By Su Hayes, SC
That's my motto. I do a lot of card-making, collage art, journaling, and writing to pals. Like most everyone else, money is tight. I know I can't do anything about the cost of postage stamps, but I can look for other ways to save and still enjoy my hobbies.
Craft stores are wonderful for inspiration and of course supplies, but there are other places where, with a little bit of imagination, interesting items may be found.
Office supply stores have markers, glue, scissors, paper, tags, stickers and envelopes. Watch for back-to-school sales – I've purchased 4 ounce bottles of Elmer's Glue and 10-packs of Crayola markers for 25 cents each! Most of my pen pals, bless their hearts, don't care what kind of paper a letter is written on; all they want is mail in their mailbox, so I don't buy expensive stationery.
Again, another 25 cent item during back-to-school sales: packs of 150 sheets of notebook paper. Decorate it with stickers, doodle in the margins, add pictures cut from magazines, and you have personalized decorated stationery!
Sometimes I get really creative and try to match the paper to the pal I'm writing to: rose stickers for the gardener, cats for a feline fanatic, and sea shells for the beach-goer.
Card-making is another way to save money and also make cards more personal. Again, look for packs of cardstock and envelopes on sale. Better yet, make your own envelopes from old magazine pages, old calendar pages, and even plain paper.
I recycle greeting cards I receive by cutting pictures off the front and using them on “new” cards. A card front that is 4” by 6” can also be used as a postcard.
Gift tags can be made from greeting cards. Use cookie cutters to trace shapes, cut out punch a hole in the top, and tie on the ribbon or yarn. I also have many tag patterns.
One other creative use of a card front is a crocheted tag/ornament for Christmas. Simply cut out a round or oval picture from a card, punch holes around the edge, and do 3 double crochets on each hole. Put 2-3 chain stitches in between each set of 3. Then finish with a chain stitch loop for hanging.
I've got a clever pattern for an envelope made from one sheet of 8.5 x 11” paper. This can be made of plain or patterned paper. It can also be sued as a combination fold-over note/envelope all in one. Write for a sample (please send SASE).
Want to make a unique card or note? Make a card by folding cardstock to a preferred size. Then cut out letters from magazines, newspapers, etc and glue on – ransom note style!
I have a very nice lady as my mail carrier and she is always commenting on my colorful and interesting out-going mail. She also refers to me as “Job Security”!
