Friday, March 31, 2017

10 More Reasons to Send a Handmade Greeting Card

I'm continuing on the journey as to why in our modern day of social media, texting and other forms of nonverbal, technologically driven communication, you should still send a handwritten note.  Here are 10 more reasons:

  1. To say, “Look at this gorgeous card I found.”
    • Don’t keep something that pretty to yourself.
  2. To congratulate someone on a new car.
    • Butter them up for when you inevitably ask to borrow it.
  3. To celebrate Thanksgiving.
    • No one sends “Happy Thanksgiving” cards. Be unique.
  4. To celebrate the Fourth of July.
    • If they’re American, it’s sort of a second birthday card.
  5. To congratulate someone on a promotion.
    • If appropriate, maybe include your résumé.
  6. To wish someone good luck on an upcoming surgery.
    • Not that you need luck or anything. You’re in very skilled, capable hands.
  7. To share a recipe.
    • Add one tablespoon of friendship …
  8. To wish someone a happy anniversary.
    • Sticking to milestone years is boring. “Happy 17th Wedding Anniversary” is unique.
  9. To wish someone a happy divorce.
    • Know your audience on this one.
  10. As a joke.
    • Sending your 45-year-old friend three “Happy Quinceañera” cards will get a laugh.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Just Smile!

I receive these email bulletins from a site called Lifehack.  Today, I received this one:  110 Happiness Quotes That Will Make You Smile Instantly.  It's awesome to start your day by reading something happy!  No matter how badly you slept or whatever weight is on your mind, you can't help but smile at these. I'm sharing the link with you because I want you to smile too!

Check it out here:  http://www.lifehack.org/567393/110-happiness-quotes-inspire-your-life?ref=sidebar

Here's one of my favorites:






This is a good one and resonates with me. My goal is start my own handmade greeting card company.  I'm not rushing into it and spending a bunch of money I don't have; rather I'm bootstrapping it, as they say.  However, creating cards does set my soul on fire.  I love doing it!

What about you?  Which of the 110 quotes makes you smile?  Share in the comments below!

Monday, March 20, 2017

10 reasons to send a handwritten greeting card

Nowadays, it's very easy to become or feel unattached to those we love.  Texting has taken the place of phone calls and posting a picture on a social media site is a way of communicating with everyone in one swoop!  Make connections again with a handwritten greeting card.    In this post, we will explore numbers 1 through 10 of why you should send a handwritten card:


  1. To thank someone for something small.
    • Sincerity is a lost art. Practice often.
  2. To say “Happy graduation.”
    • Welcome to the real world.
  3. To say “Sad graduation.”
    • Welcome to the real world.
  4. To congratulate someone on getting their driver’s license.
    • No texting and driving. Always best to send a card.
  5. To celebrate a new year.
    • Let’s make this year better than the last. And then let’s do the same next year.
  6. To congratulate someone on getting a puppy.
    • They make edible cards, right?
  7. To congratulate someone on getting a kitten.
    • They have years of being ignored ahead of them, so why not give them a little attention now.
  8. To welcome a baby into the family.
    • In about 18 years they’ll have time to finally read your card.
  9. To “apologize” for not inviting someone to your wedding.
    • It’s tough. A little thoughtfulness now can save a lot of awkwardness later.
  10. To offer a random compliment.
    • Fact: 100% of people enjoy receiving compliments. Fact #2: Your hair looks great today.
      
 If you are off looking for a card, check out some I have for sale on E-Bay:



Love or Anniversary Card

Just to say Hi!

Creating cards is a passion for me - stay tuned while I add more or if you would like to buy directly, contact me at janfoselli@yahoo.com.

It's not important where you get your card from, just do it!

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Will I ever catch up on my scrapbooking?

NO!  You won't.  It's that simple and that complex.  I think it's just how you view it.  Here's a few tips to make you feel a bit better about not being 'caught up':

  • Lower your expectations. The goal is to chronicle your life, not show off your ability to create some paper masterpiece.  In fact, I’d go so far as to say that too much enhancement is a distraction and a detriment.  So, for the sake of your gorgeous pictures AND your sanity, keep it simple.
  • Take fewer pictures.  Really.  Our kids are the most highly photographed generation in the history of the world.  And the more pictures you take, the more you have to sort through and edit.  Lately I’ve been intentionally taking fewer pictures, and it’s amazing how much easier it is to go through and pick out the ones I want to keep or add into an album.  Which is the perfect segue to #3…
  • Throw pictures away.  Yes, I know it feels wrong somehow, but if you’re not going to use ’em, TOSS ‘EM.  (Or, give ’em to your kids to "scrapbook".) There is no reason to keep extra pictures around, cluttering up your living space.  And with everything digital nowadays, you can always reprint it if you regret tossing it later.  And the fact is, you do NOT need to put every picture you print into your album.  When in doubt, leave it out.  You will probably never remember it.
  • Be selective.  This goes along with #3, but again, you don’t need 150 pictures of your daughter’s birthday party in your album.  You can keep them on your computer if you want to see them.  But in your album, try to keep each event to one or two pages.  It’s more enjoyable to thumb through an album when you have captured the highlights of each event.  No one wants to look at 10 pages of Christmas Day.  
  • Go digital!  If, like me, you want to flip pages of a book, you can even print out your digital masterpiece.  There are many online stores offering digital scrapbooks, that you can have one printed and then add your own embellishments to it!
I still need to catch up on several years, and I'll get to it - eventually.  I'm not going pressure myself into feeling like I need to have every single picture scrapbooked by the end of 2017. 

How about you?  Are you 'caught up'?  What tips and tricks do you have for our readers?  Share in the comments below!

Helping You Create Meaningful Memories