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Say It With Style

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You'd think that a person who makes her living with words would have no problem coming up with snappy sentiments for every card she makes -- right? Guess again! Sometimes all you need is the cute "Happy Birthday" stamp you've used 50 times. But other times, you want something a bit more memorable for a special person.

You’ll find it in Say It With Style, a great new book from House of White Birches. Say It With Style belongs in every card-making library or craft room. The pages of this book contain more than 1,000 sentiments for everything from birthday to anniversary cards to get-well and sympathy cards ... well, you get the picture. There's a sentiment here for just about any occasion (including a few for which I've never sent a card). As a bonus, the beginning of each section features a photo and material list for a special card from the rubber-stamp company My Sentiments Exactly.

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Free Project
This great project from Tami Mayberry is what Say It With Style is all about, using a sentiment as a major part of your handmade greeting design. You can choose the verse offered here or a different one. Generate it on your computer or letter it by hand. Use a stamp, a rub-on or a sticker! The possibilities are endless.

Reader Letters
Well, last time I promised to share with you a sampling of the suggestions I received for getting my cards out to their intended recipients on time. Amazingly enough, they all involve some sort of calendar and (gasp!) a system for being organized! I want to thank everyone who has sent suggestions -- I think I'm going to try them one by one until I happen upon something that works with my organizationally-challenged brain. (If you can do it, I can do it, too!)

Judy writes via e-mail:

"I make a family calendar every year with everyone's birthday on it. Then, at the first of every month, I check my calendar, which is hanging on my refrigerator. I make the cards that I need to mail the first half of the month, and around the 15th, I check it again and make those for the end of the month. I put sticky notes with the date they need to be mailed and take them to work with me. I put them on my desk and have them right there in front of me when it comes time to mail them!"

Barbara writes via e-mail:

"I, too, have an 'oops, I forgot again' problem. I make several cards and keep them in a card file. I also have a calendar on my desk. When I see a special occasion on the calendar, I choose a card from the box, sign it, stamp it, and it's ready for the mail."'

Mary writes via e-mail:

"I send about 60 cards a month, sometimes more. At the first of the month, I write all birthdays, anniversaries, etc., on the correct date on a calendar. At the first of every week, I make the cards and address them, and then I send them out later that week. It's been a help, and when I do them by week, it's not quite so much of a job. Belonging to two swaps helps in having cards done ahead of time."

Octavia writes via e-mail:

"To make sure I get my cards out on time, I use a notebook binder with pocket pages, one for each month. On the pocket section, I write the date and the recipient's name and occasion or use my computer to generate a spreadsheet with this information. It is easy to look in the book at the appropriate time and pick out the card I have made for that special person. Also, it gives me a place to put my handmade cards when the creating bug hits me, so I make several cards at once. A large recipe box, photo box or even a shoebox will work if you make dividers for it."

Sandie writes via e-mail:

"I note who has a birthday in the next month or two and make specific cards for them. I write the cards, address the envelopes and buy the postage stamps needed for them, and then I put a sticky note on the front with the date to post them clearly marked (overseas cards need a week to get to an individual). I always have a stock of generalized cards for 'unforeseen' times or if my daughters need a card in a hurry."

Rose writes via e-mail:

"I make my cards in the beginning of the month for whatever occasion is occurring during that time. That way I have the cards ready to go on time in the mail. Also, when making sympathy cards, I do several at one time, so I have them when needed."

Ceil writes via e-mail:

"I learned this from my mother. Make up your cards ahead of time and put the date you need to mail it in the upper right corner where you will place the stamp. Since my city is moderate in size, I allow two days for local delivery and three days for out of town. Mother would use a cold day in January to prepare most of the cards for mailing and keep them in a decorated file box with monthly dividers."

Diane writes via e-mail:

"I keep a plastic shoebox with dividers and make up cards for every occasion, so I have a supply to pick from. This way I can keep making cards, trying new techniques and always have a supply of cards ready to use. You never know when you will need a 'Get Well' or sympathy card fast, and this way, you always have a beautiful card waiting when you need it."

Phyllis writes via e-mail:

"I am from Arizona, 81 years old and an avid card maker. I usually make more than one greeting card at a time, and then they are filed by the type of occasion. I choose one, when needed, and write the date to be mailed on the back of the envelope (I also do that with bills). Then they are filed by the dates they should be mailed, and I have never had a late card. One day I turned the calendar from April to May and there on May 1st was my grandson's anniversary. I love your CardMaker magazine and read each one thoroughly."

Marlene writes via e-mail:

"This is the first time I have received this newsletter and am excited about it. Usually the last weekend of the month, I sit down with my birthday list/calendar to see what's coming up. I then make, or go through my stash, or (heaven help me!) buy a card and sign it, address the envelope and stamp it. Once this is done, I paperclip the cards to the calendar page in order of when they are to be sent. This system seems to work pretty good for me, as I make it a point of checking my calendar each Sunday for my weekly schedule."

Jan writes via e-mail:

"There is a Web site called BirthdayAlarm.com, which anyone can use for free. You just input the birthdays you want to remember, and they will send you an e-mail reminder before the date. This helps me out. Good luck!"

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