How to Reuse Greeting Cards

Reusing trash and recyclables is great for the environment, and frugal as well, but it can be difficult to know where to begin. In this series of articles, I will be examining the possibilities of reuse available for a number a different items, including crafts and other possibilities.

Greeting cards quickly become clutter or recycling a week or so after they are received. I wouldn't suggest that they shouldn't be sent, because I love to both send and receive correspondence, but I do suggest that they can be reused, saving you money, and saving the resources that it would take to recycle them.

There are a number of different re-uses for greeting cards of any kind. Here is a list of a few of them:

- The fronts can be cut off and matted on the front of a blank card with scrapbook touches to make a whole new card. Brads and grommets especially make this look nice and cohesive.

- Punch holes around the central figure or in a random pattern. Package a number of these together with some brightly colored shoelaces for a pack of fun lacing cards for children.

- Punch holes around the outside and lace or crochet them together into a box or basket.

- Make origami ornaments for Christmas trees or to attach to presents as decoration.

- Cut squares and stack them back to back. Punch holes around the outside and lace or crochet them together to use as coasters. These can also be cute under drinking glasses in the bathroom or on a tray. Use twine or leather cording, yarn or cotton string, to match your décor.

- Fold them into pockets or wallets, reinforcing them with packing or duct tape. These can be used to present gift cards or cash, or carry business cards.

- Use smaller sized cards to make a memory game for children. Use 8-12 card fronts and cut the all in half. Then arrange the halves face down, and play a classic memory/matching game where the two halves are reunited for each point. Of course, this is best with cards of uniform size.

- Save an especially cute birthday card by cutting it around the design, and laminating it. Then it can be attached to skewers and used as the topper on a birthday cake.

- Cut fun shapes from the cards, following printed designs or not, such as shamrocks, hearts or stars, and use them as picks for cupcakes or on the ends of fruit skewers at picnics.

- Some charities, such as retirement centers or rehabilitation centers can use the fronts from greeting cards in crafts that they then sell or donate.

- Cut out the inscription in each card and put them into scrapbooks. This saves room rather than saving the whole card, but will some day be a touching collection for a child, letting them see examples of their loved ones' handwriting.

- All the backs and scraps left from these projects can be used for paper making, or shredded and used as filler in gift baskets or padding in packages.

Enjoy reusing all the greeting cards that you receive through out the year, practicing creativity, saving money, and saving our Earth's resources!