Comments on: What to do with holiday cards? Recycle! http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/ Daily tips on how to organize your home and office. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:15:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Joan http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-25854 Joan Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:15:09 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-25854 At the nursing home where I volunteer, we buy a package of sturdy card stock, fold each sheet in half and glue the front of the Christmas card to the card stock. And there you have it: brand new Christmas cards! We collect random blank envelopes all year and they usually accommodate most of the cards. Otherwise, the residents exchange cards with each other and staff and save some for family (no envelopes). For those who cannot write individual messages, we use craft stamps that say "Merry Christmas" or some other holiday message. At the nursing home where I volunteer, we buy a package of sturdy card stock, fold each sheet in half and glue the front of the Christmas card to the card stock. And there you have it: brand new Christmas cards! We collect random blank envelopes all year and they usually accommodate most of the cards. Otherwise, the residents exchange cards with each other and staff and save some for family (no envelopes). For those who cannot write individual messages, we use craft stamps that say “Merry Christmas” or some other holiday message.

]]> By: Christmas Freebies/Recycling Christmas Cards | Pawpaw Holler Home http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-25422 Christmas Freebies/Recycling Christmas Cards | Pawpaw Holler Home Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:55:18 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-25422 [...] ornaments were stored in a big cardboard box covered with Christmas cards. For more ideas check out this post from Unclutterer. Anyone else have any good ideas? I’d love to hear [...] [...] ornaments were stored in a big cardboard box covered with Christmas cards. For more ideas check out this post from Unclutterer. Anyone else have any good ideas? I’d love to hear [...]

]]> By: Saderchick http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-25334 Saderchick Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:13:07 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-25334 Most of the cards we receive are photo cards. I MINIMALLY scrapbook them, to retain the family name & greeting, into a (cheap & sturday) photo album for my 2 1/2 year old twins. Originally, I had planned to pack them away with the Christmas decorations, but they enjoy looking at the photos of their friends and family all year long, so they stay out. An added benefit is that when we see friends or cousins we haven't seen in a while, my two 'remember' them from the cards & warm up to them more quickly. Most of the cards we receive are photo cards. I MINIMALLY scrapbook them, to retain the family name & greeting, into a (cheap & sturday) photo album for my 2 1/2 year old twins. Originally, I had planned to pack them away with the Christmas decorations, but they enjoy looking at the photos of their friends and family all year long, so they stay out. An added benefit is that when we see friends or cousins we haven’t seen in a while, my two ‘remember’ them from the cards & warm up to them more quickly.

]]> By: Joanna http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6787 Joanna Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:15:14 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6787 My grandmother would make place mats out of her collection of Xmas cards. She would cut and arrange the Xmas cards into a collage, pasting them onto the back and front of a placemat-sized poster board. Then cover it with clear contact paper, folding the edges of the sticky contact paper over onto the back to make a nice crisp sealed edge. In the 1970s she'd give them as holiday gifts the following year. But now with the popularity of photo cards, I think it's a nice way to display your loved ones photos year-round! Maybe close family members would appreciate the photo card place mats, too. My grandmother would make place mats out of her collection of Xmas cards. She would cut and arrange the Xmas cards into a collage, pasting them onto the back and front of a placemat-sized poster board. Then cover it with clear contact paper, folding the edges of the sticky contact paper over onto the back to make a nice crisp sealed edge.

In the 1970s she’d give them as holiday gifts the following year. But now with the popularity of photo cards, I think it’s a nice way to display your loved ones photos year-round! Maybe close family members would appreciate the photo card place mats, too.

]]> By: half baked http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6604 half baked Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:07:15 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6604 Baly, that was really funny! Each year I take that year's stack of cards/letters sent to me, and I put them all in a large envelope and store them. The next year, I use that stack of cards as my mailing list for Christmas cards. After I send out my cards, I make them into gift tags. 1. Instant pared-down mailing list 2. Eliminated Christmas-card clutter 3. Free gift tags Baly, that was really funny!

Each year I take that year’s stack of cards/letters sent to me, and I put them all in a large envelope and store them. The next year, I use that stack of cards as my mailing list for Christmas cards. After I send out my cards, I make them into gift tags.

1. Instant pared-down mailing list
2. Eliminated Christmas-card clutter
3. Free gift tags

]]> By: Rachel http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6546 Rachel Thu, 03 Jan 2008 00:40:32 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6546 I read somewhere that you could scan your Christmas cards and then tag the scans with the year and family name. So you could review the cards one family has sent you over the last 10 years. Fun! I read somewhere that you could scan your Christmas cards and then tag the scans with the year and family name. So you could review the cards one family has sent you over the last 10 years. Fun!

]]> By: Brooke http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6543 Brooke Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:15:05 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6543 I loved the idea of turning them into postcards, but still wanted to send my own out into the world, and display them through Christmas (sort of a family tradition), So now Christmas is over I'm using the postcard idea for Christmas thank you notes. I loved the idea of turning them into postcards, but still wanted to send my own out into the world, and display them through Christmas (sort of a family tradition), So now Christmas is over I’m using the postcard idea for Christmas thank you notes.

]]> By: Lorena http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6527 Lorena Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:50:46 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6527 My aunt has a really cool use for them -- she'll cut up the Christmas cards and glue them over the logos on those handled paper bags you get from retailers like Bath and Body Works. That way, you get rid of all those little, perfectly gift-sized bags and your Christmas cards! My aunt has a really cool use for them — she’ll cut up the Christmas cards and glue them over the logos on those handled paper bags you get from retailers like Bath and Body Works. That way, you get rid of all those little, perfectly gift-sized bags and your Christmas cards!

]]> By: lisa http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6501 lisa Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:24:10 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6501 I enjoy my cards all year...see my idea for them in my related blog.. http://www.charmingcards.com/blog/2007/12/thankful-in-new-year.html#links I enjoy my cards all year…see my idea for them in my related blog..
http://www.charmingcards.com/b.....html#links

]]> By: Baly http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6170 Baly Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:13:42 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6170 I find it's easier to just alienate people starting right after Thanksgiving so that I neither receive nor need to send cards. I find it’s easier to just alienate people starting right after Thanksgiving so that I neither receive nor need to send cards.

]]> By: jenC http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6162 jenC Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:47:55 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6162 Gift tags will be the way to go this year, and that goes for our leftover cards as well. Last year, I turned them in into magnets a la not martha (and others): http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/marblemagnets. Gift tags will be the way to go this year, and that goes for our leftover cards as well. Last year, I turned them in into magnets a la not martha (and others): http://www.notmartha.org/tomake/marblemagnets.

]]> By: PJK http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6085 PJK Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:22:18 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6085 As an elementary teacher, I always appreciated getting the pretty card fronts for our writing center. Simply cut the card along the fold, recycle the part of the card with writing and signatures. Send in the pretty fronts of the cards and students can write on the backs of them, making them into Christmas postcards. As an elementary teacher, I always appreciated getting the pretty card fronts for our writing center. Simply cut the card along the fold, recycle the part of the card with writing and signatures. Send in the pretty fronts of the cards and students can write on the backs of them, making them into Christmas postcards.

]]> By: Ruby http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6077 Ruby Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:12:11 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6077 It takes a little strategic thinking sometimes, but I make gift tags out of most of them. (There's usually some little vignette that you can cut out and still have room to write the "to" and "from".) I've been doing this since I was a kid and didn't like the cheap-looking gift tags and couldn't afford the fancy ones! It takes a little strategic thinking sometimes, but I make gift tags out of most of them. (There’s usually some little vignette that you can cut out and still have room to write the “to” and “from”.) I’ve been doing this since I was a kid and didn’t like the cheap-looking gift tags and couldn’t afford the fancy ones!

]]> By: Kenna http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6065 Kenna Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:45:24 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6065 I recently came across an article in Family Fun magazine about ways to have a green holiday. One suggestion used old holiday cards to make gift cards holders. The directions and a template can be found at familyfun.com http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11884 I recently came across an article in Family Fun magazine about ways to have a green holiday. One suggestion used old holiday cards to make gift cards holders. The directions and a template can be found at familyfun.com

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/cr.....ftid=11884

]]> By: Ben http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6058 Ben Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:36:15 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6058 I tried to keep all of mine but there's way too many after all these years. I suppose I will recycle the ones I really don't find sentimental and possibly scan the rest and recycle all the hard copies. My scanner has really save some space in my house. If you don't have a scanner you can always take a close up picture too. I tried to keep all of mine but there’s way too many after all these years. I suppose I will recycle the ones I really don’t find sentimental and possibly scan the rest and recycle all the hard copies.

My scanner has really save some space in my house. If you don’t have a scanner you can always take a close up picture too.

]]> By: Kris http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6046 Kris Sun, 16 Dec 2007 13:29:51 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6046 I decorate the tops of plan boxes with them and use as gift boxes. I decorate the tops of plan boxes with them and use as gift boxes.

]]> By: JAS http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6042 JAS Sun, 16 Dec 2007 03:00:11 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6042 My city collects old cards (Christmas and otherwise) and uses them for community programs throughout the year. My city collects old cards (Christmas and otherwise) and uses them for community programs throughout the year.

]]> By: Michelle http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6034 Michelle Sat, 15 Dec 2007 20:30:01 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6034 I make homemade boxes out of Christmas cards which inevitably turn into tree ornaments with the aid of a hole-punch and colorful ribbon! I make homemade boxes out of Christmas cards which inevitably turn into tree ornaments with the aid of a hole-punch and colorful ribbon!

]]> By: Jacki Hollywood Brown http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/comment-page-1/#comment-6025 Jacki Hollywood Brown Sat, 15 Dec 2007 15:00:18 +0000 http://unclutterer.com/2007/12/15/what-to-do-with-holiday-cards-recycle/#comment-6025 You can always take the cards to a daycare centre or kindergarten classroom for crafts! You can always take the cards to a daycare centre or kindergarten classroom for crafts!

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