Recycling and reusing old purchased greeting cards is an economical, quick method of card making and adding fun elements to your scrap book projects.

Look at the elements of the card that you are recycling, chose a focal point. If you are doing a birthday card perhaps a cake or a cartoon character would make a good focal point. If you are making holiday cards, then select a feature such as a Christmas tree or dreidel. Fussy cut the element from the existing card, or using a decorative punch for quicker results.

With your card making template and some inexpensive card stock, create a basic handmade greeting card. Place the pieces from the recycled card and ‘audition’ them to see where they look best. Add rubber stamping, glitter, buttons, ribbon or other paper embellishments such as stickers to compliment the cut outs. Once you are please with your greeting card use some paper glue such as Zip-Dry ® to adhere them together.

Consider using the recycled cards for making gift tags. Punch out elements with a square or round decorative punch. Add layers of colored paper slightly larger than the punch out and secure with a fiber, some ribbon, a rivet or a decorative brad. This can be especially economical at Christmas Time and will likely be a craft that your children will be able to help with.

Card making ideas can come from many places. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on coordinating papers or card stock. Look in your stash of saved cards and see what interesting elements you can recycle for your next hand made greeting card.

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