the homefront blog

Cards for Heroes Night, Stamford, CT, 29 Feb 08

Maria Lovello of Stamford, Connecticut is one of our hometown heroes. She was inspired by a card workshop at her local stamp store (The Great American Stamp Store in Westport, CT) where she made Valentine’s day cards for U.S. troops. One of the store’s customers had started sending her handmade cards to military family members stationed abroad, and the store dove in to help—and Maria caught the passion, too!

“I was so inspired by this ‘small’ gesture,” said Maria, “and what a difference it could make in these soldier’s days!” She decided then and there to host a party and invite 10 friends, and would send the cards to Cards for Heroes afterward.

“The hardest part was designing the cards to make,” says Maria. She chose themed cards for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and then a general “celebrate” card. She played around with a few designs, sought out some ideas in the stamping galleries at Two Peas in a Bucket and SplitCoast Stampers, and incorporated different techniques into each card. “I also wanted to try and use some of my paperstock since, in a million years, I won’t be able to use all that I’ve purchased!”

Maria then made bagged kits for each person who would be there — with the papers and ribbons pre-cut, and instructions printed out (and of course with some extras for mistakes!). She bought supplies like glue sticks, glue dots, stamp pads and envelopes, and cut and scored the cardstock for the card base.

“I just love being able to do something which I consider ‘fun’ and have it have a wonderful impact on others,” says Maria. She was able to help her friends recognize how easy it is to support our troops with this gesture. “When you invited me to spend a few hours getting cozy with a glue stick,” said Julie from New Caanaan, CT, “making cards to show our support, the decision was an easy one. On top of that, the food, drink and spending time with a great bunch of people was a bonus … then there was the discovery of those amazing glue dots — who knew?!”

On the night of the event, Maria put out food and beverages, sample cards and the card kits that had been prepared for each participant. And then . . . with only 3 hours until the event, Maria’s heart opened even wider for our heroes: she decided to create one final card . . . Get Well Cards to send to Operation Quiet Comfort! Some quick design and cutting assured one more card design was ready.

Maria’s friends were excited that it was all organized and ready for the group to make the cards. “Maria’s designs were great and sometimes a little challenging for me,” said Julie, “but nonetheless that is what makes them so special and unique. I felt great when I left knowing I had created 10 greeting cards that a soldier could feel proud of sending home to a loved one.”

After enjoying an evening of crafting with friends, Chau from Bedford, NY, found herself wondering: “How come we don’t do this more often? Why doesn’t everyone do this? Even just one time, I ‘d say is an opportunity for even the busiest person to sit down and briefly sympathize for those who have no access to what we take for granted in our daily lives.”

Initially Maria invited her friends to make cards, and promised them one of each design to take home for themselves. “But all of my GREAT friends wanted to donate them all!” So, in the end, this merry band of cardmakers made nearly 100 cards through this event!

So, Maria, were you happy with how it all worked out? Was it worth it? “One million percent worth it!” As her friend Julie said afterwards: “We tend to take for granted all the conveniences we have, while our soldiers are away from the comforts of their home and loved ones, fighting for our country. It’s organizations like this that help someone like me give back. I want to spread the word to everyone about Cards for Heroes!”