A Shortcut when Sending Cards

 

A Quick note for any cardists getting ready to ship cards to T4T Headquarters!

If your shipment of cards include envelopes, we’d like to let you know that you can keep the cards separate from the envelopes.  There is no need to pair them together.  It saves you time and in the long run it saves us time.  

One of the final steps before we pack cards to ship overseas is to stamp the back of each card with T4T info.  We stamp the back, then pair the card with an envelope.  It makes the packing process a bit faster for us.  

Thanks so much for all of your help.  Our service members’ families really appreciate the small gesture of a card and our troops have said they are so impressed with each handmade “piece of art”.

Lynn

 

 

 

Jan 2012

What’s New?

This section of the website is new in 2012 and replaces the Cardist newsletter. Our goal is to provide newsy items for our cardmakers and supporters each month. What’s New will include such things as comments from the director, important dates, special recognition, and general information of interest or importance. Please note that Cardmaking Guidelines are still available as a link on the website in case you need to review them. So, here we go!

Many of you are wondering if Totally for Troops is still around and the answer is absolutely YES. All of the volunteers took a much-needed break in late November and December. Although we are not supporting any units in Iraq, we continue to receive requests from units in Afghanistan and Kuwait.

It was quite a holiday push. Beginning in June, boxes of gorgeous cards began arriving and the T4T volunteers busily labeled, bundled, and prepared cards for mailing. All the T4T cardmakers outdid themselves last year having created some of the most beautiful cards ever! Then, in November, we received a request from a US Army unit (over 3,800 Soldiers) preparing to deploy to Afghanistan in early December. This was a huge order to fill last minute. Totally for Troops volunteers were asked to deliver (rather than mail) boxes of Christmas/holiday cards before the deployment so that cards could be made available to Soldiers as soon as they arrive at their destinations. We’re happy to report that on November 16^th, we delivered 5,185 cards. Our recipients were shocked when they saw so our delivery. T4T is committed to providing all occasion cards to these Soldiers throughout the coming year, and we have a healthy inventory at this time; however, as our current supply is depleted, we will issue a call for cards, probably in the May/June timeframe. Also, we mailed 3,900 Christmas cards to units which we already support. We’re proud to announce that T4T has just nudged over 100,000 cards sent (Since March, 2007). BRAVO!!!!

The cards we received this year were simply beautiful. Themes were so creative, thoughtful, and unique. However, in some cases, workmanship became an issue. It seemed as though quality was shorted for quantity. It is absolutely imperative that we all take our time, paying attention to the little things, the details of cardmaking–clean cuts, neat folds, careful stamping (no smudging), NO METAL ADDITIONS such as brads/eyelets, and NO PLASTIC JEWELS OR PEARLS, PLEASE. Far too many cards were sent to “card triage”. Some never came out. Many cards made from dark cardstock lacked white plain-paper inserts. Those made of dark blue, red, black, purple, and green were rubber stamped on the backs with personal stamps in WHITE. That should have been a clue that an insert was needed for the inside of the card. Several features observed by our quality assurance volunteers also bear re-emphasizing. Please refrain from hand-writing sentiments on or in the cards. Instead, use stamping techniques or rub-ons. Many cards were only pieces of white cardstock folded and covered with the front of a store-bought card. T4T wishes to avoid any copyright issues which can be a problem when using store-bought cards. Cutting out parts of cards and reusing those parts as embellishments is fine and frugal. Please take your time and consider your techniques. Simplicity is always a safe bet.

A VERY Special “Thank you” to: Linda G. (AZ); Marge G. (CO); Patti P.,Marci W., Lora G., Linda V., (IN); Donna E., Toni C., Beth C., and Kathie J. (GA); Judy B., Vicki H. (FL); Mary McG. (IA);Gayle S. and “Sisters” (MI); JoAnn C. , Gloria F. JoAnn S., and Jane L. (PA); Kim K., Cindy S. (VA); Millie K.(NV); Mary D. (IL); the Court Stampers, Gail W. (OH); Barbara N. , Jamie L., (WI); Denise L. (WVA); Margie C. (KY); Jan N., Ela C. (CA); Laura D., Marta S. and Betty R. (NJ); Barb D., Paula S., Ashey W., Candy C., SJB Card Ministry., Hearts and Hands Ministry., Denise L. and the Shoreline Gals, Laura R., Carla N., Pam G., Toni McK., Donna G., Jessica D., Suzanne R., (WA),Lory R (PR).

Please notify us if you made cards or somehow contributed to T4T but were not included because we want to make sure we recognize you!