Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Recycling Christmas Cards

While looking at all the beautiful Christmas cards I received this year, I'm now stuck with the delima of what to do with them now that the season is behind us (aww...sad!). 

Here's a few ideas:

1.  Donate your used cards to St. Jude's Children's Ranch

They have an awesome program called the Recycled Card Program where you can send used cards from any occasion (birthday, thank you, Christmas, etc) and children and volunteers will make the old cards into new cards which they will sell.  Their website explains it's a great way for children to make some money and a great way to "go green" by reusing cards that might otherwise be trashed. 

Please check out their website to learn their terms and conditions for sending cards.  It's pretty straightforward:  No writing on the backsides of the cover of the cards, they don't accept Hallmark, American Greeting or Disney cards. 

They also give some shipping tips on their website, and of course, their mailing address.  The website says mailing a Flat Rate Box (which holds up to 70 lbs!) is the most cost effective way to mail these cards.  Sooo...you could save your cards up for a whole year and mail them, or put a collection box in your office, or talk to your friends and encourage them to save up their cards also.  That way you can mail all your cards off at once and split the cost of shipping. 

If you're interested in purchasing "refurbished" cards made from St. Jude's, they have ordering information on their website, too!

2.  For cards that you can't send to St. Jude's Children's Ranch, you can use old cards to cut up and make new cards! I'm not very crafty when it comes to making new cards, but for those who are: go for it! 

3.  I love the cards you get with people's pictures on them!  Use them to make a photo album for your kiddos!  This is especially nice if your family doesn't live too close.  It will help your kids remember faces and names. OR put some pictures in frames!  We get some really nice pictures of family and friends.   What a great way to fill up some wall space! :D 

4.  If all else fails and you don't have the time/energy to do anything else: just try to put your cards into the recycle bin instead of the trash.

No comments:

Post a Comment