Asked on Mar 22, 2013

Upcycling, reuse, repurpose, art

Jim Jakes
by Jim Jakes
I tell my friends and family: "Don't throw anything away until I have a look at it." I always think there maybe a use for something. So one of the many thiings I collect (not hoard) are gift cards or any kind of plastic wallet size card. I have servers and managers save them for me and my grandson & I want to do a project with them. Now some are really nice and I think they are collectors items or someday will be so those are special. Imagine catagorizing something like this. I know, I know. Anyway, any ideas out there about repurposing these things so they don't wind up floating around in the north Pacific?
Old gift cards needing a use!
  10 answers
  • Miriam Illions Miriam Illions on Mar 22, 2013
    I am inspired by your attention and care for things I usually don't give a second thought to. @Beckie @ Infarrantly Creative has a great round up on her blog of cool ways to repurpose old gift cards. The one in the picture was my favorite - make little notebooks! You can see the rest of them here: http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2011/01/5-way-to-repurpose-gift-cards.html
  • Miriam Illions Miriam Illions on Mar 22, 2013
    Oh, and I will never look at a gift card the same way again! :)
  • Jim Jakes Jim Jakes on Mar 22, 2013
    Thanks for the comment and link Miriam!
  • Z Z on Mar 26, 2013
    I was thinking of punching a hole in the center of each end and then attaching them together with jewelry making C-rings for a window or doorway curtain. Sort of like they used to do with the original soda can poptops. You could make almost anything using that technique. You could also spray paint them with chalk board paint to make hang tags to label baskets in your pantry. Again using C-rings to attach them. These would also make great name tags for a large get together where not everyone knows each other. You could also use the smaller C-rings to attach them together to make little cubes for storage. I'm sure I can think of more, but my hubby is ready to Skype so I'll have to come back.
  • Jim Jakes Jim Jakes on Mar 27, 2013
    I was leaning that way too Becky, the door way curtain. But the others are good too, Thanks!
  • Z Z on Mar 28, 2013
    You're welcome Jim. Make sure to come back and share what you wind up doing with them.
  • Jim Jakes Jim Jakes on Jun 17, 2014
    Late in adding this but my daughter found a device in Amazon called pick-a-palooza and you can use it to make guitar picks from these cards.
    • See 1 previous
    • Ginger Johnson Lambert Ginger Johnson Lambert on Aug 14, 2016
      This is what I do. There are many musicians in the family and they love the unique picks. I also have made earrings and bracelets and let ring charms from the picks. Plus a pick shadow box as decor!
  • Jennifer Benson Benton Jennifer Benson Benton on Sep 24, 2014
    @Jim Jakes, remember some collectibles have to be intact to be valuable. I guess you are keeping the good one in a place that they won't be harmed. I admire your imagination. I love the old things and I think of myself as creative but you win with your gift card designs.
  • Julie Sims Julie Sims on Jun 28, 2015
    I know this is from a long time ago, however, the one and only time my husband and I had to consolidate credit cards, I cut up the old ones and with floral wire made flowers and gave a "bouquet" to the loan officer. She had it on her desk for over 10 years until she left the bank! I am happy to say, we have never gone into that kind of debt ever again!
  • P auline miller P auline miller on Sep 26, 2016
    You could cover a table with them. Maybe a coffee table or end table. You wouldn't have to worry about water rings!