She's Crafty | Giving Thanks

When I decided to sit with a pile of card-making books I picked up from the library to help me plan my holiday greeting cards, I got distracted from the objective by a section about Thank You cards. An excited and bouncy thought popped into my head, "What about thank you cards for Thanksgiving?!" So, the objective now is to write a personal note to each recipient explaining how thankful I am that they are in my life and for being an awesome person. 

Thankfully, I have a half-made set of Thank You cards I started years ago that just need a little fixing up and they'll be ready to hand out. Score! I went to the craft store to pick up some stamp pads and came across a Thank You card kit. I walked by it once telling myself I didn't need it--come on, I have the set at home! I walked by it again, and again...and finally I just grabbed it. Now I have a mix of greetings to give.

Kit card on the left, my design on the right.

While I was at the craft store I came across a plethora of options to make quick work of giving thanks:

• Grab a set of blank, folded cards with envelopes (they come in various sizes). Write, stamp or print Thank You on the front. Then write your message on the inside.

• Make postcards out of cardstock, decorate the front, and write your sentiment on the flip-side. 

• Paper tags in little paper bags as place markers at a dinner table--write their name on the bag and the thanks on the tag. 

• And, of course, you can go super inexpensive and use any kind of paper you have at home along with some kind of writing implement and get creative. Break out the construction paper and the crayons for the young and young-at-heart for a fun activity!

For some inspiration and how-to guidance, check out these titles we have about card making at the library:

• Handmade Hellos by Eunice Moyle & Sabrina Moyle

• 10-Minute Cards To Give & Share by Tanya Fox

• Fast, Fun Cards by Emma Hardy

Thank you for being the awesome reader you are. Without your support, we wouldn't have anyone to blog to about crafts and share our passion for craftin' with. And, if you are interested in reading more about the many benefits of gratitude in your life, here are a few titles on that subject:

• 365 Thank Yous by John Kralik

• The Joy of Appreciative Living by Jacqueline Kelm

• Thanks! by Robert Emmons

• The Gifts of Gratitude by Elizabeth Baker

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kaye & Malia

Miss Moneypennypincher | Greeting Card Chuckles

Yesterday was my birthday and one of my very creative coworkers made me a handmade greeting card with a silly joke in it.  It got me thinking how much I spend on greeting cards.  

I try and buy the sets they have at Costco for $19.99 but sometimes I want more than a generic birthday/wedding/baby card.  I want something hilarious.  So, I take myself to the nearest greeting card store and find a fantastically funny card for WHOA!!!!! $3 to $6?  Even more for a "singing" card? What?!  I look through the cheap cards, but alas, nothing sticks out.  

Why don't I just make the card myself, as my amazing coworker did for me?  It's personal.  It saves money.  And let's be honest, we have some pretty funny joke books at the library, if I say so myself.  Check one out - free!  Give a joke card to everyone you know!

Courtesy of crazyleafdesign.com

Here's a few...

For your teacher:
What is a light year?
A year with very little homework!
Except your homework is fun (and I really want an A)! Thanks for being awesome, my "favorite" teacher!

For your doctor:
What did the grasshopper say when it hit the windshield?
"If I had any guts I'd do it again."
Thanks for taking such great care of my guts, Dr. ______!

 For your librarian:
What books did the owl like?
Hoot-dunnits!
You're the best librarian around!  Thanks for always figuring out what books I need - even when all I know about it is that there is a girl and maybe a dog or possibly a cat in it.

 For Thanksgiving:
Why should you never talk like a turkey?
Because it's bad to use fowl language!
Especially when you have a mouth full of potatoes!  Happy Thanksgiving!