8 crafty ways to recycle, reuse old credit cards

[MagiePerdu]

I always shred my credit cards after they expire. . .just don't want anyone getting anywhere near any of my credit info, current or not! However, imagine my surprise to read on creditcard.com of ways to recycle your credit cards!

There's no question that Americans carry a whole lot of plastic. According to one recent survey, the average consumer has 3.5 open credit cards. Add that to the gift cards, club cards and loyalty cards that most of us pick up, and we can easily carry a dozen cards with us wherever we go. That's 3.6 billion cards that will eventually get used up, expire or become worthless.

But just because you can't use the cards for their original purpose doesn't mean you have to send them to the landfill. Julie Charles, one of the crafty folks who is breathing new life into old cards, says people are delighted to donate their plastic to a new cause. "Friends and family are so happy to find someone who can use old hotel keys, expired credit cards and used gift cards," she says. "They love knowing that they'll be repurposed and not end up in a landfill."

Reuse your plastic to improve your life -- and the environment. Here are eight smart ideas that you can make yourself from your old cards.

Read on!:

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-ca...273.php#iphone

[gayle]

thanks; fun things

[Nan]

pretty cool ideas!

[Stubby]

I always shred mine too.