Author
TR Fischer grew up in Colorado. After moving to California and sampling life in
San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles, she and her husband moved back to the
Denver area. That didn’t satisfy, so the city-dwellers bought some land and
took up raising buffalo. Each day is an adventure, on and off the page. Learn
more about TR and her books at her website.
When my kids were young, I loved creative projects. Every year at
Christmas, I bought sweatshirts, ironed on holiday designs and painted them in
with fabric paint. And on every special occasion, I kept a camera nearby so I
could capture the things I didn’t want to forget. As the kids got older, we had
accumulated boxes of photographs.
I attended a party where
someone was selling scrapbooking supplies. I didn’t spend much that day but I
came home with a plan. I would conquer those boxed photos and create beautiful
scrapbooks for my kids. I would document their every achievement in annals
worthy of whatever prize one gets for scrapbook artistry. Wait!
Why not get each of them a book of their own and we could do it together. Yes! It would be great fun. I bought
paper and pages and all manner of things.
After schlepping myriad
supplies from whatever closet I’d stored them in, setting each child up at the
dining room table with photos I’d picked out just for them, I waited for the
blissful wonderment to descend. I’d imagined us chatting and laughing about the
fond memories while we documented them.
Cut to reality:
I flitted from one child to
the next, helping them choose a theme, cutting the patterned paper they chose into
every shape imaginable. No one was happy with the results and at the end of the
session, I felt stressed and exhausted. Surely it would go better the next
time. Nope.
I’m not the kind of person
who volunteers for painful experiences I can get out of, so I kept taking
pictures but gave up on the dream. Maybe one day I would find time to do it
myself.
A few years ago, I came to
terms with the failure and got over it. I scanned all the photos. Then I stared
into the closet filled with paper and stamps. I couldn’t bring myself to throw it
all away and knew I’d get nothing if I tried to sell it. I still loved craft
projects. I realized nearly everything could be repurposed making greeting
cards.
I’m no pro, and I prefer
simple designs. Above are several cards I made a few weeks ago. I hope it
inspires you to take another look at what you have sitting around and seeing if
you can find another purpose for it, something that brings you some joy or
pleasure. Most of the time when I send people a handmade card, I get some sort
of thank you—a text, a Facebook message or phone call. They’re touched that I took the time to
create something for them.
If you want to try your hand
at greeting cards, here are a few things you’ll need to get started:
· Aileen’s
Original Tacky Glue—there are plenty of options, but this is my favorite.
· Pre-made cards
or cardstock you can trim to size. I buy these from craft stores when they’re
marked down. Current also sells colored envelopes that are great for birthday
cards.
· Stamps and stamp
pads. There are millions to choose from and they’re always on sale somewhere.
· A good paper
cutter with an arm that extends for measuring the paper. I have two—one of
which is always in stock at my local Tuesday Morning for $6.99. When the blade
gets dull, I just replace the whole cutter.
· Embellishments
of your choosing.
A Few Helpful Tips:
· I usually choose
a theme first and make a few cards that are similar to each other.
· Cut anything
that needs to be cut and lay out your design. Then reverse them and glue them
onto the card in the right order.
· Don’t worry if
it’s not perfect. People will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Feel free to reply with any
questions and I’ll respond as soon as I can. I have a greeting card board on Pinterest, too. I’d love to
connect with you!
Happy crafting!
A Man Around The House
A
mountain of problems and painful memories have Tara Jones in their grip. The
moment she graduates, she plans to escape her small town and make a fresh
start. On the way to her nursing final, Tara watches in horror as a car crashes
in front of her. The driver is the same man who bribed her for a haircut a few
days before. The one she can’t stop thinking about.
Bo
Michaels is not looking for female entanglements. He’s too busy chasing a real
estate deal he believes will catapult his career. After totaling his car, Bo
wakes up in the hospital with a metal contraption holding his leg together. No
walking, no weight bearing, no nothing—for six weeks. Estranged from his family
and having no close friends, Bo turns to Tara for help.
Tara
reluctantly agrees to care for Bo in her home. The money she’ll make might enable
her to pay off a debt to a frightening man who won’t leave her alone. Neither
the nurse nor her patient anticipates the lightning that strikes their hearts.
Just as a fragile bond develops between them, the town and shadows from the
past threaten to destroy it.
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