Simple Tasks - Celebration Supplies Week - New Cards

Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine's Day is a fun holiday for young and old alike, but for those of us who prefer more minimal celebrations, it can be a little overwhelming. Cards are popular for the holiday, especially with little kids. And unused cards seem to accumulate year after year because we just *know* we will use them eventually.

Personally, I have found cards from past anniversaries and Father's Days that I meant to give to my husband, but I never got around to them. It wasn't because I didn't want to give them. What I wanted to do was write something really meaningful inside, but that takes time and thought, and we we have two kids, so you can imagine how much time I get to think! If we put thought into selecting cards though, they usually say it all for us, so when we get them, we need to give them. Giving away cards helps us to cut down clutter while making others happy.

Today is a great day to gather all of those brand new cards that stack up. This is NOT the day to go through cards you have received - those items are very sentimental, and a holiday is never a safe time to think clearly about sentimental items. We are strictly looking at cards that are still in the "supplies" category.

Think about when and why you give cards. Do you like to give cards but it just doesn't happen? Have you discontinued certain traditions like Christmas cards? Have you switched to virtual cards for birthdays and thank yous? Think about what you need before you decide what you need to eliminate.

When you gather up cards, be sure to include those tiny Valentine's Day cards that your kids didn't use and all of the envelopes that either accompanied the cards you have or the cards you have already given. Don't look through your supplies until you have everything gathered, then you can go through our checklist:

*Eliminate anything that is dirty, torn, and bent. Cards are meant to make people feel special, so we need them to look good.
*Eliminate envelopes that won't seal. Glue dries out overtime.
*Eliminate envelopes that don't have a card. Envelopes have a way of multiplying; you really don't need to keep all of them.
*Eliminate cards for which you no longer have a recipient. Sometimes we purchase cards for specific people and miss our timeline for giving them, then they don't seem appropriate to give to anyone else.
*Eliminate random leftovers you no longer need - Christmas cards from past seasons, leftover Valentine's, unused wedding thank you notes, etc.

After you go through this list, make another quick pass through your cards and sort them by category (holiday, birthday, anniversary, sympathy, etc.). Eliminate what you feel is excessive. You know how many cards you give, so be honest with yourself. And then do the hard part - give the cards!


Once you have made your elimination stack, recycle cards that can't be used. Usable cards and envelopes can be donated to thrift stores, school art programs, hospitals, churches, and nursing homes. Give away those cards to bring simple happiness to others!