Interesting Stuff for Handmade Cards

Details of our Fire for those of you that have asked and Sincere RAK Thanks!

For those of my customers and friends that don't know, my family's life was changed forever on a clear Saturday afternoon in October when my 'granddog', Belle alerted me to a fire in our home.  I was finally able to find my husband Ken in the garage with headphones on and oblivious to my hysterical screaming for him, and we were just barely able to get out of the house... but our other 3 beloved poodles Nestle, Oreo and Pepper perished in the fire.  And while we grieve for our precious fur babies, we are blessed to both be alive (although nursing some pretty painful burns), and although 'houseless' and 'stuffless', we are not 'homeless' since our daughter Kristin is actually happy to have us as her new roommates.   Each new day is a gift when you look death in the face like that, and we are thankful like never before.

I have also been blessed to have received some of the most beautiful cards and thoughtful emails from caring stampers all around this country and even some from around the world.  Some stampers have sent unbelievably generous stamping 'care packages', since we all know that stamping/scrapping/crafting is such good therapy!  I can never repay all your kindnesses, and I am not sure I am worthy.  But I promise to 'pay it forward' in my life from now on.  We feel privileged to be a small part of this internet community of wonderfully caring crafters.  Thank you all for your cards, gifts and being such great examples of the good that still exists in folks.

I am still making this list of all the amazing gifts I have gotten.  Now I know the ladies that sent me these gifts did NOT do it to be publicly recognized, but I think they should be.  THANKS to you all!!!!

Partial Gift list - I am still working on listing them, you guys are amazing!

A box of fun stamping goodies from R. Perry including a ‘simple sayings’ stamp set, ink pads, alphabet stamps, ribbon, clear stamps, cool felt leaves I hadn’t seen before, and other cute leaf embellishments. Cute!

A box full of goodies from Peggy Sue… a pack of Always Artichoke Cardstock and a bunch of white as well… , a versamark, navy Su pad, 4 fabulous stamps sets, ribbons and a very appropriate ‘girl thing’ card about the therapy of stamping. So true!

Then there was a stuffed envelope from Kay Kalthoff with some great shadow stamps, ribbon, brads, Flower stamps and (amazingly!) a Happy Anniversary stamp! I couldn’t believe it! Today is my anniversary and one thing that had really bothered me was that I was unable to make Ken a special card this year. So I was able to make one after all… boy was he surprised!

A big box of 7 wonderful SU stamp sets from Carol Burrage (aka TruCarMa) plus a gorgeous card and a note that truly touched me. Such true words and hit right on what I have been feeling. Thanks so much for sharing your story with me.

And then a big box of SU ink pads from Joan Bardee, a silent setter (great for the brads from Kay!), punches, glitter glue, embellishments and stamps. Great colors for stamping now, I can’t wait to feel better and get really inky.

An envelope FULL from Paula Laird with stamps sets, cool embellishments and rub-ons, ribbons, decorative papers and scissors.

A ‘Happy Fall, Y’all!’ set from J. Grzelak in Ct. that gave me a chuckle… as a southern gal I will put this one to good use!

Then a HUGE box from Stampin’ Up arrived  from Denise Hinton. Full of Stazon inks, and In Color Stamp pads and cardstock and ribbons, plus those stamping staples you take for granted like a paper cutter, glue stick and dots, stamp scrub pad and cleaner and wonderful stamp sets too! Wow, I couldn’t believe it. So generous! You are an angel!

I got a box full of every kind of craft item in the world, painting, stamping, scrapbooking, general crafts... everything!  I think this must have been from a group of ladies, maybe a club or group of crafters.  My only clue is that they are from Wisconsin.  The gift was totally anonymous with a sweet card saying 'You have been RAK'ed, Pay it Forward!'.  WOW,

you guys are awesome.  I promise you, I will carry on your good work.!  thanks!

We got a great gift that my hubby Ken in particular liked a lot... a fun box filled with movie treats, popcorn in tubs, and a gift card from Blockbuster for movie rentals.  How great!  We will be watching movies and thinking of your generosity on Thanksgiving day.  Thanks Lauren V., you are a real sweetie!

A lady that happened to be at the vet the day we took the bodies of our babies to the vet for her to arrange the burial, sent us a sweet card and a thoughtful check, forwarded by our vet.  There have been SO many sweet notes and cards from fellow pet lovers.  We still smile and cry at the same time thinking of our innocent fur babies.  All the pet lovers that would also risk some measure of personal safety for their pets understand why we went back in as far as we could.  It helps to know others understand.

I got a very generous check from Liz Miller above the price of the 2 bowmakers she had ordered with instructions to use it to get the business going again.  Her note really meant a lot to me, and I am glad I can get the templates again to help good people like Liz.  Thanks!

Then a local family left something in our mailbox here at Kristin's townhome that blew us away.  She said in her note that she read about our tragedy on the website, so I hope she sees this.  To the Brinkman family, from the 3 of us in the Davis family, THANKS SO MUCH!  There was a beautiful card and a COSTCO gift card to our family for a large amount, you are too generous.  Wow!  I wish I had of been home when you came by to talk to you and give you a big hug in person!  You guys are great!
 

There are more gifts to list, I am trying to get the whole list together.  Sweet gifts of gift cards for Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Walmart , Costco, Sam's and even Outback, Olive Garden, AMC theaters and a local NC grocery store!   All of these stores and restaurants are nearby here in Charlotte, and our favorites (how did you guys know?)  If anyone out there ever doubts there are still good, kind and giving folks in this world, come see me... I know first hand they still exist.  We have been blessed with your gifts and friendship, and we feel honored and humbled.

 
And lots of the most beautiful stamped cards I have ever seen. I am almost speechless, and that is hard to do! There are lots of emails and sweet notes I haven’t gotten a chance to get to yet to return. But I will. And thanks for the prayers for us and our sweet fur babies. We feel them, believe me.

Tamra (and family)

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