Our tree and the lights have been removed, the decorations put away, and the house is back to its pre-holiday state, except for the holiday cards.

I always save the holiday cards for the last.  “I have a process,” I always tell my husband when he asks me, “What do you want to do with the holiday cards?”

Today, Take 10 minutes to sort through the holiday cards you’ve received this season. This simple task is a nice way to spend some time reading the sentiments and letters and a great way to declutter, organize, and even get crafty for next year!

I will share the steps I take each year:

1. Update Contact Info. If you notice a new address on the return envelope or if the sender included a new address, email, or phone number on their holiday, take a moment to update your address book or contact list.

2. Track: If you like to keep a record of who you’ve sent and received cards from, now is the perfect time to update it.  This is also a great time to jot down notes about any new family, friends, or connections you’d like to include (or remove) moving forward. My niece and nephew now have children, so I updated them to “The B Family” instead of “Mr. and Mrs. B.”

3. Decide what to keep. As you go through the cards, separate non-photo cards from photo cards. Non-photo cards are perfect for upcycling into custom gift tags for next year. Cut out interesting designs, festive images, or blank card sections to create one-of-a-kind tags. Punch a hole in the corner, thread with ribbon or string, and voilà—beautiful, eco-friendly gift tags that save money and add a personal touch to your wrapping! My husband is the master of making these sweet gift tags (you can see his handiwork below).  

4. But what about the photo cards?  These can be tricky. If you’d like to keep them, consider punching a hole in the corner of each card and tying them together with a ribbon to make a simple keepsake album. Or store them with your holiday decorations to enjoy year after year. Another option is to send them off for scanning and make an album. And, if holding onto them doesn’t feel right for you, letting them go is perfectly okay, too!

5. No holiday card? If you didn’t have time to do a holiday card this year, it’s okay! It is never too late to spread some cheer.  There were a few years when I sent out New Year’s cards. If it’s too late to send out a New Year’s card, there’s always Valentine’s Day or a springtime card.  There’s no “right” or “wrong” if you want to stay connected on your timeline.

Have fun reviewing your holiday cards – it’s much easier than packing the holiday lights!