11 Upcycled Greeting Cards

upcycled collage greeting card from The Complete Photo Guide to Cardmaking

Upcycled Greeting Cards

I know that Hallmark super wants all of your money, but just between the two of us, we know that upcycled greeting cards are where it’s at!

Seriously, they’re more personal. They’re way more awesome. And they’re free!

Whether you’re an avid scrapbooker or a total novice, there is 100% an upcycled greeting card that you will love to make in the list below. Pro tip: Make a few cards at a time whenever you’re in the mood, and then when the next birthday rolls around, you’ll be all set!

1. book page printsThese make super spooky card fronts, but you could change the color scheme for a different look. It’s also easy to substitute a piece cut from a small child’s artwork for this–it’ll give you that same abstract look, but the grandparents will love it!

2. calendar cardsThis is a GREAT way to upcycle your old calendars.

upcycled collage greeting cards from The Complete Photo Guide to Cardmaking3. collaged cardsUse this tute from The Complete Photo Guide to Cardmaking to alter textbook pages, magazine images, or whatever else strikes your fancy.

4. fabric scrap cardsEven the smallest fabric scraps can make lovely embellishments for your greeting cards.

5. paper scrap cardsHere are different tutorials that utilize paper scraps to make cards. Learn how to make a birthday cake, an ice cream cone, and a bunting!

6. patchwork greeting cardsThis tute shows you how to piece together lots of scraps to make an entire greeting card.

7. playing card flowersYou definitely have an incomplete deck of playing cards laying around somewhere.

Upcycled Greeting cards8. record album cover cardsUpcycle the images from old record album covers into awesome greeting cards.

9. re-usable denim cardThe idea here is pure genius: create a greeting card that can be re-used every year!

10. Scrabble tile cardsThis is an easy way to personalize a greeting card.

11. wrapping paper collaged cardsHere’s an idea for the perfect thank-you card, AND it uses up some of the wrapping paper from your gifts, too.

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Written by Julie Finn

I'm a writer, crafter, Zombie Preparedness Planner, and homeschooling momma of two kids who will hopefully someday transition into using their genius for good, not the evil machinations and mess-making in which they currently indulge. I'm interested in recycling and nature crafts, food security, STEM education, and the DIY lifestyle, however it's manifested--making myself some underwear out of T-shirts? Done it. Teaching myself guitar? Doing it right now.

Visit my blog Craft Knife for a peek at our very weird handmade homeschool life, and my etsy shop Pumpkin+Bear for a truly odd number of rainbow-themed beeswax pretties.

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