Greeting cards like anniversary and other milestone cards, birthday cards, and holiday cards are some of the most meaningful gifts you can receive—and can easily get cluttered, lost, or damaged. Check out these tips and ideas for displaying, repurposing, and storing sentimental cards.
Ways to Display Sentimental Cards
If you enjoy decorating your home and taking on DIY projects, there are plenty of creative things to do with old greeting cards and other seasonal cards. From framing to scrapbooking, these greeting card display ideas will spruce up your space!
Frame Your Favorites
Framing your favorite cards is a long-term alternative to setting cards on a bookshelf or pinning them to the fridge or fireplace. Take inspiration from an art gallery by giving each letter or card its own frame, then hang them for a cohesive gallery wall. If you have keepsakes you want to display with the card, consider putting those items in a shadow box and hanging them on the wall.
Hang Your Cards
A fun, easy way to showcase your favorite designs while getting creative is hanging cards. Use a pegboard or clipboard for a clean, organized look. Go for a relaxed, DIY vibe and string cards along the wall with twine or wire and attach them with clips or clothespins. Even something as simple as repurposing pants hangers makes for a practical, budget-friendly way to hang your cards.
Make a Scrapbook Album
Turning your collection into a scrapbook or special album is one of the best ways to organize cards while preserving past events. With some chipboard, a hole punch, and some rings, you can create a greeting card scrapbook album to flip through anytime. You can get more spontaneous by tearing up edges to create a junk journal with crafted, DIY collages. Consider adding photos of the sender or other things that remind you of them on the same page so you can cherish memories associated with the card and its meaning.
Create a Photo Mat
If you’re hoping for a more creative, dynamic greeting card display, choose a few of your favorite cards and arrange them on a photo mat so the images you like the best are highlighted. This scenic photo collage can be structured based on time, design, and more. Secure the cards to the mat with craft glue, and flip the mat over when it’s dry. Cut away the excess using a box cutter, then insert the mat around a related photo. When you’re done, you’ll have a themed frame that tells a deeper story than the photo itself.
Highlight Cards with Glass Jars
A simple, yet stylish way to display greeting cards or birthday cards as home decor is by showcasing them in glass jars. Traditional Mason jars may be too small, so opting for a taller, wider glass jar—such as a memory jar or a vase—works best to prevent bending or cramming. Simply slide your favorite cards into the jar, wrap them around the interior surface, then put the lid on. Once arranged, secure the lid and add a finishing touch with ribbon or seasonal greenery. The result is a charming tabletop card display that brings warmth and personality to your home.
Tips for Repurposing Sentimental Cards
Repurposing cards is a great way to achieve function and style on a budget, offering a creative and affordable way to get mileage out of your gifts. These are a few thoughtful ideas for used greeting cards.
Craft Personalized Magnets
If you’re looking for a way to DIY with cards, custom magnets are easy to create—and greeting cards make the perfect material. All you need to do is cut out your favorite images or notes, glue them to a magnet sheet, and trim the sheet to size. Using this technique, you can easily display your special items on your refrigerator for everyone to see. If you own a set of holiday cards, you can also use this process to create themed magnets to match.
Create Gift Tags
One of the best ways to repurpose cards is by cutting out the images and turning them into cute gift tags. Hearts, stars, cakes, flowers, and other common graphics will end up as excellent tags for various occasions. After finding an image you like, cut it out, punch a small hole, and string some twine or ribbon through the hole. When you’re done, store your tags in an envelope in the same place as the rest of your gift-wrapping supplies so you can easily find them.
Personalize a Wine Tag
Adding a personalized wine tag is an easy way to make a simple bottle of wine more special—especially if it’s made out of a card given to you by the recipient of the wine. Start by cutting a 3x7-inch rectangle of cardstock and score it about 2.5 inches from the top, where you’ll fold it. Use a 1.25-inch hole punch to create an opening for the neck of the bottle. Complete the handmade vibe and use twine or string to hang the tag around the wine. This easy DIY trick instantly adds a thoughtful touch to any wine gift.
Make Holiday Decorations
There are plenty of ways to repurpose holiday cards into fun, seasonal holiday displays! Cut out pieces of cards, hole-punch them, and thread through string for fun card ornaments. Create a tree display from wood, corkboard, or other materials with strings criss-crossed on top, then stick cards between the strings. Or create a card garland or a festive card wreath by stringing cards together and hanging them on the wall.
Transform into DIY Postcards
Creating your own postcards is another simple way to reuse cards. If the inside of the front cover is blank, cut it off for your new “postcard.” You can store or display the note that was inside the card, or you can recycle it. Use a corner shaper from your local craft store to round the edges, then add a note, address, and stamp. After that, it’s ready to mail—just like any regular postcard!
Ideas for Storing Sentimental Cards
Old cards are typically fragile and susceptible to the elements, so you’ll want to take extra care in storage. Here are a few smart ideas for storing sentimental cards to preserve important memories.
Find the Perfect Storage Box
Cards, letters, and ink can easily deteriorate over time, so finding the perfect card storage box for your needs is especially important. Choose a box made from durable materials like cardboard, wood, or sturdy plastic to protect your cards from bending. The box should be large enough to comfortably hold your cards and have a secure close lid to seal out dust, moisture, and light. If you plan on using self storage, it might be worth going the extra mile to rent a storage locker or unit with climate control to ensure your valuables are protected.
Consider a Card Organizer
A smart and easy way to protect sentimental cards is by purchasing a dedicated card organizer. This is a great option for keeping cards separate from other keepsakes, making it easier to stay organized and prevent damage in storage. The boxes often come with built-in dividers that can be labeled by sender, date, or occasion (e.g., holiday, birthday, anniversary). Some are even lined with acid-free or lignin-free paper, helping preserve your cards long-term.
Use a Photo Album
A photo album is a simple and effective way to store and organize greeting cards. Card albums with plastic sleeves or binders with rings help keep cards neatly organized by date or type, making it easy to revisit them whenever you want. Since most cards are about 5 inches by 7 inches—roughly the same size as standard photos—they fit perfectly in these albums, giving them a tidy home while preserving sentimental value.
Save a Digital Album
If you’re nervous about losing the physical copies of your old cards, moving your cards to a digital space is worthwhile. You can scan your sentimental cards into your computer or use services that do it for you. For three-dimensional cards or those with details that scanning can’t capture, set up a lightbox and photograph them. Once you’ve digitized everything, compile your images into a digital scrapbook. To ensure long-term preservation, store your scrapbook in the cloud or back it up regularly to prevent losing access over time.
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