P. Kelly Smith
Happy World Card Making Day, friends!
I hope wherever you are in the world, you’re enjoying this special holiday. Even if it’s just you, your supplies and a little craft space in your basement, know that your fellow card makers are right there with you in spirit. And if you’re looking for some interaction, your online friends are just a click away!
I always think about my best friend on this crafty day. She and I have been friends since the 6th grade, and she shares my passion for scrapbooking, card making and consuming mass quantities of Peanut Butter M&Ms while we engage in the before mentioned activities.
Since we no longer live in the same state, we only get to see each other once or twice a year. Our lives are both busy (she chasing after three rambunctious kids; me chasing after a rambunctious dog), so our correspondence has sadly reverted to texts, e-mails and an occasional Facebook exchange. Lately I’ve been pondering ways to reconnect with her. Good thing our readers are always giving us plenty of inspiration!
Donna Gabard left this comment on the blog last Friday:
“World Card Making Day is a great idea…it helps bring out the creativity in all of us. We just need to come up with a World Card MAILING Day!”
Making cards on World Card Making Day is a given. But how many of us actually mail cards on this day? Then I had my “Aha” moment. Why not make a goal of sending my friend a handmade card each and every month during 2012? Obviously I’ll cover her birthday, but I love the idea of just sending random “thinking of you” cards. It will be like we’re back in junior high and passing notes between classes!
Then came my second “Aha” moment. I’ve s-l-o-w-l-y been assembling my craft room this year. Not only am I trying to tame the mass quantities of product, but I’m also trying to display it in a pretty way. I recently found this black wooden tray at Hobby Lobby. Then I came across these fun sentiment stamps (by Studio G) in the dollar bins at Michaels. At only a $1 a piece, I quickly snatched them up and brought them home. And wouldn’t you know it, my 12 stamps fit perfectly into the twelve slots on the tray!
Then came my third “Aha” moment. I was going through my paper stash and came across Crate Paper’s Portrait collection. I’ve seen it used 100 different ways and I never get tired of looking at it. As I flipped over one of the papers (June), I found these 12 mini calendars staring back at me. And before you know it, I was inking up my 12 stamps and stamping a different sentiment right in the middle of each month. The grid lines on the paper made it super easy to align my stamps!
I then matted each month with kraft cardstock, added a paper clip, some pretty teal ribbon and adhered them to card bases (that each feature a different background paper from the Portrait collection).
Here are my first three cards for January, February and March, 2012:
By keeping the design fairly simple and uniform (not to mention flat), I can pop one in the mail at the beginning of each month. And by having them already made in advance, there’s no anxiety when the next month rolls around and it’s time to send a card. I can’t wait for Project Reconnect to begin!
I’d love to hear your “Aha” moments when it comes to card making and card mailing. Share your ideas, stories, goals and anything else that strikes your fancy on this crafty holiday. Then get busy card making…the mailman will there before you know it!
Happy card making!
P.S. Speaking of card making, I hope each of you has entered our 2011 World Card Making Day Card Contest. We’ll award 20 winners each a prize package valued at more than $1000! The deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 11 (the day after Columbus Day), so don’t delay!
P.P.S. I may be the first post on here today, but we have five more coming your way! Yay for World Card Making Day!!
WOW! I love this idea! I have a cousin who I practically grew up with but it’s just not practical now for us to travel back and forth. Email is handy but I love the idea of sending a little message every month.
Thank you for sharing!
Well! What a perfect idea to have the cards ready ahead of time! That sure did inspire me!! TFS!
Happy World Card Making Day, Kelly! I think I may try that idea…my best friend is in Maryland and I’m in New Jersey, and a card a month is a great idea! I have many of those Michael’s $1 sentiments (aren’t they the cutest?) so I may follow your lead…THANKS!
Cute idea. Have all of these stamps so will get busy and make some cards with them!
I just love this idea. I just created a file for my son’s Senior year of High School and it will be a month-by-month collection of things he says and does his Senior year. I will present it to him on his graduation day. I love the idea you have here. I can make my own personal note to him, one for every month. Thanks for sharing!
Wow those turned out so cute! Love that idea. Thanks for sharing.
I like your idea for sending a card each month, and what a clever way to remember whether you’ve sent it!
Oh my goodness, is that ever a sweet idea for that June paper.
I do believe I have that paper – now to find it.
thanks for the inspiration.
Barb Housner
what a really great idea- for cardmaking kept simple and for organizing-love it! I’ve learned that when making a card I automatically prepare for two cards, that way I have one to send and if I like it enough, one to submit. Now I must search for some of these cute sentiments you’ve found…
Great idea, and the cards are wonderful. I may be in search of some mini calendars. Also, love the stamp storage. I’ve been looking for ways to store my rubber stamps.
Debbie
EastShoreLaneDesigns.com
I love this idea and I think I may have to try it! I love your cards and thank you for sharing!
Fabulous way to use calendar pages! Your cards are beautiful and it’s such a clean design.
Love, love, love this idea!!! What a great idea!!! Thanks for sharing and this is a keeper!!! Happy World Card Making Day!!!
Such a sweet idea, Kelly. I haven’t had many Aha moments lately, but sure do appreciate you sharing this one (or three!). Thanks for the great inspiration, hoping to get some cards made and ready to mail today
I make my cards early too, then there is no pressure. I find my Aha! moments when I am watching movies with my daughters. Tangled has given me tons of inspiration.
Awesome idea! Your friend will look forward to them all year. I love how you kept them simple so you can make up a bunch at once.
I love your card idea! I think I will adapt it and put all the birthdays on the front of each month and send one out to everyone on that month’s list! so cute! Thanks for the love you share!Happy World Card Making Day to you. Hope it is fulled with fun and craftiness.
LOVE THIS IDEA FOR A QUICK CARD IN A SNAP. I WILL FINE THE SMALL CALENDARS AND USE THE MONTHLY-PAGE FOR THE CARD. CAN’T WAIT TO MAKE SOME OF THESE. GREAT AND SIMPLE IDEA!
Great idea!! (I hope she doesn’t follow you on this, cause she’ll know what’s coming her way
)
What a great idea, thanks for the inspiration!! A simple and cute multi-card idea is exactly what I need keeping up with the 2 little ones! Thank you
Hey, that is so cool! I love your idea!! (Love your story about your crafting buddy, too).
How awesome is that! Love, love, love your cards and the simplicity!! The stamps and storage and simple design are great! I frequently make two or three of the same kind of card (but in different colors) to have on hand. My sister has gotten bundles of cards for Christmas and her birthday for the past couple years – she loves them!! Thanks so much for your inspiration!
Oh this is a brilliant idea and your cards are gorgeous! I’m sure your friend will be thrilled to receive a card from you every month!
love this idea packed article!
This is such a cute, inspired idea! Thanks for sharing.
happy belated WCMD!! i love this idea – and those stamps are FAB – I’m going to have to scour my michaels’ to find them.