What To Do With Your Christmas Cards After The Holidays: A Simple Guide

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That stack of beautiful holiday cards sitting on your counter holds memories worth preserving. Instead of reluctantly tossing them in the recycling bin, here are thoughtful ways to give your cards a meaningful second life.

Before You Get Started...

1. Save Special Messages

Before organizing or recycling, take a few minutes to save truly meaningful messages:

Photograph especially touching notes
Save screenshots of digital cards you want to keep
Cut out and save handwritten notes that warm your heart

2. Update Your Address Book

Use this natural opportunity to:

Note any new addresses from return labels
Mark which friends sent cards this year
Update contact information in your digital or paper records

Creative Ways to Preserve Memories

1. Create a Seasonal Display With This Year's Cards

Transform your cards into decor for the rest of winter. Arrange favorite photo cards in a simple frame collage, or clip artistic cards onto a ribbon for an instant wall display. These cheerful scenes can brighten your home through the darker months.

2. Make a Simple Memory Book

Choose a basic photo album or scrapbook
Add your favorite cards from this year
Include a few notes about special memories
Date everything so you can look back fondly

3. Repurpose & Create Practical Keepsakes

Pull out the scissors and start cutting! Turn beautiful cards into:

Gift tags for next year
Bookmarks
Place cards for future gatherings

(This one is my absolute favorite because I fondly think of the sender every time I see part of their card!)

Mindful Disposal

For cards you choose not to keep:

Recycle basic paper cards
Separate and recycle photo cards separately
Remove non-recyclable elements (glitter, foil, embellishments)
Save embellishments to use in crafts

Looking Ahead

Take a few notes while this year is fresh in your mind:

Which display methods worked best in your space
Cards that brought you particular joy
Ideas for your own cards next year
Special thanks you want to send

As I sort through this year's cards, I'm struck by how each one represents a moment someone took to think of me and my family. That photo of my friend’s kids in matching pajamas, my uncle’s familiar handwriting, even the brief signature from my busy neighbor—they're all threads of connection in this big, sometimes disconnected world.

So while I'm practical about not keeping every card, I've learned to pause and appreciate these tangible reminders that we're all part of each other's stories. Keep the ones that make you smile, snap a quick photo of the notes that touched your heart, and let the rest go knowing they've already served their most important purpose: bringing us closer together, if only for a moment.

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Hey, I'm Kelly, an artist and designer...

... and proud mom to a big, goofy three-legged dog and his feline sidekick, a tiny cat with a purr-sonality twice his size. My passion? Turning slobbery kisses and cuddles into keepsakes that’ll make you smile from ear to floppy ear. I believe in making creativity as accessible as a stroll in the dog park – no artistic pedigree required!