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I am a fan of an old fashion hand written note, the kind that comes in the mail and brightens someone’s day with words from the heart. I love to make my own cards but lately it has been hard to find the time. I decided this month to stock up on cards and keep them on hand for all the year’s occasions. I created an easy card file and filled it with cute Hallmark cards starting at 47 cents from Walmart.
I tend to keep cards, not all of them, but the pretty ones, the funny ones, the cute ones, and the ones that have a note inside that means something to me. I have a Christmas card from my Uncle that he gave me when I was maybe 6. It’s dark green with a cute little bear on the front. I’m not sure why I saved it way back then, but holding it now brings up a flood of emotion and I am so very glad I held onto it. To me a card is more than an obligation, it’s something special that can really move someone if you put forth a little effort.
Creating a card file is my way of making sure I am prepared for any occasion. I started by creating a list of all the birthday’s in my family, those that I love to send or give special cards and gifts to. Then I made a fun little box to sort them in. Here is what I used for my card file.
- Wood box
- Craft Paint
- Sticker Paper
- Printer and scissors or Silhouette
- Cardstock
- Cards for all occasions
I picked up a wood box from a local craft store. You could easily use a shoe box or other container as long as it is big enough to hold a card. I painted my box a bright pink and yellow and added a label to the top with sticker paper. Labels like this are pretty easy to make, you can use a word processing software or an online photo editing site, nothing too fancy or complicated.
To sort the cards I came up with 8 categories; occasions when I typically send cards to close family and friends.
- Birthday
- Wedding
- Anniversary
- Baby
- Congratulations
- Get Well
- Sympathy
- Holiday
I cut dividers with tabs from white card stock to sort my cards. To make it easy to read {and pretty} I created labels and printed them onto white sticker paper. I made these labels the same way I created the box label. To cut the labels I used my Silhouette electronic cutting machine but you can easily do this with a pair of scissors.
My biggest category is birthdays, not only do I need to have cards on hand but I need an easy way to remember everyone’s birthday. I chose to write all those important dates on the front of the birthday divider. It’s right in front and I can see each month at a glance.
Finally, I filled my box with enough cards to last a year. This was a fun shopping trip. The girls and I stopped by the Hallmark aisle on a recent trip to Walmart. There is a section of Hallmark cards starting at just 47 cents. I was able to stock up on cards for every occasion in one trip. I had my birthday list in hand as well as a few notes on weddings, babies, and other occasions on the horizon. Little Lady loved picking out cards, she is really looking forward to signing and giving the cards she hand-picked for her cousins.
I love cards, giving and receiving them. There is something about a special meaningful note that kind of makes my day. Even though I don’t make as many cards as I used to, I’m glad to have a stash that I can add my touch to. It’s also good to know I won’t be scrambling tobuy a card at the last minute.
Have you ever received a special card? Something you have held onto, or that holds a special memory for you? I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks for visiting!
Spread Holiday Cheer With Simple Gifts - Creative Ramblings
Wednesday 2nd of December 2015
[…] year I have stocked up on Hallmark cards from Walmart. I have about a dozen in my card box ready to gift when the need arises. To make these cards extra special I used a few craft supplies […]
txtypeamom
Wednesday 24th of June 2015
What a great way to ensure you stay organized with your card giving! And at just 47 cents, how can you not afford to stock up on cards for the entire year?! #client
Sarah
Wednesday 24th of June 2015
That was my thought exactly! Thanks :)