Let's Recycle Christmas Cards!

Ok everyone, it's time to get rid of that stack of Christmas cards that you feel too guilty to throw away. If you don't want to donate them, here are some other ideas:

1. Make a Christmas garland chain. Remember those paper chains you used to make in grade school with construction paper. You can cut your Christmas cards into strips and make the same thing, only much, much prettier!

2. Make a Christmas tray. Decoupage an old serving tray with your cards, or line the tray with the cards and cover with a few coats of clear varnish.

3. Make Christmas ornaments. Cut each card into spiral strips, starting on the edge and continuing until you get to the center. Pull gently to create the spiral. Punch a small hole on the top and put an ornament hanger through the hole. Or...cover old or unused CD's with Christmas card cutouts. Attach a pretty ribbon to hang.

4. Make Christmas tags. Cut out the pictures or sayings from the cards in unique shapes. Write on the back and attach to gifts.

5. Make postcards. Cut them to postcard size and either mail them out next year or write your favorite Christmas recipes on them to save or share.

6. Frame them. Buy or make some nice matting and frame. Replace the pictures on your walls with your framed cards for the holidays.

7. Save them in a photo album. These can be handed down to your kids or someone special so they can remember holidays gone by.

8. Turn them into new cards. If you're into making your own cards, use the best feature of the cards you have for one of the new layers on your handmade cards.

9. Decorate small gift boxes. Glue cut-out cards to small boxes to make them one-of-a-kind.

10. Make planter decorations. Cut out the picture, glue to a painted ruler, chopstick, paint stirrer, you get the idea. Insert into your poinsettas next year to add a decorative touch.

11. Make confetti! Punch out the colorful parts of your cards and create some great confetti for New Years or any other occasion you can think of. You can even decorate your holiday table with it.

Don't forget, these ideas work for any greeting cards!

Do you have any others ideas? If so, please share...save a card!