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Crazy ??..What do you do with all the cards you make?
I love making cards but I find that I only use a few, birthday, thank you, sympathy. I love all the new SU stamps but I can't justify keep buying new ones (how many Christmas, Halloween stamps do I need). What am I doing wrong?
How many cards to you make and what do you do with all of them?
I was in a similar situation. I enjoy participating in a lot of the various online cardmaking challenges (sketch challenges, color challenges, etc.). It seemed weird to make a card just for the sake of completing a challenge.
Then a couple of years ago I was introduced to Operation Write Home. They are an organization that provides handmade greeting cards to our military men and women stationed overseas, so that our troops can write home to their family and friends. I've been sending cards to them for almost two years. When I make cards now, I keep the OWH guidelines in the back of my mind (no glitter, no huge embellishments so the card is easily mailable, etc.) and think about how one of our men or women far from home can let their loved ones know they are thinking of them. I still make cards to send my own friends and family for birthdays, Christmas, etc. - but the majority of my cards go to OWH.
I have a huge extended family - 5 grown kids and spouses, 18 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. Just keeping up with birthdays means a lot of cards, lol.
Also, I have quite a list of friends and acquaintances that I send cards to "just because." I never have many "unsent" cards sitting around.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
You're not doing anything wrong! I just counted all my cards including holidays and have an inventory of 465 cards. I have tried to sell in some stores, but hasn't gone too well. I'm thinking of going to our local Ronald McDonald House and seeing if they would like some cards. Most of mine are too embellished to send to Operation Write Home. I have a real problem doing simple, one layer cards. Also, my father-in-law just went into an assisted living center and I was thinking of sending birthday cards to the other residents and possibly Christmas. I love making them so much I think I am getting "stamper's elbow". I am getting pain in my arm and now in my wrist. I also am trying to send out a few cards a month, just because, hopefully to brighten someone's day! Have fun!
You don't always have to have a specific reason to send a card! "Just because" is good enough for me most of the time! =)
I do know that Ronald McDonald houses do use cards that are donated (there is a thread somewhere here on the boards with more details) so that's always an option as well as Operation Write Home.
Having a card surplus is a good thing! At least you're not just hoarding supplies! =)
I donate mine to my husband's nursing home. The residents love browsing through the cards in the activity center, to send to their friends and family. If you contact your local nursing homes, ask to speak with the activities director. I am sure they would love to receive them!
For instance, tonight just happens to be "Sneak some Zucchini onto your neighbor's porch night" ~And I just happen to have a truck load of zucchini that I am trying to unload on some poor unsuspecting soul Perfect reason to make a card!! August 15th is "Hello Day"...there you go, another reason to send a card and what a great justification to buy the "My Friend" set from SU!!!
__________________ "For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack" ~Rudyard Kipling my gallery
I make cards for birthdays, christmas, halloween, thank you cards, and teacher appreciation cards. I also make some as gift sets to give to family or friends! Makes a cute gift for teachers! Who doesn't need 6-8 birthday cards??? It is a great gift idea!!!!
I send them out to family and friends. I keep a stash at work. I'm to "go to gal" in the office for cards. Just today, my supervisor came up to me and asked for a sympathy card for a co-worker. I also supervisor a large group of volunteers. I send them birthday and get well cards as needed.
I send cards to Operation Write Home and to the Brooke Army Medical Center. We have many wounded soldiers, at many military facilities, that would love a cheerful card. I have sent cards to a young man who lost both his legs in an IED explosion. He enjoys them and his mom asked me if I could also send cards to other soldiers at the hospital.
__________________ Dianne
Getting Inky in Idaho! Proud Fan Club member
I send them!
Everyone loves a 'thinking of you', 'thank you' etc. card. I send a card every year to our city offices--they maintain beautiful parks. I let them know I enjoy and appreciate their efforts. I like to send a card to a store/restaurant if I get exceptional service. Be creative and think outside the box--there are many people that would love a card from you.
I also put 6-8 cards and envelopes together, tie them with a pretty ribbon and I have a ready gift. Great for hostess gifts, birthday, I'm thinking of you etc.
I can't make cards fast enough.
__________________ My Blog...I cook more than I stamp!
I give most all cards to my church where the ladies have a prayer ministry and send cards. They get about 18 to 20 per month. I give them my best and they go around the world. Most of my gallery here on Splitcoast goes to the church.
I send my Mom a card every week. Sometimes I send them to her friends there also.
My friends and family get cards on special occasions.
I have few cards available on hand at any given time.
I also send my cards to Operation Write Home. And I can tell you first hand how great it is to receive a card from a loved one who is over seas. My husband was deployed and it was a joy to hold something in my hands that he had written on. To see his handwriting and read those words was such a gift.
Also they always need any hero mail so if you wanted to write a thank you to a hero it would be very much appreciated.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PH in VA
I was in a similar situation. I enjoy participating in a lot of the various online cardmaking challenges (sketch challenges, color challenges, etc.). It seemed weird to make a card just for the sake of completing a challenge.
Then a couple of years ago I was introduced to Operation Write Home. They are an organization that provides handmade greeting cards to our military men and women stationed overseas, so that our troops can write home to their family and friends. I've been sending cards to them for almost two years. When I make cards now, I keep the OWH guidelines in the back of my mind (no glitter, no huge embellishments so the card is easily mailable, etc.) and think about how one of our men or women far from home can let their loved ones know they are thinking of them. I still make cards to send my own friends and family for birthdays, Christmas, etc. - but the majority of my cards go to OWH.
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I only make cards when I need them.
Usually I only make two or three cards per month.
I don't make them ahead.
I always send them.
Also, I was a card angel for about a year. You send one or two cards per week to someone with cancer. They match you up with someone. Just google "card angels".
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Last edited by Allistamps123; 08-08-2012 at 06:40 PM..
I only make cards when I need them.
I don't make them ahead.
I always send them.
This.
I tried doing challenges for a while, but I started accumulating a pile of cards with no destination. I didn't like that. I make cards when I need them, and I make them specific for the recipient.
I still watch the challenges, and if one inspires me for a card I need to make, then I go for it.
__________________ aka Sue. Or Sue-odd.
No blog for me. My gallery chronicles my card-making successes and mishaps.
I thought the same thing!! I participate in the Secret Sister group at my church. It is to provide (anonymous) encouragement to another woman. They're my guinea pigs!! My mom's quilt club also has a Secret Sister group. You could be honing your skills while cheering someone else up!
Another great cause: I became a "Card Angel" for someone going through chemotherapy. Love to send cards of any kind to my "buddy" and I know from her response that she really appreciates them. I read about the group here on SCS.
I also make alot for OWH. It is a great cause. Hubby is retired Navy so our hearts are with the troops. CardMaker magazine has a different cause each month. I also send about 30 cards for the major holidays and birthdays.(Don't know how we even know that many people) Twice that at Christmas. I get requests for silent auctions for card sets for charities so I'm making and giving alot away (I have sold some too) but the hubby is so very understanding and doesn't care what I buy (probably cause he knows I'm cheap and try to get the best deal). :p
Last edited by BroncoFan60; 08-09-2012 at 05:15 PM..
Reason: needed to add
I have a little box of cards I have made so that if I am in a hurry to get a card I can grab one and go! I would like to start sending cards to OWH like many other ladies here but I haven't started yet.
__________________ Lauren Live to stamp, stamp to live!
I recently moved and decided that I needed to downsize and not bring it all with me to the next place. I was embarrassed by how many cards I had accumulated, but I found a lovely lady who can put them to good use in her community. I love making the cards and it's nice to have them used by those who appreciate the card but can't afford the expence of the hobby. I was also able to donate a box of craft supples too. It was a win win situation for all.
Gifts----birthdays, Christmas, etc. EVERYONE gets a basket of asst. cards (and, they say, "Keep repeating this same gift next year!" Everyone needs cards and will use them!
Silent Auctions for your favorite church, charity, etc. I organize big baskets of asst. cards.
I write to all the shut-ins from our church. I LOVE to write and I write to them as if I were sitting with them having a conversation. My pastor told my mother how much the shut-ins have loved it and one even wrote a letter to our church's newsletter commenting specifically on my cards! I was never expecting such an amazing response but I feel blessed that I've been given the opportunity to use this hobby for a good purpose.
I also package up assortments of cards and give as gifts to my daughters' teachers and family. I decorate the envelopes and put stamps on them so they are ready to mail.
I write to our sponsorsed children (through World Vision). Stampin' Up! was selling those little mazes a few months ago and I made cards from those. Our sponsored kids LOVED them!
And then I do send them out for birthdays, Christmas, thank yous, etc.
What do I do with the cards I make? Well, four grown children, 1 dil, 1 sil to be, 1 mil, 2 cousins, 8 members of card group, 2 mothers of card group, friends of card group, su demo, co-workers (everybody gets a birthday card -40ish people), 10 coworkers that I am more friendly with also get holiday cards, Christmas - 75, Thanksgiving - 75, Halloween - 75, Valentines - 50, Easter - 50, St. Patricks day - 50, 4th of July - 40. Also, friends of dd, sometimes their parents. Group hubby belongs to(10). Then there are sympathy, baby, wedding and get well. And that is just off the top of my head. Oh, neighbors. Hugs...B.
Donate to your local Ronald McDonald House Charity, this is the place where most of my cards went.
Under Swaps, there are always hostess looking for people to help donate cards to RMHC as well, or under Challenge - each month there is a destined place where we can send our extra cards to. Below is the link
That is why I decided to sell at two local farmers' markets. I make enough to pay the rent and be able to buy more stuff. Of course now it is more like an obssession to make the best cards that people go nuts for, lol.
You're not doing anything wrong! I just counted all my cards including holidays and have an inventory of 465 cards. I have tried to sell in some stores, but hasn't gone too well. I'm thinking of going to our local Ronald McDonald House and seeing if they would like some cards. Most of mine are too embellished to send to Operation Write Home. I have a real problem doing simple, one layer cards. Also, my father-in-law just went into an assisted living center and I was thinking of sending birthday cards to the other residents and possibly Christmas. I love making them so much I think I am getting "stamper's elbow". I am getting pain in my arm and now in my wrist. I also am trying to send out a few cards a month, just because, hopefully to brighten someone's day! Have fun!
Go speak with the Volunteer Coordinator or Activity Director. They Often are the ones or know who would be organizing birthday cards for the residents. There may already be a plan in place. Usually, until someone like you comes along, someone *gasp* buys cards for the residents.
For instance, tonight just happens to be "Sneak some Zucchini onto your neighbor's porch night" ~And I just happen to have a truck load of zucchini that I am trying to unload on some poor unsuspecting soul Perfect reason to make a card!! August 15th is "Hello Day"...there you go, another reason to send a card and what a great justification to buy the "My Friend" set from SU!!!
Thanks for the link! Really great inspiration for sending a silly just-because card!
I take classes year round so I have a couple hundred or more done by the end of the year. I donate 2-4 boxes of cards (25 cards in each box put in a decorated photo box) to our local Humane Society annual fundraiser auction/dinner that's held in November. Thankfully they've been fairly popular and have sold; it makes me feel good doing something to help the animals. Last Christmas I gave away a lot to my fellow co-workers as gifts--about 75 cards or so. Sometimes I sell a few to my friends (this tends to be a last-minute thing because they forgot they need a card, gotta' get one asap, and call me.) LOL
I make cards for our local pregnacy center - but I can't keep up with the need. If you have any baby, birthday, or thank you cards that you would like to donate - I would be happy to provide the address for them....just send me a PM.
Love the ideas here...and love the idea giving a basket of cards to friends and family for gifts. I never thought of that! Hmmm, going to have to do that for a few this year I think.
Crazy ??..What do you do with all the cards you make?
