How to Reuse Plastic Gift Cards

Many people receive gift cards as presents, but once they are finished they get tossed in the trash. Some can be refilled, however many are not. With the amount of gift cards being purchased, especially over the holidays, this can accumulate to a large amount of plastic waste. Instead of tossing them out, here are some simple ways that you can reuse them around your home.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Clear Con-Tact paper
• Wrapping paper or scrapbook paper
• Mod Podge
• Your old gift cards
• Clear packing tape

1. Create a coaster. You need two plastic gift cards to make this project. Put them side by side and tape them together with clear Con-Tact paper. Next, take a sheet of wrapping paper, scrapbook paper or even a page out of a magazine and wrap your new coaster. Wrap it again in clear Con-Tact paper so that it will stay sealed and the condensation from the glass won’t ruin the paper.

2. Make a memory card game. Save up all of your plastic gift cards until you get enough that you can make a small stack of cards. Lay out your cards and glue wrapping paper on one side by using Mod Podge. For the other side you can use whatever pictures you choose, however make sure you have two of each picture. Glue the pictures onto the cards using Mod Podge. When the glue is dried, cover the cards with clear Con-Tact paper so they can stand up to fingerprints and dirt and not get ruined.

3. Make pocket pictures from your child’s drawing. Have your child draw two small pictures that are the size of the gift card. Glue one picture on each side using Mod Podge and put the clear Con-Tact paper over it. It will stand up to fingerprints as well as the wear of going in and out of your wallet.

4. Construct a small paper holder. This works best with gift cards that have plain pictures on the front such as those that have teddy bears or a winter scene. Form the outline of the box by taking four gift cards, standing them up with the widest side on the table, and carefully taping them together with clear packing tape. Wide packing tape is the perfect size so that it fits right over the front of the gift card without showing any lines. As far as the bottom part of the paper holder, take another gift card and tape it to the bottom of the others. It won’t completely fit the space perfectly, but there will only be a small opening on either side of the card that won’t be seen when the paper holder is filled. Next, cut paper to fit the shape of the inside of the box. Place the paper in and put it where you frequently jot down notes.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to tape the gift cards together carefully so that they don't fall apart.