Valentine's Day is not only the perfect day to demonstrate how much you care for someone; it's also the perfect day to show your love for the Earth.
Every year about 700 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged on February 14th, the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year next to Christmas. Some cards are sent electronically or kept as cherished momentos never to be discarded. But other cards wind up in the landfill.
Check out some of these ideas for reusing Valentine’s Day cards and celebrating a greener Valentine’s Day. All you need are scissors, glue and a little imagination!
• Cut out images from the old cards and combine them in new ways to create your own unique Valentine card and message using glitter, lace, and ribbon.
• Turn a Valentine’s Day card into a postcard by cutting off the front, turning it over and writing your message on left and the address on the right, and add a stamp.
• Make your own place mats using images and the greetings from old Valentine cards by gluing them on a piece of colorful construction paper and covering both sides with clear contact paper.
• Complete your table setting by cutting off the front of a used Valentine’s Day card, folding it, and making a placecard to compliment your placemat.
• Collage images from Valentine Day cards around the surface of a gift box or other container and fill with Valentine cookies for someone special.
• Create a love puzzle by gluing the front of a Valentine’s Day on cardstock, cut-it up into puzzle pieces and place the pieces in an envelope to be hand-delivered.
• Create a love journal by using images from Valentines glued on cardstock for the covers, filing the inside with blank pages and stapling or binding them together using Japanese stab binding or other binding techniques.
• Turn a card into a scented sachet by gluing the bottom and side edges of the card together and slipping a small amount of potpourri into the space-hearts, love and flowers all in one package.
This story powered by our friends at ArtStart and Living Green Expo!