Do you send greeting cards? Holiday cards? Maybe late Christmas cards? I am an avid card sender. It’s picked up more lately too as I have discovered (rediscovered) my love of making handmade cards. It started when my friend Kyleigh (heeeey!) came to visit last month and I kind of wanted to make Valentine’s cards, so I asked if she was interested… We had SO MUCH FUN making cards together! It tapped into a creative side of me that brings me so much joy! Kyleigh asked how I knew what to write in all of them — my little secret is I come up with one good phrase or a few good sentences (sometimes a quick internet search helps if I’m not having an idea) and then it goes on all the cards. I figure I’m the only one who sees all of them, so I can use this card hack!
For me though, cards are not just for the holidays (major and minor) I send cards a lot. When I know someone is going through a tough time, I send a card. When I know it’s someones birthday, I send a card (i’m working on keeping my list up to date!) I send sympathy, get well, thinking of you, happy anniversary, encouragement, and birthday cards. I have them mostly organized in bins by their ‘subject’/genre.
You may be asking why I do this and why I am sharing… Well, I do it because I LOVE greeting cards. I love supporting small and local business owners who make them. I love finding the perfect card for the perfect person and situation. It is also my way to say “hey, you are not alone” or “hey, I am thinking of you” How many times a day does someone cross your mind, but life is so fast and busy you don’t let them know? I like to think that my cards are a way of brightening people’s days and letting them know they are on my mind.
Sometimes I send people a quick text, email, or message to let them know I am thinking of them too, but I’m focusing on less electronic means. To me, it’s a lost art. There is something so special about pen/pencil to paper, getting snail mail, and taking the time to write your message out. It’s the little positive mark I can put into the world. I’ve received such gracious messages from people who have received a card from me at the perfect time. You never know when your reaching out could be just what someone needs.
I encourage you to reach out to people. It doesn’t have to be homemade cards – start with what works for you! Send a text a day to someone who’s on your mind. Or sit down once a week and spend 30 minutes genuinely connecting with important people in your life. Friendships require some effort usually – even if that is just making the time for it.
If you are interested in sending more greeting cards, I have a few tips. First, always have some on hand. Make a small stash with the typical card types you might send. When in doubt blank cards are always appropriate! I have some favorite card retailers:
- Emily McDowell: She has WONDERFUL empathy cards. Perfect for when you need something that just isn’t a Hallmark line.
- Curly Girl Designs: These are just wonderful amazing cards! So much fun! A lot of her designs double as artwork and many are in a scrapbook style.
- weehah cards: I originally shopped with her at a Craft Market (SoWa) in Boston! I still purchase occasionally from her. She does custom work if you want something special and personalized!
- Modern Rosie: A fellow Navy (sub!) spouse! I don’t recall how I first found her designs, but I loved that they fit aspects of my life that other cards did not. I also really love to support Navy spouses. Her work is gorgeous too, so all around a great choice!
- Gilesi Paper Co: Evelyn is a new entrepreneur and her work is elegant and classy! I am so in love — she has beautiful simple designs and foil! She also does custom work.
- Lastly, Trader Joe’s. Yup! 99 cent cards that are awesome! You cannot beat that. This is a great place to start your collection – grab a few of each type and now you are ready for whatever comes up.
My next tip is to order stamps. If you go to the US Post Office web site you can order stamps — so you can get the fun pretty ones or the special occasion ones! It does cost $1 to ship them, but you can order as many as you like for that price! How fun is this? No waiting in line at the post office only to find out they only have one boring option!
I also keep addresses handy. I keep them in the contacts on my phone. This means it is almost always with me, easy to update, linked to the phone number for each person in case I need to update them, AND when I am traveling it is super easy to send post cards!
Hopefully you found some helpful tips on how to send more cards (if you are interested) or some encouragement to keep in touch with people a little bit more. I’ll post my St. Patrick’s day cards once I send them out!
xoxo, Gretchen
I didn’t know you enjoyed making cards. I do, too! It is a recent hobby of mine (about a year) and, sadly, the gal who got me started and has mentored me is terminally ill now. BUT…I am going to carry on because I enjoy doing it and she would not want me to stop, either. You’d love spending time in my craft room doing cards with me! I make so many that I am going to start to give some away to the members of my choir for them to send to their family and friends. I was also asked last week to make a packet of a variety of cards to be used as a prize in a fundraiser for the local Boys & Girls Club. Of course I said yes! Many times I leave the insides of mine blank so a handwritten message can be put inside. Other times I use verses I either make up OR find online. It really is fun…..and, at least for me, very relaxing.
Pat, that’s awesome. What kind of method do you use? I’m just cutting out paper and glueing — with occasional stamping. I did use some scrapbook paper prints this time!
I used to take card making classes when I was younger with my Aunty. I still have a lot of my supplies. Can’t seem to part with them. I love stamps, different printed papers, ribbon, embossing, vellum paper, etc. So fun and relaxing. Haven’t had the chance to do it on years being a single parent. Right now its reminding myself to look out for me and that saying NO is quite all right.
Sometimes No is the best thing we can say… Understanding that No doesn’t mean it’s a bad opportunity, but rather that it just isn’t the time was hard for me. I hope you can maybe find time to be crafty — it can be so therapeutic!