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I am in the camp of "trying" not to worry about what happens to the card after it leaves my hands. I have just recently gotten great positive feedback from a dear friend on a handmade birthday card I sent. She loves it so much she is going to frame it and hang it in her kitchen! That is the first truly positive comment I've received and I've been sending handmade cards for about 6 or 7 years.
It would pain me a little to see my card in the trash the very day it was opened, especially at a family gathering. I would hope family would take a moment to appreciate the effort. But truth be told, I am not one to hang onto cards sent to me. Handmade or not. The only cards I've kept are from my husband. So, it's not really fair to expect people to hang onto the cards I send them, handmade or not.
I truly enjoy making them. And it's nice to hear positive comments. But the effort I put into making it does not automatically create some requirement for the recipient to keep the card. Sort of like that saying; "failure to plan on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part". MY efforts can not be used as some sort of burden around their necks. I make them because I enjoy the process.
I labor over a card but when I give it away I don't think about it. Now for people who really appreciate my cards I go the extra mile on theirs. So if they get thrown out I know they did get joy from getting them.
Oddly enough, it doesn't really bother me.
The thing about this hobby is that it's for OUR enjoyment. If someone else doesn't appreciate it, that's their problem.....
__________________ By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius
I agree with melissa59 and mungjerry..... how is it any different than going to the store and "buying" a card and sending it out......some may like it and some may not. YOU bought the card because YOU liked it and wanted to wish those you care about a Merry Christmas using that card.
That is how card crafters have to look at what they make and send....you made it because you liked it. We could also get hung up and not give presents because "someome" may not like what you gave them, know what I mean?
I don't save many cards myself since I'd eventually run out of room. :-) For me, it's about the joy of making them and then giving them away. Once they're given away, they belong to the recipient--some may keep them, some may recycle them--but it's their choice since it's a gift I gave to them to do with as they please. They'd do the same with store bought cards and I used to agonize over picking the perfect cards to buy to send out.
I'm also weird about not giving hand made cards that others made. When I get RAKS that are blank, I don't send them out again since they're not "mine".
__________________ Kathy
Proud Mama to Mason 4/3/99, Miles 5/25/02, and Maya 8/26/04
This is a subject that I continue to revisit.... I waffle back and forth between letting it go and obsessing over it. lol I don't think most people, unless they handcraft cards themselves, have any idea how much thought & time goes into them.
Quote:
...I think I may make some CAS cards using old Christmas paper scraps, and old Christmas stickers and what not. Maybe this way, I use up stuff that's been gathering dust and still get to papercraft....
This was my thought for mass production, and HERE'S what I came up with. Great way to use old Christmas wrap, and, IMHO, the end result is quite pretty. Especially when you consider how easily they go together. On the one hand, I had the enjoyment of hanging out in my craft room with Christmas music playing and Christmas candles burning. On the other hand, when the cards get tossed, I haven't spent loads of time and $$ on them. It's a win-win scenario. :-)
I like sending cards, I like getting cards in the mail. But not everyone does. I do not send or make cards in hopes of getting praise or gratitude. I do it strictly for my own personal satisfaction. I took a year or two off from making my own Christmas cards and even slacked off a bit on birthday cards. There were just other things taking priority. But this year, at the last , I created three cards and got them out yesterday. It was very freeing. If people don't like them, oh well. ;) But, now, I feel like I'm back. 
