I heard on my KLOVE radio station last week about a September campaign they are having. It’s called 30 Days of Encouragement. They are promoting random acts of kindness and words of encouragement to lift others up. I thought that it would be a great idea for those of us who make cards! So I am going to propose that we join in on this 30 Days of Encouragement by making and sending cards out daily during the month of September to anybody you can think of as a means to encourage them and let them know you’re thinking of them.
For my first card of encouragement, I used Garden Lane DSP to create a square card that has faux patchwork quilting on it.
I started with a 4-1/4″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Mossy Meadow, scored and folded at the top for a 4-1/4″ square card. To that I glued a Whisper White layer, 4″ square and a 3-7/8″ square of DSP.
In the center I glued a 2-3/4 + a smidge” square of Mossy Meadow. (A smidge = 1/16″) Then I cut a 2″ square of both Soft Sea Foam and a coordinating Garden Lane DSP. I cut each of those in half diagonally to create two triangles apiece. I glued those to a 2″ piece of white cardstock and glued it as shown. Layering Circle Dies in the center house a sentiment from Itty Bitty Greetings and a delicate leafy stamp from Accented Blooms.
I finished it off with some assorted sequins that I have in my drawer!
The inside sentiment is from Country Home. What could be more encouraging than telling someone that they are the happy to your day?!
Mailing Tip
This 4-1/4″ square card fits into a regular sized envelope, so no need for extra postage. I shared this tip before, but it bears repeating. If you slip a 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ piece of old cardstock or lightweight cardboard into the envelope with your smaller square card, it will go through the postal machine much more easily without causing any damage to your card. And that is always important!
How about some Blog Candy?
So who’s with me on this campaign? I hope you will join me. Everyone can use a little encouragement, right? Please share your stories with me! I would love to hear how you will encourage others throughout the month. I have an extra stamp set and die bundle that I would love to give someone as Blog Candy! It’s A Big Thank You Stamp Set and Thank You Thinlits Die and the stamp set has lots of encouraging sentiments and words of thankfulness.
Here are some ideas from the catalog for using these products.
To win this bundle, leave me a comment about how you will use your card making to send encouragement this month. Can we send one/day throughout September? It’s a good goal! Send me your ideas. I will enter each comment in a random drawing at the end of the month and use my computer-generator to select a winner. You can enter by commenting as many times as you want throughout the month to increase your chances. Good luck! And I can’t wait to hear your ideas.
P.S. Don’t forget that when you order $40 or more from my online store, I will send you three free exclusive card tutorials using the Come To Gather Suite products. These are my thank you gift for your purchase in the month of September. Shop Here!
Also, this Buy 3 Get 1 Free DSP Sale is good through the month of September, so take advantage!
Click this link to see the selections:
Product List for today’s card
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Karen, I love your cards. And, like you, I use my cards for encouragement as well as staying connected. At my age, about half of my friends are widowed; they all appreciate receiving hand-crafted cards in the mail. My grandchildren are in college or working at their first jobs; they text me to say how much they love the cards I send. Any leftover cards are donated to the local senior center. Cards are meant to be shared! Thanks for sharing your ideas for creating works of art to uplift others.
Thank you, Betty! That’s exactly why I do this craft ~ to make people feel loved and appreciated. Thank you for sharing your story with me. I love how you are sharing your talents, too!
Gorgeous card, Karen! Reminds me of a quilt block. And blog candy? Oui!
Thanks, Connie!
I know I am a few days late commenting. The darn intermittent has been so intermittent lately. At least the guy solved the problem he thinks. So, I hopped on to do some E-mails. I mailed one card on Monday as a thinking of you as well as yesterday. Today, I made 6 birthday cards but found I needed 7 so had to take one out of my pile. So, I have cards mailed for birthdays next week. Yeah for me!
I like your pretty card. I just might need to case it. I also bought a couple little items for a friend who is semi laid up with a bad back. She wanted to decorate her room a bit with fall colors. I buoght a fake leaf garland for a couple bucks that fits in one of the little brown bags from the PP kit. I will add a couple other things and a card and go mail that tomorrow or Friday. Plus, I will need to get more stamps at the post office too.
Chris, I know you share your card making often! I’ve even been the recipient of some! You are so thoughtful and everyone who gets your cards appreciate your thinking of them.
Hi Karen, I heard this challenge on KLove as well. I enjoy sending handmade cards, and often send my letter separately so the recipient can share my card with someone else. We sent cards to my niece this summer at the camp she volunteered at… this was her only request… to hear from her family! She got so much mail, she got teased, but she didn’t mind. 😊 Mail more cards to encourage others… Yes, let’s do it!
I love that Patricia! What a great way to show your love. I bet your niece felt very special!
Karen, what a great reminder to stop “hoarding” the cards we make and get them in the mail! One of my friends and I have committed to sending cards every week to residents of our local Vets home. We have started with the ones who have no living relatives or whose family never visits. (The staff keeps track of this kind of thing–there are more than you’d think–very sad). We’re in week 3; 31 cards sent so far. There are 271 residents so we will not lack for opportunities!
Gorgeous card today, by the way. And and thanks for the tip about including cardstock or cardboard in the standard size envelope to protect a square card. Never thought of that!
You are blessing others who may be feeling forgotten, Linda. It’s a wonderful way to share what we do, and so appreciated by the recipients. Thank you for sharing!
What a splendid idea. Every Monday I send notes of encouragement/thanks/get well/thinking of you cards to folks from my church. I especially include the elderly and those that are alone. Hopefully the cards bring smiles and joy.
I’m sure they do! I would add that the men and women in convalescent hospitals would enjoy receiving cards too. I know a few that have been in a local facility for years. It would definitely brighten their day!
Sounds Super Karen . . . Getting the cards mailed out is my hardest challenge. Today I will get “some” sent out.
Have a blessed day.
Yes! Me too, Nancy! I let them stack up. They would be so much better sent out to people. I love getting cards in the mail amidst all the “junk”. Let’s do it! 🙂
Great card! The sequins totally make it. I love the challenge idea!
Thanks, Jill. I’ve been on a sequin kick lately! You are very good about mailing your cards. I’m going to try to be more purposeful about that.
I’m wanting to start a card ministry for a local area of “wounded warriors” , especially those who participate in a project using horses to overcome PTSD. I think they would enjoy an encouraging message along with a thank you for your service note. Thank YOU for encouraging ME to get started on it!
That is a great cause! I think they would appreciate your cards very much! Thank you for the idea and for participating in my challenge! 🙂