Put down that phone…
I love getting mail…and I love talking with friends…but I love GETTING A REAL CARD MORE! Did I mention how I love getting a real card??? Handmade, hand stamped, sewn, digitally printed, collaged…anything that comes in the MAIL. I am a hands on, visual person and I love my mailbox. And I love talking to people in person while they are NOT playing with their phones and Blackberries. (This means you, Adam and Maggie!!!)
So, for this week’s challenge, I would love to see everyone stash their electronic gadgets for 30 minutes and make a card. Your own little piece of art. It doesn’t need to have a specific theme. Then actually MAIL IT to a friend or relative that you miss, need to thank, or haven’t spoken to in a while. They will love your spontaneous behavior. Kind of like a random act of kindness card!
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
This miss you card is my usual simple, fast style. Stamp the “back” of the square for a “shadow” and stamp the stitched block in black on top. Then trim and mount onto a pool card and add the scallop. (Those water droplets are compliments of my husband, who splashed all my finished cards!!! It WAS an accident!)
Supplies:
- Clear Design: Mix and Match Elements
- Ink ‘n’ Stamp: Lily Pad Messages
- Clear Design: Whimsical Frames
- Memories Black Ink
- Chalk Ink Queue - Primary Elements
- Soft Pool Shadow Ink
- Yellow Gemstones
- Pool, White, Sunshine Mixed Notecards
I just LOVE those fuzzy little pom poms by Creative Impressions. I cut them apart and glued them on…kind of like Pat the Bunny! My granddaughters will love this one!
Supplies:
- Clear Design: Mix and Match Elements
- Clear Design: Everyday Sayings
- Memories Black Ink
- White Notecards
- Chalk Ink Queue - Primary Elements
- Chalk Ink Queue - Rose Petals
- Other: yellow dot paper, border punch,pom poms
I have always had a fondness for initial or monogram cards. Here are two ideas with our Curly Alphabet and our Bold Caps Alphabet.
Supplies:
- Clear Design: Curly Alphabet
- Clear Design: Whimsical Frames
- Clear Design: Friends
- NEW Flourish Trio (H5261)
- Memories Black Ink
- Memories Mango Ink
- Just For Kids Hot Pink Ink
- Sunshine Mixed, Neutral Mixed, Summer Mixed Notecards
- Pink Gemstones
- Other: pink dotted paper scrap, scallop punch, orange glitter glue
Supplies:
- Clear Design: Cherish
- Clear Design: Bold Caps Alphabet
- Memories Black Ink
- Tim Holtz Peeled Paint Distress Ink
- 2mm Gemstones
- Lime, White Notecards
- Other: pink dotted scrap, scallop punch, pink glitter glue,gingham ribbon, colored pencils
I can’t wait to see your cards! Before mailing them off, be sure to photograph and upload them to the Flickr group before 11:59 pm PST on Sunday, August 23. Please include at least one Hero Arts stamp on your cards and tag them with the word “mailit”. By entering you could win a shopping spree of your choice of Hero Arts products from the NEW Hero Arts Online Store! (Shipping charges apply.) Winners will also receive a 2009 Hero Arts catalog, sent separately. The prize amounts are as follows:
- NEW! Digital Winner! (create something using a Hero Arts Digital Kit): $50
- Fresh Face Winner (someone who has not yet won a contest): $50
- 1st Place: $50
- 2nd Place: $25
- 3rd Place: $15
Now for MY random act of kindness, I am going to give away three gifts. Each person will receive an EXTRA gift to give away for YOUR random act of kindness to introduce someone NEW to stamping! Just leave a comment, telling us the first person you plan to send a card to this week! I will draw three winners and announce them on Wednesday.
Filed under: mailit
Rae
I love the cards that you made. I, too, love to receive real mail, like cards, not bills. I should send a card to a former colleague who I have not seen for over 4 yrs. She will be so surprised. thanks for the suggestion.
Georgia
I’ve become obsessed with making cards. I find it a lot more fun to make them when I know who will be receiving it. My card will go to a young friend whom I work with.
Michelle A.
I am going to send a card to my Mother
Yay for happy mail!
Erin
I plan on sending a card to my friend Erica, who loves stamping and is an awesome scrapbooker, to remind her that her husband will return from his international travels.
Georgia
I finished my little gift card and will be mailing it to my sister in the morning. She’s having a difficult time right now, and it will definitely cheer her!
Pam E.
Love the cards, I’ve been working on Halloween cards most of this week. I just love the sending fuzzies (need to get that border punch!), I have a feeling I will be lifting that one.
Nancy J
I just found your blog and this great challenge. I haven’t made my card yet but I will later today. I will be mailing it to my sister who is going through a lot after losing her son to brain cancer. I know it will just make her day to get an unexpected card from me. Thank you so much for the inspiration!
Pam/Bluegrass Stamper
I finally am satisfied with the card & then wanted to upload it. My first effort! Your Help guidelines were most helpful, but Oh, the learning curve on taking a digital picture of the card! I tried outdoor light (light breeze was determined to whisk the card away), flash, no flash, Ott bulb, gooseneck, shadows of the porch & attempt to scan (couldn’t figure out how to save & upload successfully). I finally uploaded 2 camera shots. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! I’m really looking forward to learning from this community of creativity…after I can get past the technical details!!
lisa said: August 22nd, 2009 at 7:40 am
Hi Pam! The Hero Arts Flickr group has a discussion group with a great community of super helpful stampers! If you post your q’s there, I’m sure the girls would give you a hand.
I’ve also started a photo tutorial series on my personal blog HERE.
Hugs and Happy Stamping!
Julia
I showed my friend Tina my stack of completed cards, which was a HUGE mistake because then she wanted every single one of them and I definitely don’t have time to make a whole new batch! So I surprised her with one made especially for her, just because.