How to Organize Greeting Cards with a Handmade Memento Binder

Did everyone enjoy their Valentine’s Day?  We stayed home and I cooked steak fajitas and a mocha molten cake.  It was so delicious!  Did you get a card or balloon as a gift?  I know I’ve accumulated quite a collection of cards and such over the years from all the various special occasions that occur throughout the year.  The cards usually stay in a file box to be looked at maybe once a year when I need to add more.  After I used photos for my Valentine shelf, it made me think about all the things we hold onto that are rarely seen.  I decided to make a memento binder that can be placed on a shelf, like a photo album.  Then it’s easy to access when you want to take a stroll down memory lane!  It’s also a great way to organize greeting cards by occasion or year.

P. S. Y’all can find a link and pic for the dessert at the bottom of the post if you’re interested.

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Sometime last year, I went through about 2 large boxes of greeting cards.  I threw away a very large trash bag of cards that were just not that meaningful to me.  If it had a personal message or I really liked the card, I kept it.  This all got divided up into file folders by groups – like who they were given to.  If you have the forethought too, date your cards as they come in!

Preparing the Cards – 

Today, I’m making a binder for cards my husband and I have given each other over the years.  After almost 15 years of marriage, there are quite a few!

I’ll be using binder clips to attach all the cards together.  The ones I used are 1 1/2″ diameter, but they come in many different sizes.  The larger they are, the more they cost.

I used a 3 hole punch to put holes in all the cards.  Since they are varying in height, I made sure to align the bottom edge with the lip on the punch.

Some of the cards folded in thirds, which has to be accounted for if you want to be able to open it!  The card below folds like an accordion.  You will still be able to see all sides of the card with holes on the left side through all the layers.

The card in this photo folds in on itself.  If you just punch a hole through the left side, you won’t be able to open the card all the way.  I punched the holes, then cut a notch out of the hole to prevent interference with the binder ring.

Some of the cards were very thick and my basic hole punch didn’t like it!  I made it work, but I think this heavy duty punch will make things much easier.  {It’s going in my Amazon cart because there’s also a $1.50 coupon!  Yay!}

I had a few cards that opened at the top versus the side.  If I turned the cards sideways, they would stick out too far.  I decided to add a strip of card stock to the side with Elmer’s permanent runner tape.  Just punch holes in the strip and you’re good to go!

I wound up with 3 card books once I was done!

You can leave it like this, but I wanted to add covers to provide more protection.

Making Binder Covers

I’m using chipboard to make covers for my binder.  I always keep the backs of legal pads, scrapbook paper packs, and such because it’s great for projects like this.  You can also buy packs of chipboard if you don’t have any on hand.  Just be sure of the thickness before you buy!  The link is to an Amazon best seller with good reviews and pictures.

I laid one stack of cards on the chipboard and marked a line with a pen.  Then I used my paper rotary cutter and a ruler to trim it to size.  My cover is slightly larger than the largest card in the stack.

Note ~> You can use any rotary cutter to cut paper, but only use it to cut paper!  Just like scissors, it will wear differently depending on what you cut with it.  I have scissors and rotary cutters that are only for paper and I have them only for fabric.

After I cut the chipboard to size, I punch holes in it for the binder rings.  I wanted to add a pocket in the front to hold small mementos.  This card-making kit was in my stash and it was in the perfect colors!

I used the envelope templates to make an envelope pocket.  Once you cut out the envelope, use a ruler to help get the folds straight.  I used the permanent tape runner  again to secure the flaps.

What’s going inside the pocket?  The napkin my husband wrote his number on when I met him!  I wouldn’t give him my number because I just met him!  The numbers are blacked out in case they belong to someone else now. : )

I attached the pocket inside the front cover.  A little love note and kiss stamp finishes the look!

I decorated the front cover with a velum quote sticker and punched hearts.  Inside the back cover, I added some fun paper, our names, and the date we were married.

Time to assemble it all!

The Finished Binder

My chipboard was so tall it caught the 3rd punch in my hole puncher.  It was the perfect place for a ribbon!

I really love how this turned out!  It’s also better looking than a pile of cards in a box!

I’ve decided to try to par them down some more, so maybe I’ll have 2 instead of 3!

I also have several more files of cards to bind!  I’m definitely going to need that bigger hole punch!  ; )

Here’s the link to the yummy mocha pudding cake I made last night and the pictures are below.  Y’all have a wonderful Wednesday!

Mocha Pudding Cake by Bree Hester from Baked Bree

So yummy!

I didn’t make the coffee cream, but it was still sooo good!

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