Sunday, January 4, 2009

Card Ministry

Many people ask what I do with all the cards I make. I make at least one card or more a day, and the truth is, I give them away faster than I can make them. The majority of my cards go to complete strangers. There is a 'Card Request' forum on Splitcoaststampers that contains the most heart-breaking stories of stampers requesting cards for their loved ones. These are people who are going through the most unimaginable circumstances. I have sent cards to people whose loved ones have been murdered, have died of natural causes, are suffering with a terrible disease, or just need a lift because of depression or some trial in their lives. I'm also a member of BRAK (Birthday Random Acts of Kindness) and send an average of eleven birthday cards to stampers around the country. My local church publishes the birthdays of every member each month, and I send each and every one a card, but I have never received a birthday card from any of them in return. And then of course, I never miss family and friends birthdays and anniversaries. My point in telling you all of this is not too brag about my goodness, because I am certainly not 'good', rather, I am flawed like everyone else. But I keep reading on other stampers blogs that many of them have cards that keep gathering 'dust'. Some stampers even admit to 'throwing their cards away' and never sending them to anyone. And I don't understand why (other than the cost of postage!). If God has given you the gift to create such beautiful creations, and the supplies in which to create them, BLESS SOMEONE WITH THEM! And you know, go a step further and Bless Someone you don't know. So many Card Requests on Splitcoaststampers go unanswered or receive meager offerings, and the requester is often heartbroken. Please, if you have spare cards, don't toss them, but bless others with them.

Now enough preaching for one day. Here are the details of my cards. The first card is going to man who lost his wife suddenly over Christmas. She was a well-loved and well-known stamper. I used the Paper Craft Planet Color Challenge. The colors are Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie, Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, and Naturals Ivory. The Stamps are Stampin Up! 'For Father', the background stamp 'Sanded' is stamped on the Kiwi Kiss panel, and the sentiment is from the retired Stampin Up! set 'Brighter Tomorrow'. Even though the sad puppy image is unusual for a sympathy card, I thought it worked well for a masculine RAK (Random Act of Kindness).
The second card is for a little boy suffering with cancer. The requester just wanted something to 'brighten his day'. Sending cards to people with a terminal illness is probably the most difficult for me, because its hard to know what to say. 'Get Well Soon' certainly won't work. Most terminally ill patients just want to know that are loved and cared about. For terminally ill adults, I usually send 'Thinking of You' cards, but for kids I try to send something cute and fun. For this card I used Penny Black's 'Critter Party' and the sentiment is $1.00 stamp from Michaels. The paper is by DCVW and is called 'The Pet Stack'. The layout is from this week's Splitcoaststampers Sketch Challenge. Other Cardstock colors used are Chocolate Chip and Brocade Blue. The images in both cards were colored with copic markers.
So if you have a little extra time today or a few extra cards, go ahead and check the Card Request Forum on Splitcoaststampers.com and help brighten someone else's day. Have a great day! Amy

3 comments:

  1. I am so glad you alerted all of us to these wonderful, giving sites that we can all get involved in. My "loving" words to your post is: AMEN!!!

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  2. Amy...I had a hard time finding you through your typepad profile...your blog isn't on it! You can update it to show! Your card is gorgeous. I love that set and hope it shows in the next catalogue. Kudos to you for mailing all those cards. I'm guilty for allowing many of mine to gather dust...most would be way too expensive to mail I add so much stuff. But this year I want to make my cards more "mailable" and send them off! Blessings to you and Happy New Year!

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  3. Great post! I agree completely! It amazes me the number of people that make cards and never send them. I make about 25 postcards for church every week....granted they aren't complicated to make, but they do all get mailed. Love the photo of the stairs and tree on your blog....just lovely!

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