The Beauty of Homemade Cards

I love a hand-made card! When I was growing up we always made our own cards.  Granted, in many cases, a store-bought card is the most appropriate choice. For example, a co-worker or neighbor might think you’re strange if you send a hand-crafted sentiment.  Or even worse, they might think you are cheap!  But, a handmade card does have its place.

When I started dating my husband, I soon realized he was a card guy.  On our first Valentine’s Day together, he proudly presented me with a Hallmark Valentine’s Day card.  I think it said something ridiculous like “You wanna pizza me?”  He thought it was hilarious!  Honestly, the card could have said anything and I would have been happy, but it was his laughter, thoughtfulness and hand-written message that hooked me for life.  He was a little surprised when I handed him my handmade card on which I had written a poem in the style of “Roses are Red.”  (I saw the wheels turning - did she forget it was Valentine’s Day?) Luckily, he also found my sentiments compelling and so began our combined tradition of personalizing and exchanging cards.

Of course, after years of marriage and two kids, we have expanded the tradition.  Each year on card-giving holidays, i.e. Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mothers Day, Fathers Day and birthdays, we exchange hand-made cards.  All the cards are great, but the best part about this tradition is the Christmas card exchange.  Every year, each of us makes a Christmas card for the other three.  On Christmas morning, before we open any gifts, we exchange the cards.  This tradition has become so special and really allows us to pause and put Christmas into perspective before everyone tears into their gifts and the craziness of the day begins. 

Brian’s cards are usually silly drawings on printer paper, whereas Madeleine’s are usually works of art created on colorful paper written in her own unique font.  But our son, Max, is the one who has really brought this tradition to life.  Weeks before Christmas, he creates his cards by drawing pictures and writing thoughtful notes and carefully stashes them away so no one will see them.  

Usually my cards include a prevalent theme in that person’s year.  For Madeleine, that could be college applications, graduation or a new job.  For Brian, it could be a bike race or broken arm.  For Max, it usually has something to do with football or Snickers’ Bars or dogs.  When the kids were younger, their cards to me thanked me for making them lunch or driving them around, but as they have gotten older their sentiments become more mature.  They thank me for always being there, for being someone they can always talk to or for being a great mom. Honestly, these cards are worth their weight in gold and mean so much more to me than any gifts they could possibly buy.

There are three things I like to think about when making cards: 1) use your own unique style or lack thereof; 2) write something nice and it won’t matter what the card looks like; and 3) keep it simple and don’t stress over it.