Going Handmade

So, I've decided to STOP buying cards. Actually, my husband and I quit buying commercialized cards a couple of years ago for Each Other. It all started when my mom IM'd me saying, hey guess what dad and I did for our anniversary? We went to the local walgreens and picked out cards for each other - and I thought, wow, that seems pretty ordinary, what's so great about that? but then she continued on to say - we picked them out, then I gave him his and he gave me mine, we teared up, said Awh, that's so sweet, hugged, kissed and then put the damn cards back on the shelf!!

Well, I was shocked. Really? You read them and then put them back and didn't buy them? why? Why didn't you buy them?

Mom said - because we got Just As Much enjoyment out of them and didn't spend $3.99 per card.

Hmmm. I had never thought about it. But then my husband and I tried it and it was wonderul. Of course, you can't do that with the whole family - Imagine taking a family field trip to Walgreens for your brother-in-laws birthday and picking out a card and then putting it back.... wouldn't go over so well.

A few weeks ago, my husband came home for lunch and waited for me to get the mail. Usually, he gets the mail on his way into the house, but instead he casually hung back and let me get it. In the mail was an envelope addressed to me. I ripped it open - it was a card - not just any card, but a handmade scrapbooked card that my husband picked up at this little cafe he visits at the courthouse across from his office. it was simple, beautiful and had his own words in it. I teared up pretty good over it.

And it got me to thinking - when we are children, we make everything. So proud to show off our coloring skills, to write those letters on the page, and as parents, we are always excited to get one of those handmade cards from our kids and we keep them. We never throw them away.

So.. why not go back to making them by hand as adults? it's not that hard. I picked up a package of recycled card stock at walmart with envelopes for a few dollars. For fathers day I did a sketch of a giraffe on a card for my husband, then used some scrapbook materials I had, the recycled cardstock and the drawing to make him a card. I then made another one for my father in law with a pop up sticker of a man fishing in a boat and put a father's day poem in it for him. For my dad I drew a Hummingbird in flight on the cover of the card, added some cut out floral shape from some scrapbook paper and hand wrote a message on the inside.

and you know, I don't have that empty feeling inside after giving these cards. They came from my heart and I know that that means more to my family than any $5 card I could ever buy in the store.

Server died, new one being installed

My development server died today - this is where I put all the projects I'm working on so my clients can view them. Also, when it dies I can't check email or access the internet, so today was not a good day. I'm actually posting this from my phone - new server to be installed this weekend and then I can update everyone and send you links to view your products. thank you!

Sometimes, Timing gets Messed up

There's just not enough hours in my day.

As a Work-at-home-mom, a full time worker outside the home, a wife, a business owner, and all the things that entail being a wife and mother, I need more hours in my day!! I have absolutely no idea how some people wear so many hats and manage to keep everyone happy without going completely insane. I'm a little worn out.

On that note, I apologize if your project is going a bit farther out than what was planned. I, unfortunately, had a custom project that just went on and on and on with revisions and then more revisions. However, after all that work, the site is amazing, my customer is thrilled, and I'll be excited to share it with you once my customer is ready to share it with the world.


I'd like to point out that I am not available on the weekends at all, not even via email. So please do not get upset if you are emailing me Friday Night and don't hear from me until Monday morning.

It is very important that I spend Saturdays with my family and stay away from the computer. Sundays I am usually working at the other job.