15 Things To Do With Old Trading Cards

One of the disadvantages of being in a trading card hobby is that they add up fast, taking up space and cluttering your room. If you have kids, then they’re in every room. You can recycle the cards, but that is a last resort. Here are 15 great ideas to repurpose your old trading cards whether it’s Pokémon, sports, or anything else.

Creative Ways To Repurpose Trading Cards

15. Create a collage or mosaic

Our first craft idea is to make a piece of art out of your old cards.

This could be a fun project for kids if they enjoy cutting out characters or sports players from cards. Use paste or glue to adhere them to poster paper and you have yourself a fun project.

If you don’t have kids, then do a quick Google search for “Pokémon Energy Card Artwork” to see what the most talented people are capable of.

14. Use as bookmarks

Most people only need one or two bookmarks, but trading cards can be used to mark pages in a textbook or used as an aid to draw or highlight a straight line.

You can also donate your cards to a local library. They might hand out the cards to kids, or offer them as free bookmarks to members.

13. Make magnets

Magnetic strips can be bought from your local dollar or craft store, and you can glue them to the cards.

To make magnets out of trading cards, follow these simple steps:

1. Gather materials: trading cards, adhesive magnetic sheets, scissors, and a pencil.
2. Trace the outline of your trading card on the magnetic sheet using a pencil.
3. Cut out the traced shape from the magnetic sheet using scissors.
4. Peel off the backing from the adhesive magnetic sheet to reveal the sticky side.
5. Carefully align and press the trading card onto the sticky side of the cut-out magnetic sheet. Press firmly to ensure a strong bond.
6. Trim any excess magnetic sheet around the card if necessary.

By following these steps, you can turn your trading cards into personalized magnets for display on magnetic surfaces.

12. Design your own card game

You can mix together all your old trading cards and design your own card game to save for family game nights or rainy days.

This is a casual way to give the old cards a second chance and to make your own rules that can be funny. Write out the rules on a piece of paper and tuck the new game away for a later date!

Practical Uses For Old Trading Cards

11. Use as gift tags

If you’re giving a gift to someone that enjoys a particular sport or someone who likes Pokémon, then using old cards as gift tags would be a pretty neat idea.

A small detail like a hockey card as a gift tag for someone who likes hockey shows how much you mean to them, and makes the gift specifically tailored to them.

10. Create coasters

For this one you might want to laminate the card first, so they don’t get wet. Or, you can use them as is. Imagine having your friends over for a night of Magic: The Gathering and breaking out the MTG coasters!

If you have old sports cards, sports coasters would be a great addition to a sporting event or kids’ birthday party.

9. Use as educational tools

Kids who start playing with trading cards at a young age develop reading skills since every card has text on them, and some require reading to play the game.

To repurpose cards as an educational tool you can use them as flash cards. This works particularly well with Pokémon cards since they are kid-friendly and many children are already familiar with the characters. 

8. Incorporate into scrapbooking or memory keeping

Incorporating trading cards into scrapbooking is an enjoyable way to preserve your collection.

1. Create themed pages around players, teams, sets, years, or events for context.
2. Design card pockets or sleeves with plastic protectors or patterned paper to prevent damage.
3. Frame cards using decorative paper, washi tape, die-cuts, or pre-made frames for visual appeal.
4. Add memorabilia like ticket stubs, autographs, or photographs to enrich stories.
5. Write notes or memories using decorative fonts or stickers for a personal touch.
6. Enhance pages with coordinating stickers, stamps, or embellishments fitting your theme.
7. Use patterned paper as background and layer textures for depth and dimension.
8. Include interactive elements like flaps, fold-outs, or pull tabs for engagement.
9. Consider trading card swaps for duplicates or mismatched themes.
10. Preserve cards with acid-free materials, avoid direct adhesives, and store scrapbooks properly.

7. Create a trading card-themed party

Kids birthday parties are better if they have a theme. If your child is into Pokémon or sports cards, using old cards to develop a theme can be cost-effective and fun.

Use the old cards for decorations or invitations!

Sharing Or Donating Trading Cards

If you haven’t considered it yet, giving your cards to someone for free can be a kind thing to do.

There are plenty of places to donate. Basically anywhere with kids is going to be a smash hit, such as schools, libraries, or daycare centers. You can also list them for free on Facebook marketplace.

6. Host a trading card swap event

If you’re an extroverted person then consider hosting a trading card swap event.

Join some local Facebook groups or visit local card shops and spread the news, or see if there’s any interest. Maybe there’s already one that you can go to!

This is a great way to get back into the trading card community and breathe new life into the hobby with some new cards.

5. Donate to a children’s hospital

You should donate your old cards to a children’s hospital. This is probably the best idea on our list, and we recommend it. These hospitals often take donations for cards, video games, books, and all sorts of fun stuff.

4. Donate to a local card shop or hobby store

Local game shops make money not only by selling cards and games but fostering communities. They often host weekly game nights and get early releases for competitors to build decks and play with the newest cards. 

You can help by donating your old cards. Younger kids might not be able to afford their own cards so if they show up to play, the shop owner will be able to provide them with their own deck.

3. Selling Or Trading Old Cards

If you haven’t considered selling the cards, this is a good option too. Trading cards can be worth a lot of money. Sports cards and Pokémon are the big ones, but there are rare cards of all types.

Once again, consider joining online or physical communities. Surrounding yourself with people of similar interests will boost your sales potential. It will be easy to sell your cards if everyone around you has their own collections.

You can also browse eBay for ideas. If you search your card and set the filter to ‘Sold Listings’. This way you can see what your card is selling for online.

Postings your cards on Facebook Marketplace for sale is easy and convenient too. 

2. Trade at conventions or online communities

Whether it’s sports, Pokémon, MTG, YuGiOh, or more, there are always conventions and meet-ups for the community. Usually, you’ll have to travel to a bigger city for this, but it’s worth it if you’re interested in getting back into the hobby.

Even if you don’t have the right cards, many collectors partake in multiple games and might want to trade for whatever you have.

1. Invest in grading

A grading service will take your card and give it a grade based on the card’s condition from 1-10. After that, they encase it in a plastic case called a ‘slab’. This is semi-permanent and protects your card.

Having your card graded boosts its value because collectors strive for higher grades and potential buyers want to know that the card is authentic before they buy.

Research which of your cards are worth the most, and are in good condition, and consider sending them in. You’ll be able to sell it for more money, or keep it as an investment and see if the price goes up over time.

Are Trading Cards Recyclable?

The answer is yes, you can recycle trading cards. Cards are made out of cardstock, which is fully recyclable, and foil cards have a very thin layer of aluminum in them, which is also recyclable. 

The foil packaging that most booster packs are made of is not recyclable, but paper booster packs are.

Conclusion

Repurposing old trading cards not only breathes new life into these collectibles but also contributes to a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to managing our possessions. Among the various options for reusing trading cards, donating them to children stands out as a particularly noble and heartwarming choice. 

This act not only helps declutter your space but also brings joy to young enthusiasts who may not have the means to acquire their own collection. Ultimately, donating your old trading cards to children creates a ripple effect of positivity, extending the value and impact of these collectibles far beyond their original purpose.