Reusing Old Greeting Cards

According to the Greeting Card Association, 90% of all U.S. households buy greeting cards, purchasing approximately 7 billion each year. Have you ever wondered what to do with the numerous greeting cards you receive from birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, etc.? Wonder no more; use them for saying "thank you." Thank-you notes are a special way to tell people how much you liked their gifts or how much you appreciate their help. Receiving thank-you notes makes people feel good as well as appreciated. Unfortunately, getting kids to say thank you isn't always easy, especially when it's in receipt of a gift. However, there are some fun ways to encourage them to use these manners. All you need to do is get them to do what they enjoy best-using their imagination. And in the process, you can find a creative way to recycle all of those used greeting cards that have been piling up over the years. When you allow children to use their imagination, they are more likely to participate in the 'art' of saying thank you. They will see it as a fun project rather than a dreaded chore.

Have them cut out the characters or scenes from a variety of cards. These can be glued to the front of a folded over piece of colored construction paper. Once they have placed their design onto the paper, let them decorate the 'new' card using various crafting items such as glitter, sequins, stickers, and other fancy embellishments. Afterward, they can write a quick little note on the inside of the card thanking the recipient. You could also design thank-you placemats with your kids as well. Have them glue pictures from old greeting cards onto construction paper, adding personalized thank-you notes. Cover this with contact paper, which can be easily wiped clean with a damp sponge or cloth. Each time they're used, the recipient will be reminded of the warm gesture given to them.