Christmas Cards

I know that there’s been a thread about Christmas gifts…but how are people dealing with Christmas cards? It seems that many people around me see it as a necessity rather than a nicety…if that makes sense.

So, how are people getting around the idea of not sending out cards and letting people know that without offending them?

And, what are some unique ideas people have had to reuse those cards? I’ve used some of them as tags (cut off the front of the card). And my aunt makes boxes out of them. Any other creative ideas? Especially to do with kids?

one year i took all of the cards that i recieved and blacked out the writing inside. then i wrote something new and sent them out to people in my family, mainly as a joke! my family got a good laugh out of it but i doubt most people would!

E-cards work best. Well, as long as no one prints them out.

I’ve cut out the designs on old ones. Sometimes I’ve resent them as postcards – that was before the advent of computers/laptops/notebooks everywhere…
I’ve also decorated with them.
E-cards save waste but electricity is needed to send them.
I do think handwritten cards have a greater and more personal impact.
I have cut way down on sending them though.

I imagine that it may be possible to do things like varnishing the cards after cutting out the designs and applying finished product on a belt or something… I haven’t tried it.

Reality hit my pocket and I haven’t been able to send them in awhile. We always cut them and reused them to make tiny origami gift boxes or paper ornaments or even use the front part as gift tags for future gifts. Kids have fun making collages with them or even better have your children, if you have any, or know any, design or draw cards for you. They may not be glamorous or breathtaking but they will definitely be from the heart. One other option might be to tell your friends and family you have decided not to send any and will donate the same money to a nice charity instead if you have it to spend. Just an idea.

This thread applies for all types of cards-holiday, birthday and everyday type cards. The best thing I have found is sending e cards. Saves money and does not waste paper.
For cards received, I save them and use them for crafts such as scrap booking or cut them and reuse a piece of the card as a gift tag.

cards can be used as bok marks or reused cutting the front of the card and glueing it to another blank sheet. They can also be attatched together to make craft pen stand etc. I keep doing these stuff to reuse the cards…:)

My brother likes to keep the cards he gives unwritten in. Instead, he writes his sentiment on a piece of paper and then puts that in the card. He like to think that others will do the same and reuse it.

I really don’t send Christmas cards anymore. It’s outside of my financial range now. If I send 5, I’ve sent a lot.

This is one reason I have an e card subscription. It is a big money saver. Between stamps and paper $14 would not get one very far that is for sure.

That’s true. I do miss the sent card, though. E cards are so impersonal sometimes.

ecards are ecofriendly surely but I do not like it when people just send one card with everyone’s name in it…it really seems impersonal as orrymain said….I like making my own ecards, using some nice pictures, a personal message and sending individual mail to everyone…Not a ‘Dear all’ thing…

I send individual e cards, some have options to add photos. I add a special note to each person. I do not like to do mass mailings, as I agree that is very impersonal.

Of course, some people do that with regular in the mail cards too. I just don’t see the point in doing that.