By Noreen Doll.
Don’t throw those Christmas cards away!
Here are tons of ways to turn old Christmas cards into new treasures.
Now that the holidays are winding down we are looking for ways to re-use the quantities of wrapping paper, boxes and Christmas cards that we have accumulated.
These are some clever and creative ways for using those Christmas cards one more time.
I even buy cards after Christmas at deep discounts, to use for crafting. The Dollar Stores are also great places to get cards to create with.
Use them for wrapping gifts.
Easy Whip Stitched Christmas Card Box
Use several of your prettiest cards to make a whip stitched Christmas card box. It can hold a gift, or some tasty cookies or candies.
Use Christmas cards and your old canning jars for a fun gift wrap.
Cut the cards to fit on the box sides and make favor or gift boxes.
Use cards to make little boxes of a variety of shapes for small gifts.
Cut out the fronts from Christmas cards and attach them to lunch bags. Add yarn, twine or ribbon to tie them closed.
Folded Tags from Christmas Cards
Make pretty, easy folded tags from Christmas cards to add to your gifts.
More Folded Tags from Christmas Cards
Lots of links for more ways to make boxes from Christmas cards.
Gift Wrap with Recycled Christmas Cards
Creative ways to use cards for decorating your gifts.
More Crafty Christmas Card Ideas
Cut pictures from cards that can be reused in other ways. Store them in a small album till you need them.
Sewing Cards from Greeting Cards
Make sewing cards for little ones.
Used Christmas Card Crafts for Kids
Links to ideas for crafts kids can create with old cards.
Lots of links for making little houses – or a village.
Turn your Christmas cards into ornaments for next year, or to use as gifts.
Tons of links for recycling your old Christmas cards.
Links to more recycled Christmas card ideas than you can ever use!
Happy Christmas card recycling!
Noreen Doll
Jan Hall says
I appreciate all the ideas and links to more ideas. Thank you
Daine Roark says
Great ideas for used Christmas cards. I love the mason jars. I will pin this. I am sure I will use it next year.
Thank you so much for linking up at 1st Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop “2014″. I look forward to following all your social medias.
Blessings and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Diane Roark
Patricia says
Great ideas. I will certainly use them. Thanks
Elisabeth says
Thank you for these! I have boxes and boxes of old greeting cards (many different occasions) but haven’t really known what to do with them. I felt too guilty to throw them away, LOL…. now I can put them to good use!
Lisa Ehrman says
Thanks for all the great ideas!L
heidi says
The gift card tags are a great idea for the cards. Friends of my mom make placemats out of the cards and sell the for charity. They are pretty cool.
Heidi’s Wanderings
Laura @ Over The Apple Tree says
Great ideas here! Thanks for sharing, I never know what to do with all my cards!
Jenny says
Thank you for this!!! What great ideas. For a couple years I have been immediately cutting up my Christmas cards to make upcycled gifts tags. So fun. Love these other ideas! Especially the lacing cards for kids. Thanks for some great new ideas!
Tracy says
Oh wow thank you what wonderful ideas.think I will make gift tags and put away with Christmas wrapping paper for next year
jessica says
I just packed all of my cards yesterday. I pinned for next year. Coming from Fluster Buster!
Shauna {The Best Blog Recipes} says
Thank you so much for stopping by The Weekend re-Treat this week and sharing this post with us! Wanted to stop by your blog and Pin it to our Party Boards while I was here tonight !
Shauna @ The Best Blog Recipes
Becky says
Great ideas! These are definitely worth trying next year!
Lisha says
These are fantastic! I have a few years’ worth of Christmas card that I just…haven’t…been…able…to…toss… – now I have something useful to do with them! I LOVE the sewing card idea – perfect for my budding seamstresses (ages 6 & 7, just learning to hand-stitch!).
Thank you! I’m glad I found you through the Family Fun Friday Link-up! Blessings!
Kimberlee says
Really like these ideas. I know my aunt makes gift tags with hers every year. Thanks for the other ideas.
Linda @ A La Carte says
So many great ideas for using Christmas cards. Thanks for sharing at TTF!
Kim says
Thanks for the inspiration! I love these ideas and hopefully will find the time to do some of them.
New Year blessings!
Kim
Michelle says
I really hate to throw pretty cards away and this is a great idea for not just Christmas cards. Thanks for sharing pin-worthy projects!
Michelle @ On A Wing And A Prayer
Julia says
All of these are terrific ideas! Thanks for sharing them!
Kathleen @ Fearlessly Creative Mammas says
What great ideas! Thanks for this. Thanks for linking up to Tips and Tricks!
Stephanie Kay says
My favorite is the sewing card. Brilliant! My kids get bored with their lacing cards and I’m too cheap to buy new ones. Thanks for sharing via Family Fun Friday!
Tracy says
Great ideas. I save many of my Christmas cards because they are all so beautiful. I will certainly use a few of these ideas for next year….Hope I remember them. I might just some of them just so I don’t forget.
Holly @ Coconutheadsurvivalguide says
These are great idea – I just went through all of my Christmas cards and there are so many beautiful ones these are great ways to re-use them. Hugs, Holly
Barb says
I am all about cards and letter writing, in fact I am a self confessed paper junkie, so I loved all of your ideas here. Thanks for sharing. I feed my habit over at Rite While U Can – I think you may enjoy.
vickie says
Thanks for the great ideas! I hate every year to throw so many away. I especially love the sewing card idea.
Donna Wilkes says
Fantastic fun with old cards – great for gifts and church bazaars.
Corners of My Life says
I am so pinning the Christmas Gift Box idea. Thanks.
Rachel G says
These are great ideas! I’d hate to waste them! I’ll save them for next year.
Billie says
love these ideas!!
Mrs. Smith says
My momma and I were JUST talking over the holiday how to use Christmas cards. We hate throwing them away. Thanks for the tips–especially love the screw lid covers. Found you on Making Monday. Good work!
Jonell harrison says
Last year I took CARD FRONTS and cut into book marker or GIFT TAG SIZE then used a hole punch, and added tassels from a small bundle of EMBRODERY THREAD..sometimes one color sometimes several. When the pictures were outstanding I got creative w a little bit of GLITTER SPRAY.
The embroidery thread is Cheap..about all you have invested is Time.
Jordan Hansen says
I love the gift boxes made from cards. I hope my dollar tree still has some left on sale 🙂 Visiting from Fluster’s Creative Muster
Susan says
I, too, repurpose Christmas cards into gift tags for the next year. Your decorated lunch bag is adorable. Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday on Organized 31.
Kim of Mo'Betta says
These are great! I always feel bad throwing cards away, so I’m pinning this to remember for next year!
Accidentally Wonderful says
This is so smart!
Susie @Bowdabra says
What great ideas! We are so excited that you linked the post up in our Crafty Showcase this past week. Stop over on Friday as we are featuring your project and blog.
Thanks, Susie
Camila says
Great tips and ideas! Iwill definitely use them!!!
XOXO
Cami
Cathy@My1929Charmer says
Wow, what creative ideas for old cards I never would of thought of! Now I know what I can do with the stash I have. I will use them! Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration with Sunday’s Best!
jayshreebhagat says
the gift card idea idea too good..will try doing it this time.
Stella Lee @purfylle says
So many great ideas! I’m pinning.
Linda @ Mixed Kreations says
Lots of great ideas! Love the gift box with the ribbons and the one stitched together. Thanks for sharing all these grest ideas! Pinning!
Kristina and Millie says
As always a super awesome and crafty round up! So glad you take the time to gather this info for us, saves me time! Happy New Year!
Jodee Weiland says
These are really cute ideas for using old Christmas cards creatively! Great ideas…thanks for sharing!
Laura @ Over The Apple Tree says
Great ideas! I especially love the mason jar!
Carmia says
What a great roundup of fantastic ideas!
Vicky says
Wow, great list! I always end up making gift tags (which I then don’t use all of!) or recycling them – the gift boxes and sewing cards really appeal. Thanks for all these ideas – I found you via the Ladybug blessings linky 🙂
Janeen says
These are super cute. I’m going to use the easiest idea, folded gift tags. I’ll convert this year’s cards for next year’s gifts when I eventually take them down. We’ve already put away the Christmas decorations but we like to enjoy the cards from friends and family for a bit longer. Thanks for the comprehensive list!
Claire says
Great ideas here 🙂
The Happy Creations says
Great ideas and ways to reuse christmas cards!!
Deborah from Mommy Crusader says
This is a great resource. Thanks for creating it. I have just uncovered some Christmas cards from my departed Grandmother that I wanted to save some how. Thank you so much for all the ideas.
Noreen says
I hope you’ll find just what you’re looking for!
Terra Heck says
Those are all great ideas for using Christmas cards. I especially like the Easy Whip Stitched Christmas Card Box project.
Cathy @ Our Mini Family says
I love it as a mason jar accent!! Brilliant! Thanks for linking up with Our Mini Linky Party!
Cheers,
~Cathy~
Darklurkr23 says
All great ideas . I always wonder when it’s time to throw them out each year, great way to save $$$$
Theresa @ Shoestring Elegance says
Hi Noreen,
Thanks for linking these great ideas up @ “What to do Weekends” Party! I love them and pinned, as well! Just wanted to pop by and let you know I am sharing them on my Facebook page now!
Hugs,
Theresa
Shirley Wood says
These are fabulous ideas. I have always saved the Christmas cards. Now I can put them to good use. We would love for you to share this with us at the Home Matters Linky party.
Crystal says
Such awesome ideas! I think my favorite is the whip stitched box from Christmas cards. I wish I had saved some more of my cards! 🙂
~Crystal
Christine says
These are all amazingly creative ideas! I would love to be able to look at my saved Christmas cards in a new way! Thank you for sharing.
Shirley Wood says
Thanks for sharing with us at the Home Matters Party. These are all such great ideas, we need to share!
Simple Nature Decor says
This is what I love! Recycle things.. you are a feature for tomorrow’s party, thanks for sharing this at my last Fabulous Friday Party
Thanks
Maria
Cara says
Such great ideas! I really like the Christmas card gift jar idea. Thanks for sharing!
Laurie says
Some great ideas here! Thank you for sharing with us at Brag About It!
~Laurie
Chellie says
These are absolutely fantastic ideas! Can’t wait to try them. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Carol Cook says
So many fun ideas! My favorite is the way you decorated the paper bag.
Thanks for Sharing Your Cup!
Jennifer says
Wow, what creative ideas! Pinned! Thanks for always sharing at My Flagstaff Home.
Jennifer
Rae says
Brilliant! I often make tags the following year from my Xmas cards, but always have way more cards than presents! I especially love the gift box ones 🙂 I’ve book marked this in a new ‘Xmas Ideas’ folder ready for next year 🙂
Anne @ Domesblissity says
You know Noreen, I always used to recycle the old Christmas cards. I don’t seem to get as many as I used to. I’m going to start doing it though this year with those the kids get. I did, however, make bunting with a collection of vintage Christmas cards my Mum and Dad received when they were first married. You just don’t see those kind of cards around anymore. Thanks for linking up to Thriving on Thursdays. Always great to see you each week. I’m featuring this post at tomorrow’s party.
Anne xx
Elaine says
I love the idea of cutting out the detailed pictures and using them for something else…like scrap booking! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday! Pinned!