12+ Fun Ways to Upcycle Holiday Cards After the Season
Christmas is over but here’s something to keep in mind for next year: You may want to upcycle your holiday cards with these easy crafts.
I don’t know about you, but I hate to toss out anything that may have a second life as something new. I have even more trouble if it’s something that was given to me as a gift. As I take down the holiday trimmings, I stack together all of the holiday cards I’ve received over the last month. I know I can come up with some great new purposes for them with a little DIY ingenuity.
I’ve put together a list of ten new uses for old greeting cards for you to check out. I have to say that numbers 1 and 10 are my favorites. Which one(s) do you like best?
As always, click the link to get the tutorial for making these Christmas card crafts.
#1 Themed Mason Jar Lids with Gift Tags
Recycle old Christmas cards for jar lid covers and gift tags for your homemade jams, jellies, and other canned goodies. See the tutorial at S.C.R.A.P.
#2 Christmas Card Ornaments & Swags
Make Christmas decorations like this really pretty vintage-inspired garland from holiday cards. This would look darling hanging on the Christmas tree. See the tutorial at Party Planning Center.
#3 Holiday Framed Photos
You can repurpose your cards to make holiday-themed framed artwork or an advent calendar. These would look so nice on a mantle during the holiday season (or in my case, topping the piano). See the tutorial at Cherry’s Jubilee.
#4 Decorative Baskets & Bowls
These sewn card baskets are pretty cute as well. They’d be great for all those Valentines your kids bring home from school. They could keep their Valentine’s Day candy in it. See the instructions in the video below.
#5 Gift Boxes for Smaller Presents
You can fold old holiday cards origami-style into gift boxes. These work great for Valentine’s Day cards as well. See the tutorial at Kid at Art.
#6 Upcycled Postcards
This one is so obvious, I can’t believe we don’t all do it. Turn your old holiday cards into postcards. Bonus: The stamp is cheaper and you don’t have to lick an envelope! See the tutorial at Christmas Cards 4 Less.
#7 Trivets or Coasters
You can make a holiday-themed trivet. I recently bought some glittery mod podge that would be perfect for this. (PS: It was only upon writing this that I discovered it’s called “mod” podge and not “modge” podge.) See the tutorial at Thrifty Fun.
#8 Keepsake Memory Frames
You can use holiday cards to create a backdrop or mat for photos from special days. See the instructions in the video below.
#9 Memory Boxes for Keepsakes
I wish it wasn’t still in storage (yes – 4 years and I still haven’t finished unpacking) because I’d love to share a photo of one of my personal upcycled card projects. I took an ordinary box with a lid and covered it in wrapping paper and cards from my baby shower. It was perfect for saving all those special mementos from my son’s first year of life.
This project would work well with birthday cards as well. You could make a small box every year to save important keepsakes from that age. Oh man, I may need to go get my mod podge!
#10 A Card Wreath
Put your holiday cards to good use with an easy craft project that’s a sentimental—and sustainable—twist on the traditional wreath. Hung on a door or over the mantle, a paper alternative made from used greeting cards keeps wishes from your nearest and dearest close throughout the season. See the tutorial at Chatelaine.
#11 Bookmarks for Holiday Reading
These take minutes to make and would be a great addition to any books you may be gifting a friend or loved one. Put a ribbon through the top and add some glitter for extra fun. See the tutorial at The Frugal Girls.
#12 Placemats for the Holiday Dinner Table
I don’t know about you, but I think this could be really cute if you did a kid’s table at Thanksgiving and decorated it with Thanksgiving card placemats. They’re laminated, so they can be used year after year. See the tutorial at Adventures of Mel.
…and finally…
#13 Donate!
If you aren’t feeling crafty, there is still another resource that will save them from the recycling bin. You can donate them to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. They recycle old cards to make new cards. The sale of these cards financially supports children and families in need.
More Crafting Resources
If upcycling is your jam, I really enjoyed Modern Upcycling: A User-Friendly Guide to Inspiring and Repurposed Handicrafts for a Trendy Home. It was full of ideas that I’ll actually use. And if you have a crafty kid (I have one and we aren’t allowed to throw away anything around here), Trash Craft: Upcycling Craft Projects has some great ideas for little crafters.
Also, be sure to check out 22 New Uses for Old Pill Bottles, Mason Jar Crafts You’ll Love to DIY, and 12 Uses for an Old Milk Jug. Plus learn how to decorate for Christmas on a budget.
