Adhesives and Paper and Ink, Oh My!

Back in January I was asked to be the “card lady” for our church’s women’s auxiliary. Our president, who is one of the loveliest women on the planet, said it was right up my alley. She was absolutely correct, and more besides. When you can find a church calling that combines your favorite hobby and service to others…well, I think you’re pretty darned lucky. Dare I say “blessed?” Yep.

However, we’ve got about a hundred women…so that’s at least 100 birthday cards, not to mention the occasional “thinking of you’s” when someone is struggling, or “with sympathy’s” when a loved one passes, or “congrats” when something wonderful happens (hopefully much more of the latter!). So being proactive helps…and building up my “stash” of cards is a priority.

Susan (our president) indicated that I shouldn't worry too much, they just wanted simple cards…and that is something of a problem…because I don’t do “simple” very well. I mean, I try…but they just always seem to come out a little more ornate (sometimes a lot more!) than I'd originally planned. But I have worked hard at reining myself in, so to speak, even though I have enough stickers, brads, prima flowers, eyelets, dimensionals, ribbons and buttons to set up my own craft store!

(I think maybe I should start focusing some of my purging energies downstairs in the craft room!!)

Did I mention I love making cards?? Well, I do…because it’s instant gratification. I mean, you do put in a little work, but it doesn’t take long before you have a finished product. And you can hold in your hand a bit of creativity…and you can brighten someone’s day! Just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about it.

I’m not good at drawing (although I surprised myself during a college elementary education art class), I don’t crochet or knit (have tried several times…but I am positively hopeless!), I don’t cross-stitch or paint or arrange flowers or hook rugs or decorate cakes…but this I can do…and it’s fun! I was hoping to get the ladies in my area interested in card-making, I know a lot of women who belong to card groups – they meet monthly and everyone brings enough handmade cards to exchange (and they chat and laugh and eat, of course!)…but everyone in my circle is very busy and it just doesn’t seem to be in the cards (pun intended). So I travel my paper path alone mostly, with an occasional get-together with my friend Kay (who owns nearly a store-full of supplies herself).

Fortunately, for the moment though, I’m able to share this hobby with some very special ladies. And that’s good enough for me.