I’ve been the recipient of a bunch of cards lately. Words fail to describe how much it meant to know that someone cared enough to make a card and mail it to me. It was like getting a big huge hug, all across the miles. They really brightened my day!
Then I found a box of cards that my Grandma saved. Still can’t believe that she saved all the cards I ever made her. I found out that my Dad, sister, and J have all saved all the cards I’ve made them, too. Wow.
Cards aren’t just paper — they’re a smile in an envelope! :)
Then I got to thinking some more about how there are all these cardmaking challenges out there, and I wondered what happens to all of those cards. Do they get a chance to make someone smile? I have some cards sitting here in a box that I’ve made for challenges that I’ve never mailed. Made me sad. :(
Then I thought: why not start a new challenge? A challenge to make a card (or anything else) and then mail it. I’m going to call it “Make-It + Mail-It”. Yeah! :) J even drew a logo for me, yay!
So, this is the very first Make-It and Mail-It challenge: make a card (or anything else!), mail it, and leave a link to your card below. I’ll post my card here too, to challenge myself and to keep things real. And! To make it even more interesting, in one week I’ll randomly draw one person to make a card for! Now, how’s that for a challenge?
Thought I’d do a little step-by-step tutorial to show you how I made a whole batch of cards, lickety split.
I started with plain shipping tags from the office supply store.
Then I distressed them. Here’s a mini how-to: first I crumpled them up, then rubbed them with Distress Inks (don’t ask me what colors, I just grabbed a bunch!), misted them with water, and then ironed them flat.
Whenever I get stuck in a creative rut I love to do a whole bunch of tags like this. You can never have too many tags, you know?
Next I stamped all over them with some new Hero Arts flowers and more distress inks.
Then I broke out some washi tape. (Love this packaging!)
I went to town adding washi tape all over them! The only trick here is to not try to think too much — just tape away!
Next, I stamped this thanks message on white copy paper with walnut stain Distress ink. Love how it looks — well, yeah, distressed.
I thought these tags would make great bookmarks, so I wanted to adhere them to the card front in such a way that they could easily be removed. So I got out the glue dots and put one towards the bottom of the tag.
Then I punched a hole at the top and tied the tag on with twine. (Love this grey twine so much.)
And that’s it! Seven cards ready for mailing. (I’m not saying who these are for, in case they are reading this. Ha!)
(Supplies: The white painted board that I took the photos on is an idea I got from reading Ishtar Olivera’s wonderful photography tutorials. Thanks again, Ishtar! Why didn’t I do this sooner? All stamps by Hero Arts: flowers are from the Sweet Threads set and the message is from Big Hugs. The notecards are also by Hero — they’re oldies but goodies that I’ve been hoarding — time to break them out. I used too many Distress inks to keep track of, but I’m pretty sure that there’s rusty hinge, tattered rose, pumice stone, and tea dye. Probably lots more! Shipping tags are from the office supply store. The grey and white twine is by Divine Twine.)
Now it’s your turn: make a card (or anything else!) and mail it. Leave your link below so that we can all see. In one week I’ll randomly select a winner to mail a card to. Yay!
This is gonna be good.
Just saw this in the HA discussion thread!! I absolutely love your tags! You may know that I have the exact same Washi tape….I LOVE them!! Thanks for the inspiration! I love to play tag and now you are IT! I know I should mail more cards…this challenge will make me mail some more :)
Super cute bookmarks, Lisa – fantastic distressing and collages! I love that they’re cute AND useful too! Terrific challenge – I’ll be back with to link up! :)
This is a super challenge – I do try to mail cards on a regular basis, but there are still a lot of cards that are just sitting in a box here. Will try to make one and mail one tomorrow! Thanks for the inspiration with those gorgeous tags – what a great idea for bookmarks, too.
WOW, Lisa, those tags are SO cool! Now that I know I can buy washi tape on-line, I’m loving the look! I, too, make cards for a sick friend during the week, so I should be posting mine shortly. Thanks for a great challenge!
Your challenge is exactly what I needed! Since diving back into photography, I’ve struggled to keep up with my cardmaking. Since my dear friend from college days was diagnosed with cancer, I’ve been sending her a card every Monday, so I had a similar personal challenge going on. Thank you for this new one!
Hey Lisa! Great idea…my problem is usually that I don’t have any cards to send because I always give them away! Love your mass production technique–I’ve got to find some washi tape! Must dash to make something special for my friend, Jen who sent me a surprise card over the weekend. Thanks for the fun challenge–love the name too!
Great challenge Lisa…its so important to mail a card too. I still have some written but unmailed Christmas cards(not good at all). Love your great Tags, they are all gorgeous. Looking forward for more challenges:)) TFS.
Thanks so much for this terrific challenge, Lisa! Such a good reminder to actually send our cards and not just have them collect dust in our craft spaces!
GREAT idea for a challenge, Lisa – I too can say how very much a hand-made card means to receive. Love what you did here! I hope to play, too!
such awesome tag cards!
True works of art! Love the washi tape on these! Thanks for the tutorial! HUGS!
Yowzahs! Love these tags, Lisa!
roberta
[…] you’re having a great week so far, and hope you’ll have time to play in the very first Make-It + Mail-It challenge! I’ve really loved all the cards that have been submitted so far — there’s going […]
fabulous tags, Lisa! thanks for the tutorial. really love the idea, too. i do have boxes of cards, too… =)
Love your logo “make-it, mail-it”, Lisa! The tags are beautiful and thanks for this fun challenge!
WOW!! Amazing step-by-step process on these tags! Love the end result!
Just read about this in our Hero Arts thread in our Flickr Group! What a great idea! Been thinking of you lately and praying that time is helping in the healing of missing your special Grandma. Loved looking at these quick cards of yours. They are beautiful. I have never used that tape before but would love to try. Will have to find out where to purchase it. Thanks so much for this challenge. So often as cardmakers we often make them and keep them. I think that this idea of yours will really help us to send some love and care someones’ way. Hopefully sending some cheer and sunshine. Love your hubby’s logo for this challenge. He is a brilliant man, so ya better keep him! Lol! Have a great day sweetie! Hugs.
This is a SUPER cool idea!!! I was just thinking about how handmade cards really do make some people’s days.
My neighbor just turned 76. I spend a lot of time with her. She’s like a grandma to me. i love her to pieces. I had had an exceptionally busy month and when I went over the other day there were a ton of flowers on her table. I didn’t know it was her birthday….she never told me. So I apologized profusely (I’ll make it up to her on Mother’s Day) and she said…”STOP! you already do so much for me. If you want to do something make me a card. Your cards always make my day”
So I shall make her another card (I made her one for Easter) and mail it to her! LOVE this idea!!! Love your tags too. Someday I will get some of that very cool tape! :)
Woohah! Love those cards, so simple yet so elegant!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
[…] Mine’s had some ups and downs, but seeing all of the entries coming in for the first ever Make-It & Mail It challenge have really made me smile! There’s gonna be some mighty happy mailboxes, yeah! (There’s […]