Upcycling Old Christmas Cards - Tacky? Frugal? Creative?

I always feel sad when I toss old Christmas cards. I feel as if I am somehow tossing the person who sent it... or the sentiment (care, thoughtfulness) with which it was sent. I know I'm not. And yet I still feel vaguely sad and a touch guilty. As if the Christmas Card Police are going to break down my door and arrest me for not appreciating the season!

We've received some Christmas cards this season and already... I look at the cards and wonder... Will we toss? Not toss? Toss? It feels like such a waste of paper.

Some are easy. Like the one pictured here. It's from the paving company so there is zero emotional attachment. But it's also a card with "glitter" all over it which means it is most definitely NOT recyclable. So it is destined for the garbage. Which seems like such a waste.

And then I wonder... could we not reuse these cards? If nothing is written on the inside cover of the card... could we not cut it away from the back and then... glue it to some new card stock and make a brand new card?

Or is that considered tacky? And will Miss Manners now break down my door with a scandalized cry of "Sooooo tacky!!!" I don't think it's tacky. But that's me... I tend to think it's creative, eco-friendly, frugal, thrifty, and just makes good sense.

So I went to ChatGPT and asked if it was tacky... and the response was... it depends. On the recipient. While some people might appreciate the eco-conciousness behind the gesture, others would prefer new store-bought cards.

Ummmm... is it not the thought that counts? I know, I know... that's a loaded term. But... seriously? Some folks prefer new, store-bought cards? Well... that's not us. And if some of our card recipients are huddled under that umbrella... all I got to say is... tough noogies (basically... "too bad").

I am not going to buy cards based on the preferences of the recipients. And who even knows the preferences of their Christmas card recipients? It's not like my address book has a note that says "prefers new, store-bought card" or "do not send a card purchased in a Dollar Store or thrift shop".

Meh. I am in development with not living my life according to the opinions of others. And if others think less of us for receiving a re-used, upcycled Christmas card, then so be it. Maybe I'll put a little sticker on the back that says:

This card has been recycled, repurposed and upcycled.

Oh, and if anyone wants to send us an upcycled card... much appreciated!! And if it's a super crafty card... and you don't write on the inside front cover... we'll be happy to give it a second life next year and share it with someone else!

Look, I know some people go to town with their craft supplies... ribbons, sparkle, shaped hole punches... we don't have that. And I don't have the time for that. What I do have is a pair of scissors and a glue stick... let the cutting and pasting begin!

Orrrr... maybe it's just cutting? Why not just... cut off the front of the used Christmas card and turn it into a Christmas postcard?? No need for extra card stock. No need for glue sticks. No need for an envelope! Win, win, win!!!

Time will tell... but I'm eyeing these Christmas cards and weighing my options.

Thrifty Sandal Shopping

I am not a shoe person. Me and Imelda Marcos are on opposite ends of the spectrum. While some people have multiple sandals... that's not me... I have one pair of sandals. I know... I'm weird. I had a pair of Columbia sandals years ago that I loved. They had a leather footbed that was super comfy. But then they died... and I found these Columbia sandals at Value Village 5 years ago!! Cool!! $12 for a pair of sandals. Excellent!

Old Columbia Sandals

Sad Sandals

Except... these sandals are now on their last legs. When we were in Mexico in December, the bottom was flapping off the front of them. Luckily my brother-in-law had a little tube of Crazy Glue, so I was able to patch them up. I mean... I only had the one pair of sandals soooo... a death in the sandal department would have been a disaster!

Except now... as we enter the summer season in earnest... the rest of the bottom is coming off in earnest (except the front where it was glued). I could glue them again but... some of those side bits that hold the straps in place have come loose as well. It's time to bid farewell to this pair and look for something new.

Dying Columbia Sandals

Brand New Sandals

I went on a bit of a meander through Atmosphere, the local sporting goods/camping goods/hiking footwear store. They have sandals galore but... $150 for a pair of sandals?? Seriously??? I meandered right back out of the store. Maybe if I was going to go and hike the Camino or go on another trip to southeast Asia.... But for just trotting around town and going to the beach? Nope... not paying that much for a pair of sandals.

Used Sandals

Soooo... every time I go to Value Village, I poke around the shoe aisles and have a look. I'm on the hunt for a very particular type of sandal... a hiking sandal with nothing between the toes. Not a Teva... fairly sturdy. For weeks, I struck out. I'd see a likely candidate but then it wouldn't feel comfortable, or it was too flimsy or too worn out or... whatever...

And then.... a few weeks ago... I saw them... ***cue the chorus of angels singing***

New Sandals!

There they were!!! I tried them on... they were comfy. They had adjustable straps. They were in good shape. They were... $6.99... SOLD! Start the car!!!

Now... the sandals I normally wear are men's hiking sandals and these are women's sandals.... so they are a bit... daintier than the men's version but... you know what... for $6.99, I can't go wrong. And yes... I took some isopropyl alcohol to the foot bed and gave it a bit of a wipe... 

And no... I have no idea what brand these are... oh well!

Benefits of Used Sandals

I know some people are a bit... ewwwwww... when it comes to second-hand footwear but... seriously... what's not to love.

• it keeps something that still has life, out of the landfill
• you save money ($$$$)
• they are already broken in!
• less demand for new means less pollution in manufacturing new

I like all of those benefits. And maybe I'll buy a new pair of sandals one day... but for right now, these are perfectly fine. And if my feet don't like them... heck, it's only $6.99.

The only real downside is... you gotta wait for the right pair of sandals to come to you at Value Village. You can't just walk into a thrift store and expect to find perfect pair of sandals waiting for you. Although that does sometimes happen. Nope, this requires patience and commitment... which isn't a bad thing.

Frugal Thrifty Spendthrift Cheapskate?

I do wonder sometimes if I'm too much of a cheapskate... spendthrift... skinflint... tightwad...

Although... I have no trouble going to Atmosphere and buying myself a new pair of Merrell hiking boots when the old ones die. I live in my hiking boots so I am not going to skimp on my foot happiness there. Sooo... it's not that I don't spend money. I just want to spend money on the stuff that matters.

And for me... a pair of sandals aren't that big a deal unless... like I said earlier... I'm going to be living in them while traversing southeast Asia. That's when they matter... and that's when I'd splurge on a pair.

But for just schlepping around, here at home... a second-hand, gently-used, thrifted pair of sandals are perfectly fine.

And even better... I can wear these sandals with my hiking socks and rock the West Coast Socks'n'Sandals look!!! A West Coast Fashionista... that's me!