One More Seasonal Tradition: Scrapbooking Holiday Cards

I have a Christmas card album. I add a few pages to it every year. It's a big album, 12x15 and I love adding to it. I list everyone that sent us a card then keep my favorite cards and all the photo cards.

When my girls were little, I would let them cut out the favorite parts of the cards....then we would assemble them in a collage on TOP of a paper placemat. I would then laminate them (or cover both sides with clear contact paper) and we would use them as placemats! They loved them!!
This year I made a book of my favorite snippets of my cards. I set it on the ottoman in the living room and I think every person who came through the door looked at that thing.
Next year I think I will try one of your layouts! Gotta love it!!!!

We donate the cards to our local Boys & Girls club - next year they will use the card fronts and verses to make cards for family members, etc.

Hi Ali - you are so clever. What a wonderful thing to do with the Xmas cards. I'm going to do the same as you now and do a page layout of each years cards. Thank you so much for all your great ideas :-)

Such a great idea Ali!!
I know its not on topic, but we had a MAJOR breakthrough with Abbi (who has Autism) and I blogged about it. I thought you might "get it" and might find the story uplifting. HUGS!

Great idea!

I was thinking about making a collage of them (as I don't get a ton and only 1 or 2 photos), scanning them, and using them as background paper or as a digital image for later use.

Awesome way to start the new year...Happy 2010! Pick Me!

i never know what to do with them...and it seems we get way more pictures than actual cards...i hate to toss them so i put them in a big envelope and just keep them...this seems like a much better idea. :)

i never know what to do with them...and it seems we get way more pictures than actual cards...i hate to toss them so i put them in a big envelope and just keep them...this seems like a much better idea. :)

I just throw all of mine into a box in true pack-rat fashion! LOL! My mother uses hers as gift tags on packages each year. She cuts the fronts from the cards (non-photo cards) in a decorative manner and adds the "to/from" & sticks that to the gifts. It's pretty cool!
Thanks for sharing this again. I think I'm going to try your method and several of the others listed in the comments! Y'all have inspired me!

What a great idea & they turned out beautifully!

I absolutely LOVE this idea, Ali, why did I never think of it. I keep the full cards, year after year, and put them in a box and go through them once in awhile. Last year my word was simplify, but I have not yet decided what to do with all those cards (I'm 55 and there are tons)...so I'm putting your idea to work and starting with this year. Thanks, Ali!

Years ago we started keeping our cards near our kitchen table. We choose one each night that we gather at the table to eat and pray for the sender(s) when we say our "dinner prayer". I have sent cards in the past to let the family know we have prayed for them, but that hasn't happened lately---I hope when life slows down a bit (haha!) that I can start sending those cards again---anyway, I have always wanted to do something with the cards, but I keep them for a good portion of the year. BUT, I still do have all of last years' cards, so perhaps I'll do my 2008 cards this year---pray thru 2009's and then next holiday, put together 2009's page----I LIKE it! Thanks so much for all the inspiration Ali! love your blog!

I love Christmas cards and never can bring myself to throw them away. This is such a wonderful idea. It would be a great snowy day project.

I always keep and re-purpose my cards...even if it's just for the grandkids to play mail with. However, when our children were younger I always donated them to their school's art program. The teacher loved us...as a former pre-school teacher I never threw anything out...I always thought the 'art bin' was a good place for bits and pieces waiting to become great works of art!

Last year, I scraplifted your idea and used my square punch to create a collage of pictures and cards. I absolutely loved it! This year, I cut out images from the cards that I liked and I'm saving them to use in my first December Daily album (coming this December). I also saved Christmas present tags for this purpose. I can't wait to start it!

I keep my photo cards and handmade Christmas cards {they usually end up in my scrapbook}. I am loving your idea about punching them though . . . might have to try that one out this year.
Anyways, for the remainder which are generally the "store-bought" greeting cards {all holiday; Christmas, Birthdays, Mother's Day, etc . . .} I send them to St. Jude's. They have a program of recycling "gently used" greeting cards, and selling them as a way to raise money. I think it is a great cause, and if I won't be keeping them, I may was well send them on to someone that will.
Here is the link; check it out : )
http://stjudesranch.org/help_card.php
Hugs,
Jen

Here is the address to donate if anyone is interested!
St. Jude's Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude's Street - Boulder City, NV 89005
877-977-SJRC (7572)

I pitch all non-photo cards. About 10 years ago, when I started getting Christmas cards with photos, I created a scrapbook. Each family has a page(s) and each year I cut out their picture and adhere it to their page. It is my favorite book to get out each holiday season. I love seeing how families have grown.