Mother's Day

Hard to believe but Mother's Day is right around the corner.  Two years ago, I celebrated my first Mother's Day as a new mother and I have to say it was one of the most emotional days I ever had.  It ranked right up there with the passing of my grandmother and the day I got married.  One of the things that made it so emotional was the cards that I received.

Until that day, I was always the sender and giver of the cards.  I bought cards for my mother, grandmothers, sister-in-law, aunts and mother-in-law.  I would spend hours poring over the cards in the local drug and card stores trying to find the perfect one and raying I hadn't given it to someone the year before.  This, by the way, has happened.  Eventually I would find the right ones and I would be set for another Mother's Day.

However, that year, I was not up for doing the card shopping and left it to my husband.  I must say, he is a wonderful card shopper in his own right.  I'm never disappointed with his choices and sometimes, I even think they top mine.  But that year he out did himself.  I must have had ten cards to open on Mother's Day that year - each one better than the next. 

So why am I sharing this with you?  Well, the answer is simple - I love getting cards full of thought, love and meaning.  And I know I'm not alone. 

There is something about opening up the envelope, seeing the beautiful, colorful, sentimental and sometimes funny choices people make when deciding what card to give their loved one.  It shows that someone took the time out of their busy day to stop for a few minutes (or maybe hours depending on how you shop) to think about you, remember what you've done for them in the last year and find the right words to express themselves. 



Hallmark Card



Yes, I've gotten my fair share of email cards - and I do like looking at them.  I've gotten some pretty funny ones, some elegant ones and some down-right "what were they thinking" ones.  But at the end of the day, I still love my paper cards.

True to my paper passion, I keep a drawer full of all the cards I've received over the years.  Yes, I've thinned out the pile, but I've kept most of the ones from my husband, parents, in-laws, and now my daughter.  They are thoughts and sentiments that I can go to when I'm having the worst of days.  They are a constant reminder that there are people out there who love me and think about me. 

This year, I'm back in charge of getting the Mother's Day cards for our mom's and grandmothers.  My husband is in charge of getting mine - hard to by cards for myself, but I must confess, I do look.  I haven't really started shopping for them this year, but here are a few places to look if you're an online shopper.

Tiny Prints: 

Tiny Prints has you covered this year for Mothers’ Day with their Tiny Prints Greeting Card Collection, which lets you create individual personalized cards with photos starting at $1.99. They have cards for everyone in your life from your mom, to your grandmother, sister, daughter or anyone else important to you.  In a matter of seconds, you can create personalized Mother’s Day Cards and have Tiny Prints mail them directly to you or the recipient.  No more scouring the racks at your local convenience store for a lame last minute card, Tiny Prints has removed the hassle and added the fun back into Mother’s Day shopping with a personal touch.

Hallmark:

Don't have time to get to the store, check out Hallmark.  http://www.hallmark.com/product/photo-cards/mothers-day.  They have a great selection of cards and right now they are running a Get Free Stamps on Card's promotion, with cards they address for you.  Use promo code FREESTAMPS at checkout.  Offer expires 6/19/11. (see the fine print for more details).

For those of you who are DIYers here are a couple places to go for some great make your own Mother's Day Cards.

Disney Family Fun:

Great ideas on how to craft a homemade card for mom. Be sure to also check out our lovely collection of Mother's Day crafts that can be made and given as gifts.  http://familyfun.go.com/mothers-day/mothers-day-cards-gifts/mothers-day-cards/

I actually saw this one in their magazine. It looks like it will take a little time, but I know that special mom in your life is worth it.  Click here for the directions on how to make the Flower Pot card.

Martha Stewart

Known for her do-it-yourself crafts and projects, she's got some amazing Mother's Day Craft and Card Ideas.  Click here to see what her website has to offer.

Now a final thought.  Just remember, no matter what you decide to do for this Mother's Day, whatever you do will be appreciated - even if it's just a card.