of card stock.
3. Cut them into gift tags
Again using a card front with a clean back (no writing on it), cut your cards into rectangles to use as tags for next year's gifts. If there is a place on the front to write, all you'll need to do next year is write on the names and tape it on. If the tag is all design, punch a hole using a hole punch, run a piece of string or ribbon through it and do your writing on the back. If you want to get fancy, you can buy card punches of different shapes rather than sticking with rectangles.
4. Recycle them (and help a good cause!)
St. Jude's Ranch for Children, located in Boulder City, Nevada, has a 40 year history of healing and caring for abused, abandoned and neglected children. When you send in card fronts (of any kind) the children recycle them into new cards which they then sell. You can find the requirements and the address to mail them to here.
5. Pray over them!
5. Pray over them!
This is great for those family photo cards you get! Last year I began the New Year by placing the stack of photo cards in my "quiet time" area. Each week I would pray for the family at the top of the pile. If I was really on the ball, I'd let the family know I was praying for them and ask for prayer requests. Hanging it on the refrigerator helps to remind me to pray for them during the week.
I'm sure there are a lot more uses, but I hope I was able to give you a few ideas.
Lisa
I've been known to link up with: Frugal Fridays, Soli Deo Gloria, Inspire Me Monday, Titus 2sdays, Tell Me a Story, Teach Me Tuesdays, Courtship Connection,Tutorials & Tips Tuesday, Into the Beautiful, God Bumps & God Incidences, Word-Filled Wednesday,Winsome Wednesday,Simply Helping Him, Weekend Whatever, Spiritual Sundays, True Vine Challenge, Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday, The Beauty in His Grip, Playdates With God, Monday's Musings, Monday Montras, Funky Junk Interiors
What grand tips. They can also be used for easy crafts for kids (not to mention us seniors who help them). Plus my senior mom enjoys cutting old cards up, along with interesting magazine pictures, to turn them into stationery for letters to her great-grandkids and friends, as well as fun posters for the grandkids to hang on the walls. Thanks again for more great ideas and have a blessed week as well as a lovely Spiritual Sunday (on Friday :) ).
Oh, I love all these ideas and have done many- the one I was looking forward to doing this year was putting them in a basket and praying over the families /persons of the sender one a week for the new year! Sharing your wonderful post!
All good ideas, but I love the idea of praying over them.
Lisa, this is a delightful post! I think you are very resourceful. My favorite is the last one. One year our family was really hurting and our party theme was "miracles for Christmas". We let people know before Christmas Eve we would pray and requests flooded our living room. It restored our joy beyond our wildest dreams!
Thanks for visiting me; I'm seeking out your FB page!
Nice post...I love the collage of family photos...and also the way you pray over one family at a time.
We've always used last years cards to create this years gift tags. But I really like the idea of creating post-cards! And praying over them is the best idea. Thank you for the idea-filled post - it was both practical and thoughtful! (I appreciate that combination)
That will be a good idea, but I think we must start fresh every Christmas and think of something new.
What a fun post & such a creative use of old cards. I need to remember this!
What a clever idea. Such good use for old holiday cards. Thanks for sharing with us here at "Tell Me a Story."
More ideas for me to think about. I also had a post about what I ended up doing with some of my cards.
http://www.sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/back-to-normal-day.html
I've always done #2 & #3 but never knew what to do with the photocards. Great suggestion!(sounds like a Grandma Lois thing!)