What do you do with cards received?

In the past I have cut the people out of family photo cards and put them in pocket pages - I have an album of them with my friends’ kid growing up, it’s quite lovely. A Becky Higgins idea.

Handmade and store bought cards generally get their fronts cut off/die cut down to A2 size and attached to a new card base to donate to Bring Smiles to Seniors. I can’t possibly keep all the cards I receive (especially if I do the Pea card swap) and I don’t hesitate if there’s just a signature inside. If there’s a really sweet message it might go into my memory box. If the card is really lovely I keep it on display a while or put it with holiday decorations for a few years, but sooner or later they usually get cut down and reused/donated.

I toss all cards, unless it's got something heartfelt written inside that I want to keep.

Daily paperwork and stuff (cards, catalogs, bills, medical, receipts, etc...) that is not a priority, goes in the paperwork pile. About once a month-ish, I go through my paperwork pile, file what needs to be filed, toss the rest. 
If there is a card that I want to keep, it gets put in my treasure box. A decorative "hat box" type box, that is incorporated into my home decor.

I have never been sentimental about cards, they get shredded and tossed without a second thought.
The same goes for gift items that I won't use, doesn't match my stuff, don't need or want,  etc... (mugs, scarves, frames, throw blankets, knick knacks, generic bath and body type products, generic or homemade food products, teapots or tea cups, etc...).
It's the thought that counts. I smile and thank the giver for their kindness and for thinking of me. But, the majority of what I receive is regifted, donated or tossed. Life is too short and my space is too small....to keep "stuff" that I won't use, don't want, don't need, don't like, doesn't match my home decor. I don't feel guilty about it at all. 

I occasionally keep cards from DH. I have a box for any cards I keep.

I put Christmas photo cards from loved ones in my scrapbook. The ones that are more from acquantances I toss.

I use my tag punch on Christmas cards to make tags for gifts for next year. I have a really pretty collection of tags.

I would prefer to throw them away but DH keeps them all so we have a large box of cards for all of us. I’m personally good with just one I or rant card from certain family members. I do cherish the couple of cards I have from my grandparents- especially those my grandfather signed himself back grandma doing it.

I use them in scrapbooks for celebrations. In fact, I managed to scrap almost all of my engagement and wedding cards in that album.

Christmas cards I have scrapped or turned into tags.

Sometimes I have fussy cut elements from a card to use. I have also saved the back of cards to use for matting photos.

Generally the only cards I keep are from close family and a few from friends. I do keep a few swap cards that go into my DD album. Otherwise they generally get tossed although I should probably do what joblackford does and recycle them into new cards!

My mom used to make gift tags out of the previous year's cards. I totally forgot that until you mentioned it.

i am part of a Christmas Card Swap each year.  I cannot bear to throw away the lovely handmade cards I receive.  I cut off the back and remount the front on a card base.  These cards are then given to my co-workers (32) friends and family.  That way, someone else can enjoy a handmade card.  I don't get many other handmade cards, except at Christmas.

For Christmas, I take photos of them together.

For all other holidays they are tossed after a few days.

I recently purged my wedding and graduation cards (high school and college). I saw no need to keep them.

This year I kept 1 pea exchange card and put it in a pocket of my DD.

All cards with glitter get tossed, immediately.

I will cut out personal messages and ones my dad sends because he draws a deer in them (he is a HORRIBLE drawer, they are hysterical). Those pieces go into project life. Occasionally I'll hole punch a card and include it in the album as well. My family knows me well and tends to buy me smaller, sassy type cards that I will include.

I take a photo of Christmas card we receive, include it in December Daily. A few of the photo type cards end up on our fridge.

Everything else is recycled.

A few, like photo cards from my daughters, get used in my December Daily. The rest get admired for a while and then get recycled.