Someone Is In Need of A Card This Holiday

As I was stamping with a group of lovely gals yesterday I reminded them to please mail out their cards ~  to friends, associates, neighbors ...

And then in today's email I received an update from a stamper/crafter about an annual collection of holiday cards for nursing/rehab center residents. I want to pass the info along in case you should have extra cards OR in case you would like to create a few just for this cause.

Please visit www.lingshappyplace.blogspot.com and click on the 2016 Caring Hearts Card Drive. The details are all there. Cards will be accepted through November 25 ~ that should be plenty of time to make a card or two.

Do you need ideas for cards? Ideas abound in so many places; such as my card classes. Perhaps you are not close enough to attend, and if that's the case, I am happy to share with you any and all of my cards. Most ideas are not entirely original ~ I search Pinterest for many and I visit the blogs and sites of other stampers.

If you do not necessarily need a template to follow, but just need a jumping off place, check out
www.merrymondaychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com. Each week there is a prompt for a holiday card; this week's prompt is to create a card (holiday) that includes a bird. The site's artists will show you their cards for inspiration. You may join the challenge yourself and link your card to their site. Try it! You don't have to link it if you don't want, but try the challenge. Can you create a Christmas card featuring a bird? Sure you can.

Another great place to gather card design ideas? Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! Although this month's design is inspired by autumn's leaves, next month's could easily be Christmas. Whatever the design, the kit usually makes six or more cards, often with pieces of leftover materials. If you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, you may purchase kit refills, if available ~ more cards!! There's more Paper Pumpkin info on my site - I even have a button for it - see it?

Create those cards - share those cards.

Let's stamp!

Mail out those cards!

So, please tell me that you have stamps, postage stamps.  Good.

When I would make thank you cards in my class and club with my upline I would laugh and comment that I didn't have any friends so I  never needed thank you notes. It got a laugh and then we all agreed that I had lots of friends.

And I do have many, many friends, for which I am so thankful.  And I feel sure that you do, too.

Fortunately, Stampin'Up! has provided me with  wonderful friends ~ another perk of being involved with such a terrific company and creative business.

I consider my stampers my friends, my church circle ladies, my former work volunteers, my neighbors, my cool family members.  And they are in addition to those fabulous gals and guys that I  share all of my life with ~ you know who you are!

Perhaps you are not in the habit of sending out notes to your friends unless there is a specific reason. You may be in the habit of making a special trip out to find special event greeting cards.

I  admit that when it comes to special occasions, I  like to create a card just for that occasion and that person.  But it is so nice to have some lovely notes on hand for whenever needed.

If you have notes on hand, if you have a pile of finished stamped cards  ~ use them! Mail them!

If by chance you mail out to every  friend you can name and still have cards ~ think of the so many folks out there who would love to receive happy mail: deployed military, senior living residents,  inmates, hospitalized children and patients, veterans...

At a recent Stampin' Up! BINGO we took time out between games and make & takes to address cards to cancer patients - our hostess had created a list of patients and a few details. The cards were samples and swaps that otherwise would have piled up and collected dust. This is a great idea for any gathering.

Who wouldn't want to receive a card in their mailbox , especially one created by you?

Got stamps? Postage stamps, I mean

So, why don't you want to try stamping?

I  am not creative 

I don't want to buy supplies

I don't want to store supplies

I don't have time

I  don't have anyone to send cards to

Everyone emails

And the best: Stamps cost 50 cents!

Seriously? Fifty cents would keep you from sending someone a card? Speaking just for myself,  I  am definitely worth fifty cents! 

I  will admit that there were times when I  did not have stamps in my wallet and it was a pain to go to the post office for just one stamp, and why buy a book of stamps when you only need one or two?

Seldom am I without stamps now; I  run out, but not for long.

A funny story  - I  recently went to the post office to mail a package and buy stamps. When I  asked for a book I  was simply handed a book, not asked what design  I wanted or was even shown the available designs. When I  peeled off the first stamp, the stamps were pets ~ puppy, kitty,  iguana, armadillo! I tried hard to skip over the worst pets, so sorry if you were less than thrilled with the stamp on your last card from me. I  even tried  to return them - I  was told, 'sorry, we can't exchange them; use them on your bills.'

So,  what's in your wallet? Stamps?

If you need a stamp, email me and I will send you one, a pretty one, too  - unless you want a guinea pig.

Anyway - please don't let stamps be the reason you do not make and mail cards.

And if you think you don't  have anyone to send cards to - check back here tomorrow.