Put last years Christmas cards to good use

Should you save them as future collectibles?

So the Christmas tree, cards and decorations have gone for another year but what do you do with the cards?

Maybe you have just binned them already?

But if not there are a few options.

​Next Christmas reference

​If you like to be organised each Christmas the previous years cards can give you a head start.

You could while away some winter hours writing a list of those who sent you cards but why not just bundle them up and stash away for future use. Next Christmas it will be as simple as using them as you write your cards. They can then be binned or whatever and replaced with next years.

​Recycling

If you have a garden composter most if not all of the cards will help make good compost. But you may want to utilise the best bits before composting. Make sure you keep a note of any addresses.

​Labels

Parts of old Christmas cards make really good present labels. They can look stunning at little cost. Add fancy ribbon perhaps from a present you receive and a little glue covered with sparkles for a unique and classy label.

The Woodland Trust

In the UK in January 2017 the Woodland Trust and a range of celebrities are pushing 'cards for trees.'

In November the Trust blogged;

We’re delighted that five celebrities, X Factor’s Dermot O’ Leary, outdoor enthusiast TV’s Julia Bradbury, comedians Jo Brand and Hugh Dennis; and for the first time singer Cerys Matthews are sprinkling a spot of glitter on this year’s campaign.

They have pledged to back our annual bid to get the nation to recycle their cards at their local M&S.

For every 1,000 cards dropped into M&S stores for recycling throughout January 2017, a new tree will be funded by M&S and planted by us in the UK.

It’s the first year, Cerys has backed the recycling scheme and she said:

"People ask me if I’m a dog or cat person - I say, plants all the way! Just look at the trees, and what they do for us, the oxygen we breathe, the insect, bird and animal life they sustain, they’re extraordinary! And you can help the Woodland Trust plant even more JUST by donating unwanted Christmas cards...

"Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and donate those old Christmas cards: together we’ll grow more oaks, more chestnuts, more elms..."

It’s 19 years since we started the scheme and since then a whopping half a billion cards have been collected and 245,000 trees planted by you!

It may be a little late for some who have already ditched their cards but there is always next year.

Organise a collection point at your workplace, school or college for maximum publicity.

When you consider the financial and environmental cost of Christmas cards it makes sense to put them to good use.

More ideas at http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/craft-ideas/how-to/g1022/greeting-card-crafts/

​Check out http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blogs/woodland-trust/2016/11/christmas-card-recycling