All Occasion

Halloween Cards

My love for homemade cards

For quite some time, my Mom has been telling me to start making handmade cards to sell for customers to enjoy. I have to say if it were not for my sweet Mom, I would not be on this little adventure in the first place. I am the first to admit, that I worry about a lost art of old fashioned communication. With all the latest technologies that are out there like the Internet emails and instant texts, I feel that the long old tradition of sitting down and expressing your feelings to someone is becoming a thing of the past. Speaking for myself, I love to receive a letter in the mail and I always get excited to read the contents of the letter inside.

I also feel that the art of creating your own cards is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Sure it takes a lot of time to create each card and it would be so much easier to run down to the nearest store and buy a manufactured card, but the question is...Does the store bought card really tell the individual that receives that card what you really feel about them.

I have a funny story that goes along with that idea. This story also made me start thinking about making cards in the first place. I started scrap booking many years ago and along with it making my own handmade cards. When my fathers birthday would roll around I would always make his card and write a letter to him inside expressing my feelings. One day, I was in a rush and was on my way to see my father, I did not have any "boy themed" birthday cards made so I stopped by a local store to see what they had. I picked out a quick card and just signed my name on the card and hooked it to the gift. When I gave my father the gift, he quickly went for the card. Upon opening the card he realized that it was store bought and not handmade by me. I guess he was a little disappointed by my efforts and he ripped the card in half and said to me "Well, that is what that company has to say to me, but what did you have to say to me." I was a little surprise and taken back by his actions and after a good laugh, it dawned on me how important my cards had become to him. I knew then to NEVER give my father a card that I had not taken the time to make myself.

Why then do I like to make cards....Well, to me the answer is obvious. I like that when I give a card that is comes from my heart. I leave all my card blank inside so that I have plenty of room to write what I feel to the person who my recieve that card. I like to feel the texture of a handmade card. I like to see the smile on the persons face when the say to me "Where did you get this card?" and I can reply "I made it myself, just for you." I have to say that for me personally, giving the card has been more rewarding that buying the gift for the person.

I worry that this long art of communication is in danger of extinction. It is still important to send the card to the neighbor that helped us out. I think the friend that has come down with a cold or sickness will appreciate the card from a friend that is concerned. We need to continue to teach our children the art of letter writing. First, our children should show gratitude for the person that has done a good deed for them and second, I think to teach our children that a letter sent by "snail mail" is more personal and intimate than any message that is written by their thumbs. Ü

I hope that my homemade cards will be enjoyed. Each one is made with love. I enjoy what I do and I hope that you will enjoy giving my homemade cards to your friends and loved ones.

I will continue to make the card as long as I can always find Something To Smile About. Ü

With Love,
Teresa Gamboa