How to store greeting cards

February 17, 2015

Many people find they keep a stash (or two) of cards that they have received over the years. From Thanksgiving cards to birthday cards, thank-you cards and sympathy greetings, some memorable cards are worth saving. Instead of stuffing them into a box, try these unique ways to store greeting cards:

Make a display
Did you receive some particularly beautiful or well-designed cards this year? Turn them into a display so everyone can enjoy them. Purchase a poster-sized frame and arrange the greeting cards to fit. This is a great way to show you appreciated the greetings by placing them in your lobby or somewhere else customers will see them. Have you received cards from important people that you want to show the world? Frame them! Buy a simple frame that won't distract from the card itself and make sure the card is open and the writing can be seen easily. Set the frame on a table or on the lobby wall for all to admire. 

Scan them
Take your cards to a printing and copying store and have them all scanned onto a thumb drive. Or, do it yourself at home or at the office. Then, organize the cards by year and occasion so you can easily find them when you are looking for a particular one. Many charities, like the St. Jude's Ranch for Children, recycle used greeting cards and reuse them to make new cards. If you choose to scan the cards, you may want to consider sending the physical copy to be reused for charity. You can even check with a local Girl Scout troop – they sometimes reuse the cards in scrapbooking and craft-making activities by cutting out the designs and completely re-purposing the entire card. 

Make your own book
Organize your cards by year or occasion. Use a small three-hole punch to cut holes on the folded side of each card. Then, use metal rings to hold all the cards together and turn them into an easy-to-flip-through book. If you receive client cards like thank-yous or holiday greetings, this is a great way to keep them together and remember who to send cards to next year. Leave the book in your lobby for customers to check out or share it with employees. You can also send images of your cards to be made into a book by a professional printing company. Many will allow you to send in the images and they will turn your favorite greeting cards into a keepsake book.