This is the second Accidentally Green Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Challenge that tackles paper. (How did your important paperwork challenge go?) This week it’s all about greeting cards.
I have a confession that only a pack rat can make: until a year ago, I saved every greeting card I ever received. From the time I was 4 years old! (Seriously. We’re talking more than 30 years of cards. Yikes.)
I don’t know why I was saving them. I saved letters, too, just in case I would write a novel and need some real-life perspective or situations for my characters. But then I wanted to get all of my mementos and collectibles out of my parents’ house. And I quickly realized that I didn’t have a good reason for keeping those cards.
So what did I do?
A friend of the family was collecting greeting cards for crafting purposes. I sifted through my cards, found hundreds I simply didn’t want, and passed them along to her.
Other cards had pretty cool illustrations, so I ended up saving them for my own children. Don’t worry – it’s not like I’m going to pass them along as heirlooms or anything, but we’ve been using them for our own crafts. It’s been fun. I’ve been able to reminisce about old friends and family members and share bits of my personal history with my children. They’re able to cut any picture out. Since a lot of characters from my childhood have made a comeback (ahem, Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears), the cards are pretty fun for Big Brother and Little Sister to look at. They practice their cutting and pasting skills, and have transformed collages of them into greeting cards for other people.
I’ve also cut out pictures and patterns from Christmas cards and turned them into tags for Christmas gifts, as shown in the photo. I love how it’s crafty, unique, and completely free. All I need is a pair of scissors, a hole punch, and some ribbon to tie them onto a gift.
If you’re a pack rat like me, another creative option is to give a friend or family member a collection of cards and letters he or she has written to you. You’ll be entertained and touched to read what was shared in the past – it’s like giving a trip down memory lane.
Another option
If you’re looking for another way to recycle cards, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children recycles greeting cards for a fundraising project. According to their website:
Year round, we happily accept used all-occasion greeting cards. Please review the following tips before sending in your donation:
- All types of greeting cards, including Christmas are accepted. Currently there is an increased need for birthday and thank you card submissions.
- Only the card front can be used (please check to be sure the backside of the front of the card is clear of any writing, etc.)
- We can not accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards
- 5″ x 7″ size or smaller is preferred
- To mail large quantities in the least expensive way, use the United States Post Office in a Flat Rate Box (available at the Post Office), which holds up to 70 pounds
Mail donations to :
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005
This week’s Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Challenge
This week’s challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to sort any cards you’ve kept. Decide which ones you’d like to keep for sentimental purposes. Which cards can you use for personal crafts like gift cards or scrapbooking? Which cards can you donate to a program like St. Jude’s Ranch for Children? Once you’ve made your decisions, act on them – clean your clutter and recycle those cards!
Talk back
Once you’ve completed the challenge, please share your experience. How many cards did you have? What unique cards did you find? What did you choose to do with them? If you take any photos of the process, please share on Facebook!
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Today, I’m linking up with:
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I just did this last year, except, I put every single card and letter into a box, separating them by year. :) I just couldn’t part with them… some of the cards from my grandparents included my grandpa’s writing, and with his Alzheimer’s, he will never write again. I do love the idea of cutting the fronts of the cards to use for crafts. I don’t get sentimental about too many things, but I think cards and letters are one of those :).
Oh Hiliary, not the cards!!! Actually, with just moving our only child four states away and seeing how much she carted across the state lines, it has made me realize that I have way to much stuff that I’ve held onto that seriously must go. I have been slowly going through cards and letting them go over the last month or so while helping her pack. I can top you girl, I have a scrapbook my mom made of her shower and welcome baby cards from when I was born. And a hint…it was way before you! It’s time to pitch. I’m with you this year on the reduce the clutter! To the cards…gulp! (oh-my-this-may-be-hard-as-I-love-my-cards!!!)
I am so glad I’m not alone with my card collection! What is it about them??? They’re seriously some of the hardest things to part with. But do I ever read them? Only when I’m decluttering. :)
That’s interesting, I didn’t know that about St Jude’s! I confess I only keep the cards I like & recycle the ones I don’t. And I saw someone frames the Christmas ones they like the most for decor. I like that idea. I also saw how to make little boxes from the greeting cards.