It’s Time to Make the Cards

Remember that old Dunkin’ Donuts commercial where the donut maker heads to work every morning saying, “It’s time to make the donuts…”?  As a child watching that commercial, I couldn’t ever discern whether that gentleman was passionate about his craft of making the fresh donuts or if he felt like he was tied to a job.  I was such a little nerd, thinking, “Is he happy making the donuts? He would do something else if ‘making the donuts’ doesn’t make him happy, right?”  Relax, Young Overanalyzing Brian.  Don’t read too much into it.

Well, it’s Time to Make the Cards!  No punch clocks here, and no one is going to starve if you don’t join the fun (although certainly there are people somewhere who will go hungry without coffee and donuts, right?).  I have several opportunities for you to make some beautiful cards and to share them with others – isn’t that what this craft is all about?

TIME TO MAKE THE CARDS:  OPPORTUNITY #1

Spring Card Swap

That’s right!  The wait is over.  It’s simple. Send a beautiful Spring card, and receive a beautfiul Spring card in return.  It can be Easter or Mother’s Day.  It can be a birthday or a thank you.  It can be floral or just pretty.  It’s all up to you!

Here’s how it works:

You mail the following to me:

  • a handmade card (a standard 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card). Please use products from the current Stampin’ Up! catalogs. Please send a card that you designed so that I’m not sharing a card that is not your design.
  • a self-addressed, stamped envelope (just fold one in half and include it with your card).
  • a little information about you that you might care to share with me: your name, your email address, your level of interest in stamping (are you a light hobbyist, a serious hobbyist or a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator?), and your website address (if you have one). I will share your name and city/state on my blog and with the person who receives your card. The other information WILL NOT be shared with anyone else. I just want to get to know you better.  Is that so wrong?

I will gather the cards I receive and will mix them up and mail them out so that everyone who sent me a card will receive a card in return. As long as I receive a card from you by the deadline, then you will receive another card in return. Oh, glorious day!

I know this is going to break your heart, but I will have to limit this to two cards per person (if you choose to make more than one). It just makes it easier for me to sort through them and distribute them back out. Thanks for understanding. Also, please make sure you include a return envelope for each card you send.

This one-for-one card swap is open to ANYONE who wants to participate, so let’s make this swap international.

Mail your card and return envelope to:

Brian King

1758 Colt Drive

Atlanta, GA 30341

Please mail them as soon as you can – but make sure they arrive by Friday, April 5. That will give me time to gather them, sort them and then mail them out. I will also include photos of the cards on my blog (giving proper credit to the creator, of course).

Who’s in? Email me if you have any questions. [email protected]

TIME TO MAKE THE CARDS:  OPPORTUNITY #2

My good friend (and fellow PALS stamper), Terri Orr, is a cancer survivor and a huge supporter of the National Cancer Society and its Relay for Life.  This year, Terri has signed up to chair the annual Relay for Life Event in her county.  Since the National Cancer Society strives to “Create a World with More Birthdays”, Terri has decided to make this year’s celebratory event a huge birthday party for the cancer survivors who attend the gala.  She wants balloons, a huge birthday cake and a handmade birthday card for every survivor there.

When I got home from work last night, I cranked out twelve cards (four each of three designs) to send to Terri.  None of the cards are over-the-top amazing, but they will mean something to someone.  I will make more, but this was a healthy start.  It would mean so much to Terri (and to me) if you will please send her a card (or a small stack of cards) that she can include in the bags at the event. If you want to participate, please send gender non-specific birthday cards (any products you have) to Terri Orr, 122 York Street, Dalton, GA 30721. Please mail the cards by the end of March.  Please add a little sticky note inside the card to let Terri know you found out about this project from me.  I’d appreciate it.  As always, I appreciate you.

Here are the cards I quickly cranked out last night:stampwithbrian.com

stampwithbrian.comstampwithbrian.com

I used Happiest Birthday, Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper and Labels Collection Framelits for all of these quick-and-easy designs.

It’s time to make the cards.  Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Brian
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DON’T MISS OUT!

Big Shot Special.  Now through March 22, I am making a special offer to anyone who buys a Big Shot from me. Not only will you get TWO Sale-a-Bration items of your choice** , but I will send you two Embossing Folders (your choice) as a thank you. **since the Big Shot is $99.95, you’ll have to buy something small to push the total over $100 to receive your second SAB item.

Blog Candy.  There’s still time to comment on my post from yesterday for a chance to win the blog candy.  Check out yesterday’s post!

My Stampin’ Clubhouse.  A second club is starting up.  You want to be a part of it, so please email me if you have questions or to sign up.

52 Comments

  1. What would you like your international swappers to do about the stamped addressed envelope? I’m guessing a UK stamp on it isn’t much help!

    • This is an excellent question, Sally! I’d not thought through this completely. I had one Canadian swapper in the last swap. She just dropped a dollar bill in the envelope. If you have a US dollar bill to drop in that’s be great. Otherwise, just drop in an envelope, and I’ll pay for the shipping. Guess I should have thought about that more. Stupid Americans! 🙂

  2. Ok for “crnaking out 12” those were darling cards you made!!!! Hey, I cranked out 5 yesterday….I was thrilled!

  3. I’m in!! And I’ll make sure I dig out an American doller!! 😉 I’d Bettter nudge Loz for a crafting session pretty darn quick!

  4. I have generic cards that I keep (btw…I keep a lot of my cards ) that wait for sentiments to be attached and I go through them to see if any of them could be sent to Operation Write Home . I was in my stash this week end so I have some that would be perfect for Terri … And is that Vicki`s pet chicken`s picture or is that some future dinner ??? just wondering ???

    • **GASP** I could never eat a chicken with a name!!! LOL 😀 That is Cagney my little Silver Laced Wyandotte Bantam. Very much a pet along with the other 9 girls and 3 boys (one to be re-homed shortly). I did have her sister Lacey (Cagney *& Lacey the cop show…) but sadly lost her to a hip infection last year.

  5. Fabulous!!!!! I’ll start right away making a few cards for Terri, thank you for asking, Brian. And I’m all excited about this next card swap, specilly because it’s about Spring and flowers and birds, bees, etc. All of us here in the freezer are waiting anxiously for Mother Nature to finally loosen her wintry grip on us.

  6. Hi Brian:
    You have me smiling this morning! Your friend Terri is doing at her Relay for Life the same thing that we do. My oldest daughter is a 2 year breast cancer survivor and we participate in the “More Birthdays” fund raiser in Hartford, CT. Last year’s event drew over 6,000 participants and our team raised almost $7,000! Since my daughter owns a dance studio, many of her students were part of the team and as a fund raiser made beaded breast cancer bracelets and sold them. They also danced at the start of the event as part of the entertainment. It was so amazing to see my daughter on stage dancing her heart out after a year of surgery, chemo and radiation treatments. Also, I was surprised at how many male breast cancer survivors participated. Participating in this event is so inspiring that I would encourage anyone to attend.

    Oops, almost forgot Brian – Your cards were great and I can tell you from experience that each one will be appreciated and valued and most likely end up in a survivors scrapbook.

    • Grace–my Mom passed from breast cancer 23 years ago; two of my closest friends were diagnosed with it since this time last year (both are doing well). SO glad your daughter is doing so well. And you’re right–it is SO very life-affirming to participate in these events. –Terri O

  7. Brian, thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in Terri’s Relay for Life! I am also a cancer survivor (13 years!) and chaired our town’s Relay for two years.

    • Diane, I’m a 17-year survivor this April–these years are precious gifts, aren’t they?! Thanks so much for all you did for your area Relay–you’ve helped create more of the birthdays that our Survivors are celebrating! –Terri O

  8. What a great idea (both). I will be submitting my first BIG order for Stampin’ Up! tomorrow AM. If I get it in a timely manner and get the time I will so be doing this. 😀

  9. I just mailed my swap to you today. Thank you for organizing again!

  10. Please include me in the swap, Brian and I’ll get a few cards off to Terri also.
    Marge

  11. Swap time! I’m in… better get stamping! What a fabulous survivor event. I’ll see what I can do to help and suggest the idea to the local Relay folks.

    • Oh, Becca, thanks! I think it would be fabulous to have birthday-bashes all over the country for Relay this year! this is ALSO the American Cancer Society’s 100th year, so it’s a BIG birthday, for real! –Terri O

  12. Alot of fun things to read about today. Sounds like the fungeon was ‘a smokin’ last night cranking out all those cards for a very good cause. All three creations wonderful. A question….do we sign our name inside or leave it blank?

  13. Love the “More Birthdays” idea. I’ll be sending some cards to Terri soon!

  14. Wow, Brian–thanks SO much for this wonderful shout-out for cards for my cause. I will appreciate any and all cards received. You guys will help make this Survivor event even more special!
    YOUR cards are AWESOME, Brian!! Can’t wait to see the creations of your talented crew…..
    and looking forward to the swap, too! — Terri O

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  16. Brian, I’m interested in being part of your club but when I clicked on the treehouse nothing happened….please send me info. I love the fact that we live close to each other, still haven’t found a stampinup group that I can play with! Sheila

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  23. Hi, Brian. Found your blog and pinterest through youtube last night. Immediately made 2 cards inspired by you. Love the swap idea, attended a 6 person one yesterday morning coincidentally. I plan to make some donation cards right now and ran out of SU envelopes. Should I buy some for the recipients or is it not necessary? Thanks.

    • Maggi – So glad you found me! It was meant to be. No need to include envelopes if you don’t have them. Thanks for making and sending the cards. I know they will be appreciated.

  24. Whew, got my spring swap card in the mail and a dozen relay for life birthday cards packaged for the post office. These were perfect busy-body projects for this surprise snow day.

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