what to do with holiday cards (hint: don’t throw them away!)

We’re huge fans of holiday cards around here.

Actually, we’re huge fans of all types of cards.  We love to use them for cutting practice, arts and crafts, and even Valentines cards.

But the cards that my kiddos seem to look forward to most are the cards with pictures of our friends’ and family members’ funny faces on them. During December, Maddy, Owen, and Cora race to the mailbox every single day, and then they race to see who can open the white envelopes first, and then they race to see if they can identify the sender.

It’s fun. And we are grateful for every single card we receive, for every friend and family member we have.

We put each one on our big white pantry in the kitchen and look at them each time we walk by. But then we take down the photos, shove them in a box, and we very rarely see them again.

So this Quick Trick is something new I’m trying–something that I know my kids will enjoy because I know they love these cards.

Here’s the skinny:

What to do with Holiday Cards:

I’m talking about the photo cards here. I have a happy place for all of our other cards, and that’s the Card Box.

Our holiday cards are ready for a new home.

Our photo cards have ended up in a box up in the closet that never seemed to make it down often enough. Granted, when it did, the kids were occupied and interested; it’s like looking though all of their best buddies’ photo albums.

But we need a change.

This year I did something new with our holiday cards.

1. First, I gathered all the cards for each year into a pile.

It wasn’t easy because there were so many, but it was oddly satisfying and peaceful to just look through all of the cards in one sitting.

2. Then I punched a hole in the upper lefthand corner of each card.

After I punched holes in the corner of each card, I clipped them together with a silver circle clip, and made them into a book.

3. Finally, I put our own family’s holiday card on top of each ‘book’, and I was finished.

 4. Then, I surprised the kids with their new reading material!

I left the cards out on the table for the afternoon and next morning, and Maddy, Owen, and Cora must have flipped through them a dozen times each.  They’re not the most sturdy little clips, and if they flip too quickly the cards will tear, but with reminders to be gentle, the cards were okay.

I think now that the cards are in a more central location–right in our craft room–we’ll see them more often.  Plus, it’s like having an extra photo album to look through whenever we want.  And if ever we need a quick reminder as to how to spell that long-lost third cousin twice removed’s name, the card will be right there.

And that’s it. Just a teeny little Quick Trick to make use of those holiday cards that we spend so much time choosing, to keep our kids connected with friends and family, and to help keep us all a little more organized!

Here’s to a happy, healthy year to everyone!

More about holiday photos here:

Want a few more holiday-inspired gift ideas or activities? Check out: 

• Best Gifts for Kids and Families 2014
• Best Gifts for Kids and Families 2013
• Best Gifts for Kids and Families 2012
• Holiday Fun Fact and JOKES Lunchbox Notes (with Hannukah!)
• Holiday Time Fun Fact Lunchbox Notes
• Little Holiday Notes and Jokes
• Holiday Notes for Families
• The Polar Express tradition
• Scratch-off Cards
• K-Cup Advent Tree
• New Year’s Family Interview
• Happy Holidays Backyard Birds 

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