How Do You Feel When...

I was talking with a crafting friend at school this past week about giving our cards away as gifts, and how people always say, "It's so nice. I don't want to use them." 


And this morning, as I was working on a Mother's Day gift for my kids' stepmom, I texted my ex-husband to ask if she uses the desk set I made for her for Christmas, and he mentioned that it's actually sitting inside the desk. Sniff... At least she's using the bookmarks I made. And before anyone says, "Oh, maybe it's because you're the ex-wife..." you should know that we're quite friendly. This is just one example of giving handmade cards/notebooks/stationery that people don't use.


On the other hand, I gave a set of customizable cards to a good guy friend, who is always giving cards to people, and he immediately started using them. He told me he's out of the "thank you" sentiments already. Well, he didn't use the word "sentiments," but he did say he was out of "thank yous." Lol.


I started wondering...

• Do they really mean that? Or do they think it's ugly and they don't want people to think that THEY made it?
• Don't they realize that the whole reason I gave it to them was for them to get some use out of it?

I understand crafty people not using it... That's kind of why I "generally" don't give my stuff away to people who do make cards or scrapbook... I know that they can make their own, and that's the fun.  I also understand NOT using the cards/notebooks you get from swaps. Those are for casing. 


As I was grumbling to the hubs about this, and asking him what he REALLY thinks the truth might be, he says, "Why don't you just give people sets instead of one-of-a-kind cards. That way, they can keep one if they really like it and use the rest." Um, yeah, duh! I've seen so many of you all do that. That's way smarter than what I'm doing now. 


I think I'm going to try that and see what happens.