16 replies to this topic

[Alli]

Here are some ideas of ways to reuse and recycle your old gift cards

I got some really pretty cards this year and I think I might try making something out of them now... Sounds like a good 12th night activity for the family.

[Pushhyarag2000]

Pretty cool ideas for recycling the gift cards. I think it is the concern coupled with creativity and community effort that will ultimately egnerate the best green ideas. The idea of those used cards becoming office supplies for non profits is the one that I appreciate more.

[mariaandrea]

I love that. I never throw any kind of plastic cards away - old library cards, gift cards, things like that. I've been meaning to make jewelry but haven't done it yet. I like her bracelet. And of course, love the idea of donating them. Even a few dollars does make a difference. Been there.

One thing I have done with old plastic cards is really similar to that bracelet. I made a curtain door hanger for my daughter's room several years ago. Like a bead curtain, but with plastic discs cut out of cards. We painted some, glittered some and left some plain. I used inexpensive large metal jump rings and a pair of pliers to attach the discs together. Turned out very cool.

[MakingCents]

THose are all good ideas. I try to keep mine and reload them if they are reloadable. I loved the idea of a guitar pick! I have a whole box full of old, empty gift cards that I'll figure out how to use at some point.

[zararina]

I do not received any gift cards (even I would want to LOL) as a gift since it was not common here.
But I do have old ATM cards that I am still keeping since I would not want to just throw them away. It could be souvenir but now it could become something else just like the suggestions given on this thread. It could be reused as decor or jewelry and I also really like the idea of making it a guitar pick.

[msterees]

What a neat idea to try making jewelery or guitar picks out of used gift cards. I'm sure there are a lot of other things you could do like cut out interesting shapes and glue them on card stock to make a unique piece of art. I'll definitely look into this.

[MakingCents]

I"m sure someone artsy could do something really cool with old gift cards, cut them up and use them as a collage or something. Similar to what people to with old bottle caps.

[jasserEnv]

I have mailed them back to the companies saying that they need a way to make these recyclable. So far, all that they have done is to respond with offers of free merchandise as a "thank you" for my demonstration of concern. At least, they know some people are thinking about this.

[MakingCents]

I wish the companies would give an incentive to 're-load' the cards rather than buy new ones. Seriously, even like, for every re-load you get a .10 credit or something. I would definitely take advantage of something like that

[jasserEnv]

MakingCents, on 03 January 2012 - 07:55 PM, said:

I wish the companies would give an incentive to 're-load' the cards rather than buy new ones. Seriously, even like, for every re-load you get a .10 credit or something. I would definitely take advantage of something like that

Some allow you to recharge them, but I have not seen any that provide an incentive to do so. If they don't, just mail the used cards back to the companies indicating that you believe they need to take a more sustainable stance with regard to the lifecycle of these cards. As they get more feedback in this regard, they will start to realize there is another opportunity to interact with customers that could lead to more sales. Companies love to talk to us...

[MakingCents]

Yes, most companies allow you to recharge, but we all know that in our society people need incentives. Quite honestly I'm guilty of it myself. The local gas station gives .20 off per gallon of gas with every 50 gift card purchase. So to buy a new gift card it saves me $6.00 on 30 gallons of gas. In a tight economy every little bit helps.

If the same company that offers these benefits allowed you to recharge the card and for ever $1 you put on you get an extra cent or something... that would start to add up too.

[Mon-Jes]

Oh, the guitar pick idea is the best. You'd have to figure out a way to sand the whole thing down, though--otherwise you'd end up with very thick picks, and that would affect playing and the sound you get.

[MakingCents]

I saw something in a catalog that is a machine that cuts the guitar pics out of these kinds of cars, my friend actually decided to get it for her nephew for his birthday so I"ll let you know if it works!

[magickat]

In my family we have always saved the cards to make gift tags for presents for the following Christmas. It has become quite a tradition to find the best pictures and cut them out to make attractive tags.

[Sandra Piddock]

Great ideas here - particularly the one about the crumb sweeper. We have lovely crusty bread here, and my husband's goes everywhere except into his mouth! Sweeping up the crumbs is a lot more efficient, and I could also use it on the carpet, to save getting out the vacuum cleaner just to remove the evidence of where my husband ate his baguette. Thanks for this.

[Jessi]

I tried to find a picture example of what I was going to talk about, but I can't really, so you'll just have to use your imagination.

As a kid, I used to save the cards every year and then make little box ornaments out of them the following year. The front of the card was the decorative top, and the white was the bottom that slid inside it. A simple ribbon and suddenly I had ornaments for the next year. We also used them for little storage containers for thumbtacks, paper clips, rings, etc, too. :)

[kjz]

Very cool, I wouldn't have thought of that. Then again, I don't really get cards during the holidays. Lonely.