Most of us have a drawer or a box stuffed with old birthday cards. Maybe you saved them because the artwork caught your eye or the message inside made you smile. Either way, the pile keeps growing. So what should you do with all of them?
You do not have to throw them out. With a few simple supplies, you can turn those old cards into something useful and fun. Here are some easy craft ideas for old birthday cards that give your favorite cards a second life.
What Can You Make From Old Birthday Cards for Gift Wrapping
One of the best things to do with old birthday cards is to use them for gift wrapping.
Instead of buying expensive wrapping paper, collect all the birthday cards you have received over the years. Look for the ones with colorful artwork, balloons, cakes, or wrapped presents on the front.
Here is how to do it:
- Wrap your gift in plain brown or white craft paper, or place it in a simple box or gift bag
- Cut the pictures and words off the cards and paste them on the package in any pattern you like
- Use the inside greeting or verse words as part of the design
- Cut out individual letters to spell “Happy Birthday” or the recipient’s name
- Try craft scissors with shaped edges to add a fun finish
You can even use aluminum foil as the base wrap in a pinch. The card cutouts add all the color and personality, and every package ends up looking one of a kind.
How Do You Turn Birthday Cards Into Gift Tags
Gift tags are one of the quickest craft ideas for old birthday cards. You only need a hole punch and some ribbon.
Steps to make gift tags:
- Cut the front image off the card
- Trim it down to tag size if needed
- Punch a hole in the top corner
- Pull a piece of ribbon or twine through the hole
- Tie a small bow and attach the tag to your gift
One thank you card or birthday card front can make two or three tags depending on the size of the artwork. You will save money on store-bought tags and each one looks thoughtful and personal.
Can You Use Old Birthday Cards in Scrapbook Pages
Scrapbooking is a great way to reuse birthday cards while keeping your memories organized.
When you put together a birthday page in your scrapbook, pull out the cards you received at that celebration. Cut the words, images, and greetings off the cards and arrange them around your photos. Add bows, ribbons, or small fabric swatches to bring in texture and color.
Even if you do not keep your own scrapbook, you can make pages for friends or family members. A birthday page with card cutouts, photos, and a few handwritten notes makes a meaningful keepsake that someone will hold onto for years.
Pro tip: Use the inside verse from a card as a caption next to a birthday photo. It ties the memory together in a way that feels personal and complete.
What Are Some Other Ways to Reuse Birthday Cards
Gift wrap, tags, and scrapbooks are just the start. If you are still wondering what to do with old birthday cards, here are a few more ideas that are just as easy.
Bookmarks
Cut a strip from the front of a card. Choose a section with a design or pattern you like. Trim it to about two inches wide and six inches long, and you have a bookmark. You can round the corners with scissors or laminate it with clear packing tape to make it last longer.
Magnets
Cut out a small image or shape from a card front. Glue a flat magnet to the back. Now you have a custom fridge magnet that adds color to your kitchen or office.
Postcards
The front of most greeting cards is sturdy enough to work as a postcard. Cut the card in half along the fold. Write your message on the blank back side, add a stamp, and drop it in the mail.
Confetti
Use a hole punch to cut circles, stars, or hearts out of old birthday cards. Mix the colors together and use the confetti at your next celebration. It works in party bags, inside envelopes, or sprinkled on a table as decoration.
Garland or Bunting
Cut card fronts into triangles or pennant shapes. Punch two holes along the top edge and thread string or ribbon through all of them. Hang the garland across a shelf or doorway for a quick and colorful decoration.
How Should You Store Birthday Cards You Want to Keep
Not every card needs to become a craft project. Some cards carry messages that mean too much to cut up. For those, storage and display are better options.
Here are a few simple ways to keep your favorite cards safe:
- Photo album: Slide cards into a photo album with clear pockets so you can flip through them like a book
- Keepsake box: Use a decorated box or shoebox to hold cards sorted by year or by person
- Frame a favorite: If one card has a message or design that means a lot to you, frame it and place it on a desk or shelf where you can see it often
Separate cards you want to save from cards you are ready to reuse. Once you sort them, you will know what goes into your craft pile and what stays in your keepsake collection.
Why Are Premium Birthday Cards Worth Holding Onto
A card printed on thick, quality paper with embossing, foils, or sculpted designs holds up much better for craft projects than a thin, flimsy card. Heavier card stock keeps its shape when cut into tags, bookmarks, or scrapbook accents. Foil and embossed details catch the light and add a polished look that cheaper cards simply cannot match.
Gallery Collection has been printing premium personalized birthday cards since 1929. Whether you send them to clients, employees, or family, these cards are made with paper stock and finishes that look just as good repurposed as they did on day one. So even after the birthday is over, the card still has plenty of life left in it.
When you start with a card that feels substantial in your hands, every craft project you make from it looks a step above the ordinary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gift tags and bookmarks are the simplest projects. All you need is a pair of scissors, a hole punch, and some ribbon or string. You can make several tags or bookmarks from a single card in just a few minutes.
Cards with glitter, plastic coatings, or heavy foil often cannot go in your curbside recycling bin. Reusing them in craft projects or donating them to a school or community group is a better option.
Cut images, words, and designs off old Christmas cards or birthday cards and paste them onto plain wrapping paper, brown craft paper, or a simple gift bag. You can arrange the cutouts however you like for a custom look.
You do not have to save them all. Keep the ones with messages that matter most to you in a keepsake box or album. Sort the rest into a craft pile so you can reuse them for tags, scrapbooks, garlands, or other projects.
Many schools, churches, and community craft groups accept used greeting cards. Some charitable organizations also collect card fronts to reuse them. Check with groups in your area to see who takes donations.
I love these ideas. I always feel bad when I have to throw away old cards, now maybe I won’t have to.
These are awesome ideas. I actually have a scrapbook with different parts of cards in it. I put the names of who gave them to me on the back.
This is really smart! I usually save cards for sentimental value, but every so often I come across that one card that just stands out. I’ve never known what to do with those cards, but you’ve given me some great ideas
I love these ideas — I have had old shoeboxes and plain craft or photo boxes and decorated them with cards. So many great things to do with cards. You could cut out the fronts of most of the Gallery collection cards and pop a whole in the top and make ornaments. They are so pretty.
Wow, recycling birthday cards as gift tags. Now that’s a unique idea!
when the kids were little and in a pinch I would use whatever paper I had around – wrap the gift using the white side of the wrapping paper. Then I would have the kids decorate the wrapped package. Was great for grandparents. But I love this idea and will keep it in mind next time I’m in a pinch to wrap a gift. And trust me it will happen.
Wow I’m never throwing away a card again. There’s so many different things you can do with them. I especially like the gift wrapping idea . Who knew how far aluminum foil, some old cards and a little imagination could go.