15 May 2019

Do People Still Send Cards?

"Your cards are beautiful, do people still send cards?"

"I'd buy your cards, but I don't know who I'd send them too."  


These statements do two things, they validate some sort of guilt for the person saying them and they sting the recipient.  The sayer is very often the same person who would be delighted to get something other than junk and bills in their mailbox.  The recipient is often saddened by the lack of value placed on what they've created. 

Our lives have become so overwhelmingly saturated with activity we've lost sight of being kind just for the sake of being kind.  Sending letters used to be the only form of communication and now it's referred to as a "lost art" and treated as an inconvinence.  We talk about not know what to say if we were to write the note and not having anyone to send happy mail to anyway.  We don't seem to have that trouble with email, texts, and IM, but sending a note with a stamp is too much. 

Source:  Pinterest
We don't know the inner battles that those closest to us are fighting every day.  Wouldn't it be amazing if you could ease their struggle for just a moment?  That note dropped in the mail could do that.  Email and texts don't create the same kind of connection that a good old fashioned letter or handwritten note does. 

You never know who really needs that card or note dropped into their bucket.  I have a friend who told me a story about filling other peoples buckets a while back and it really resonated with me.  Sending Happy Mail is just that, a bucket filler, a joy maker, a smile maker, a heart string tugger.  Think about that for a while.  Think about the quiet smile that crosses someone's face when they find a card or letter in their mailbox. 

Source:  Pinterest

I don't care if you buy my cards.   I care about reaching out to those in your life that you love and care about.  Reach out, tell them you thought of them today.  Stop scrolling through your social media, absently clicking "like" and actually reach out to someone you've been thinking about this week. 

Source: Pinterest

Your strong friends need that smile too.  Be the bright spot in someone's day.  Go send a note.  Don't complain about the cost of postage, you probably spend more on a coffee two or three times a week. 

14 May 2019

Orange is a Theme

I've noticed a little theme in my card making as of late, orange.  I've not always been a lover of orange, but as of late it sure is popping up in several of the cards I've made.

Get Well Butterflies (SENT)

Happy Mother's Day - Orange (SOLD)


Thanks (SENT)


Happiest of Birthdays to You (AVAILABLE HERE)


What do you think?  Do you love the orange?

Interested in the products used?  Here are a few affiliate links:


Affiliate links are used at no additional charge to you
Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long tape, Refill cartridge 5 Pack,
Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long tape, Refill cartridge 5 Pack,
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Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long-Blue
Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long-Blue
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Lil' Inkers - STITCHED SENTIMENT FLAG DIE
Lil' Inkers - STITCHED SENTIMENT FLAG DIE
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Simon Says Stamp STITCHED RECTANGLES Wafer Dies
Simon Says Stamp STITCHED RECTANGLES Wafer Dies
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Simon Says Stamp WONKY RECTANGLES Wafer Dies
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WOW Embossing Powder PRIMARY EBONY SUPER FINE
WOW Embossing Powder PRIMARY EBONY SUPER FINE
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Gina K Designs JET BLACK AMALGAM Cube Ink Mini Pad
Gina K Designs JET BLACK AMALGAM Cube Ink Mini Pad
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Tsukineko VersaFine Pigment Ink Pad - Onyx Black
Tsukineko VersaFine Pigment Ink Pad - Onyx Black
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Neenah Classic Crest 80 LB REAM Smooth Solar White Paper Pack 250 Sheets
Neenah Classic Crest 80 LB REAM Smooth Solar White Paper Pack 250 Sheets
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Neenah Classic Crest 80 LB SMOOTH SOLAR WHITE Paper Pack 25 Sheets
Neenah Classic Crest 80 LB SMOOTH SOLAR WHITE Paper Pack 25 Sheets
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Uni-Ball Pen Signo Gel WHITE
Uni-Ball Pen Signo Gel WHITE
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Uni-Ball Pen Signo Gel WHITE
Uni-Ball Pen Signo Gel WHITE
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Concord & 9th HELLO LOVELY Clear Stamp Set
Concord & 9th HELLO LOVELY Clear Stamp Set
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Honey Bee BEST PARENTS Clear Stamp Set
Honey Bee BEST PARENTS Clear Stamp Set
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Simon Says Clear Stamps SKETCHED FLOWERS
Simon Says Clear Stamps SKETCHED FLOWERS
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Fiskars - Razor Edge Easy Action Shears
Fiskars - Razor Edge Easy Action Shears
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Fiskars PREMIUM CUT LINE Paper Trimmer 12 Inches
Fiskars PREMIUM CUT LINE Paper Trimmer 12 Inches
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Tonic Studios - Tim Holtz - Stamp Platform
Tonic Studios - Tim Holtz - Stamp Platform
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Wagner Heat Gun
Wagner Heat Gun
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We R Memory Keepers - Evolution Advanced Die Cutting Tool
We R Memory Keepers - Evolution Advanced Die Cutting Tool
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SB | AZ

13 May 2019

MFT Cross Stitched Tag Die - Hello Owl


Did I mention I love this owl?  This is the second one of these little guys I've stitched and they're just too cute!  I'm sharing yet another card using the MFT Cross Stitched Tag Die and a pattern from their free resource page.  I completed this card with a green cardstock tag topper, a little hello cut from matching green, a bit of yellow vintage seam binding tape with some green thread, some yellow zig-zag pattern paper from my stash and mounted it all on a kraft card based.

Techniques Used:

Die Cutting & Stitching

Links to Products Used:

Affiliate links are used at no additional charge to you
Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long tape, Refill cartridge 5 Pack,
Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long tape, Refill cartridge 5 Pack,
Shop at:
SSS | AZ
Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long-Blue
Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long-Blue
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SSS | AZ
Die-namics Cross-Stitch Tag
Die-namics Cross-Stitch Tag
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SSS | MFT
Simon Says Stamp SMALL HELLO Craft Die
Simon Says Stamp SMALL HELLO Craft Die
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Fiskars - Razor Edge Easy Action Shears
Fiskars - Razor Edge Easy Action Shears
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SSS | SB
Fiskars PREMIUM CUT LINE Paper Trimmer 12 Inches
Fiskars PREMIUM CUT LINE Paper Trimmer 12 Inches
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SSS | SB | AZ
We R Memory Keepers - Evolution Advanced Die Cutting Tool
We R Memory Keepers - Evolution Advanced Die Cutting Tool
Shop at:
SB | AZ

08 May 2019

Updates for May 2019


Sometimes I feel like I'm stumbling in the dark, but I can honestly say it's all worth it.  This year I've done a lot of things outside my comfort zone and I keep moving forward.


I invested a lot of time in making Graduation cards.  I used a folding template I found on Pinterest and customized them to local school colors.  I also adapted them to have a pocket for a gift card of money.  They turned out so cute and have been a popular seller at the gift shop I have my cards in.


April was my first full month of sales at Smiling Moose Gifts, here in our small Alaskan hometown.  I sold enough to cover my first two months of booth rent, and while this seems like that wasn't much it was a huge milestone to me.  I went way out of my comfort zone to sign a contract and put my handmade cards somewhere other than on my own website.  My goal for my first month was to sell enough to cover one month's rent.  I doubled that. 

There's more to come.  Stay tuned!