Christmas cards

I gave to Children in Need instead of buying cards and stamps

I keep them as reminders of who to send cards to next year, then they go on the recycling.

I pick some of the biggest brightest cards and cut them in half, muddle them up and spread them out on the floor, then get the GCs to try and match the pairs

Mine just go in the general recycling. I'm afraid that I'm not in the least sentimental. I just throw them all away.

Those bins in M+S and tesco are just for PR. They don't do anything different with the cards than with leftover till receipts ie into the recycling bin, where they are pulped or used for fuel. Maybe they fish out the ones with glitter or plastic bits first and put those in general waste.

There used to be charities that took old cards and remade them, either by cutting off the pretty part and sticking it onto card, or by sticking a new surface onto the inside. I still have a stash waiting to find somewhere that will do this again. I suspect there may have been problems with copyright, but it would be possible to save the credit as part of the repurposing. With all the upcycling going on now I'm surprised there's not a whole industry doing it. Think of those really nice cards with great illustrations, being seen for five minutes then binned is such a waste.

Anybody?
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I usually give them to our U3A Craft Group, and they make cards for next year with them.

My local M&S recycles Christmas Cards every year, so I just take them there. I think they plant a tree for however many received.

Well I would like to say, keep them for next year, put them up again and
send everyone whose card you put up an e mail telling them that you are remembering them again and no need to send another card as you were making a charity donation on their behalf. I expect that is a bit revolutionary. Never done it myself but could next year.

I keep some to make tags for future Xmas presents - not because I'm stingy (tags are very inexpensive), but because i find it fun and it's a way of somehow keeping at least a few of them, but usefully rather than unthinkingly. The rest, and the left-over bits, I generally put in a designated Xmas cards recycling receptacle: WH Smith generally have one, and there are a number scattered around different shops and supermarkets.

I can make a few gift tags - great idea, and use some of the left overs for shopping lists. Thanks for suggestions.

Excellent antiflo -a "pattern" for others to follow?!

Our Church is collecting Christmas cards this year, so pleased they won't have to be recycled in a bin

I used to cut them up to postcard size and use them to enter competitions. Sadly competitions are mostly on line now, so I don't know what to do with them.

I make gift tags using my zigzag scissors and recycle the rest at our WH Smiths.

I make gift tags and the remainder go in the recycling bag.

I cut mine up and use them all year as shopping lists - easier to find in your pocket !

I cut them up to make gift tags, using the balls of colouted ribbon that come in packs of bows and we never use it otherwise.

M & S, Tesco, T K Maxx, W H Smith all recycle cards , they make a donation to charities such as the Woodland Trust to plant more trees.

That's a good idea. I've also just looked on Pinterest and there are some creative ideas for GCs (when they next come over), origami for older ones.

I give them to my neighbour who cuts out bits of them to make her own cards for the next Christmas.

Is there a nursery or playgroup near you who would welcome them?

I usually recycle them but keep one or two special ones.

What do they do with it? Isn't it just the same as chucking it in the recycling bin at home at leaving it out for the bin men?

They usually have a recycle receptacle for cards in some supermarkets Tesco used to do it..I'm going to take a look when I go tomorrow.