Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Share Handmade Kindness with Strangers

Hi there!

I know it's been ages since my last post. Life is always so busy. Happy but busy.

I hope you're all doing well and gearing up to enjoy the holidays!

As you all know by now, Jennifer McGuire has been hosting a kindness campaign/challenge for a few weeks now. Well, this week is all about sharing that kindness with strangers. She has lots of different ideas on how to do this on her blog, so if you haven't checked it out, you should do so!

I've worked in customer service all my life and although it can be challenging to keep every customer happy, I have learned that extra kindness goes a long way. I find little ways to do this all the time. A couple of examples would be when I mention how pretty a lady's blouse is, or I tell a gentleman I like his tie. One of my favorite things to do is to blow up a balloon and give it to a child who's shopping in the store with their mom or dad. It's those small gestures or comments that can really help make someone's day brighter.

So I got thinking about Jennifer's kindness challenge  and it made me realize I can do even more. I mean, I create handmade cards almost every day, so why not share those with strangers too! I decided to make lots of cards, all with the same simple, easy design. Here's a few of them.



Many times, when the store gets busy, I head up to the front and help with checking out the customers, so I'm planning on sneaking the cards into customer's grocery bags! How fun is that?! I wrote a little note inside, telling the recipient that I hope the card puts a smile on their face.

I hope you can also think of a way to share handmade kindness with strangers this week. We all know our world could use lots more of it!

I'd also like to wish a very Happy Thanksgiving to my American crafty friends! Wishing you all a wonderful day, filled with love, laughter and lots of yummy food! We'll be heading to my brother's cabin, about an hour north of here. Should be a beautiful, cozy day by the lake and I'm really looking forward to it! :)

Thanks for stopping by! ♥
 

97 comments:

Leslie Hanna said...

What a cool idea -- putting the cards into the bags. That will be such a nice surprise!

Barb said...

Found your blog - so glad, too. This is a wonderful idea, Barb. I can just picture those customers unloading their bags and being all smiles in finding your sweet card! xox, Barb (2bdesigned)

Martha said...

Barb, what a special treat that will be for the recipients of your darling cards. They will definitely put smiles on their faces.
Fun post!

Lin said...

This is a fantastic idea, Barb! I'd love to see the smiles that these cards will generate, all the more special because they're "just because"! Your Thanksgiving at a cabin sounds delightful! Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!

Betty said...

it's good to see a post from you Barb - and love all you kindness ideas.

Cindy C. said...

What a sweet surprise it would be Barb?! You're so kind!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!!

Dawn T said...

what a simply delightful idea Barb. You are so kind

Lynn said...

Love, love, love Barb. You are a gem!

Ms Scrapmess said...

What a nice surprise it would be :) I know I would love to recieve one of your beautiful cards :D

Leanne in Cali said...

Fun idea and I bet the customers will love it! Thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful day!!

Deirdre said...

ADORE what you created Barb - your customers will adore them too. What a fab idea. Hugs, hope you are having a wonderful day.

Robin Cooper said...

Great idea! You're very generous! Enjoy!!

Amy said...

love the idea of cheering up someone randomly!

Tamara said...

I'm working in a shop and this was my first idea when I saw Jennifers post. to put some notes in bags :)

Satori said...

Great random act of kindness! Love the beauty and simplicity of your card!

KT Fit Kitty said...

This is such a lovely idea! Imagine their surprise when they unpack their shopping bag! Thank you for the inspiration! Your cards are beautiful and will surely spread some kindness!

cm said...

Your sweet, heart-warming act of kindness is guaranteed to put a smile on the customers' faces...something totally unexpected, out-of-the-ordinary, and abundantly touching! You've certainly brought a mega-watt smile to my face!
~carol

Amy A said...

Awww I love this idea! I know I would love to receive this special treat in my shopping bag. Going to borrow this idea with my Graduate Students. :o)

Pat said...

Great idea and how special of you to share.

Bunny said...

Oh my gosh. It would be awesome to receive something like this in a bag. What a great idea. Thanks for pitching in to help Jennifer, also.

Dawn's Greeting Cards said...

What a nice surprise for people to be putting away their groceries and see your cards. (I especially like the sentiment on the envelopes!)

Unknown said...

Wonderful idea!! Thanks for sharing!! -Cortni Hoover

Beach Girl 115 said...

What a lovely thought! I wish I shopped at your store!

Unknown said...

what a nice surprise. you know they smiled.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Mary Holshouser said...

Getting a card in my grocery bag would be so nice.
Sometimes everybody seems so surly. You would know
that your business is appreciated.
thanks for sharing.
Happy thanksgiving.

My Paper Epiphany said...

How wonderful! I bet they will smile too!

Unknown said...

Love this idea! Everyone loves surprises!

Michelle N. said...

I love random acts of kindness-especially when you see someone struggling with money, or kids, or work. What a kind heart you have.

judy said...

Lovely CAS design and idea for some random acts of kindness--thanks for sharing!

SSanchez said...

I would love to get a surprise card! Great idea!

Cheryl said...

Customer service is a challenge - - keeping it cheerful an even bigger challenge! Well done!!

Kristine said...

I love this idea. How fun!

cghundley said...

So thoughtful and
a great idea! Happy
Thanksgiving to you .
Carla from Utah

Anonymous said...

Your recipients will be so pleasantly surprised when they open their shopping bags. Your cards are beautiful.

Julia said...

That is indeed a very fun idea!

Tona said...

These cards are fabulous & I love your idea for spreading some kindness.

Patt H. said...

Love this idea! You are so right in thinking a kind word at the checkout stand is appreciated. Especially if you are standing in line a long time.(grin). I try to leave a kind word for the checker most of the time also. They deserve it!!

Sunshine HoneyBee said...

Would make someone smile finding this in the bag.
Melissa
"Sunshine HoneyBee"

Sarah said...

such a nice simple touch to bring a smile to someone's day. Like the card and the color (one of my favorites).

Liz O. said...

Fabulous CAS design! Love the snyiment on the envelope flaps too! tHanks for sharing Barb!
Have a wonderful day!

Mopheaded1 said...

Love your act of kindness! Your card is so beautiful yet simple. I can do this card! I'm sure the customers who received your card had a better day

StampinLouie said...

Barb I love your idea! Thanks for sharing!

Denise Bryant said...

What a treat when they unpack their bags! Sure to bring a smile! Love your pretty cards!

Marcia said...

I would love to receive a card like that!! Awesome surprise! Your cards are wonderfully simple and just downright gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

It feels so good to make people feel good! Thanks for the idea, I work in a library and I'll have to find a way to slip a card into the patrons books :)

Linda T said...

What a wonderful idea Barb. How so nice of you to do this.I know this would bring many smiles. Thank you

Rebecca Ednie said...

Lovely ideas. Thank you

Jerzey Girl said...

This is a great idea to do for your workers as well. Love this idea. Thanks for sharing

JudyK said...

What a thoughtful and sweet card, I am sure smiles will be happening from this gesture.

Teresa Doyle said...

I love this idea, it doesn't take much kindness (even from a stranger) to make ones day. THIS will be a lovely surprise for them!

Linda S. said...

You have found a very clever idea to spread your kindness around where you work. I'm sure the customers are gob-smacked when they discover the cards in their bag. Good on you.

TracyM #6773 said...

Your cards are SO ELEGANT and THOUGHTFUL Barb!!!
THANK YOU for sharing these WONDERFUL ways to #sharehandmadekindness :)
I LOVE (and LIVE) your compliment kindness - it feels AWESOME doesn't it? I look forward to making some cards with a cheery message, maybe even a gift card, to spread some kindness too!!!
PS - please don't include me in the prize draw, I just wanted to say THANK YOU :)

Lynn Fletcher said...

Love your idea of slipping a card in someone's bag from the store and brighten their day. :)

Stefanie Staniak said...

Wow! A lady who really understands customer service. When I worked retail I did many of the same things you do, because we all know there is nothing better than a happy customer. I think leaving notes in their bags is a wonderful idea. TFS.

Unknown said...

what a wonderful idea Barb! I wish I can be one of your customers!

Gwen said...

Cute card and a fun idea! Happy Thanksgiving from southwest Minnesota!

terriavidreader (IN-USA) said...

I love sharing kindness and I love that all those bloggers out there have come up with some fantastic ways I would never have thought of doing!

Unknown said...

I am sure many people were surprised; thank you for your kindness.

Nandini said...

I would love to be one of the recipients! Lovely cards! I am sure the lucky customers will really appreciate them!

Unknown said...

Great cards and what a great idea. Happy thanksgiving to you and yours.

MelissaF said...

Such a wonderful idea, how fun to find a card In your grocery bag! Love your simple and elegant card, easy to mass produce, great idea!

Carol said...

I really love this idea, Barb. I know that I would be delighted to find one of your cards tucked into my shopping bag. I'm sure the special message from you will put a smile on the face of the recipient and hopefully encourage them to share a random act of kindness in return.

Mary-Anne V said...

Doing little things like that is so special...love the idea of slipping cards into customers bags.

Tania said...

Love it.

Arianna Barbara said...

I think it would be awesome to receive something like this. What a great idea! And thank you for this amazing giveaway!

NurseGreene said...

Love the card and envelope sentiment. Your act of kindness is heart warming!

Danielle Dietz said...

I love your idea. I think I would probably squeal if I found one in my shopping bag!

Message Keeper said...

Great idea, Barb! I hope there will be more customer service representatives like yourself!

Deeps said...

Nice way to sneak in those cards. Love it.

D.Ann C said...

Sweet! Thanks for reminding me that a simple embossed line can make a CAS card look elegant!

Carol D said...

What a great way to spread kindness!! Consider this comment a little surprise note in your shopping bag!

FeM said...

What a great idea. I would 😀 and feel good if I found a card in my shopping bag as I'm sure those customers did.

Ma. Cristina Merino Frias said...

What a lovely idea, great one!!

Theresa said...

What a great idea!! I LOVE it!!! And after shopping and putting your groceries away, who couldn't use a happy note to cheer them?????

Unknown said...

What a great thing to do. You never know when you meet someone what might be going on in their life. Receiving a little surprise card will certainly brighten their day. Special idea from a special lady.

Scrapthat said...

that is very sweet of you Barb and it will be a lovely surprise for the recipient for sure!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you!! :D

Teodora said...

That is a great idea!

Paulette S said...

This is a great idea, Barb! We can all use an extra smile. Thanks for this simple inspiration.
Paulette S.
craftqueen417 at yahoo
http://paulettesprettypapercrafts dot wordpress dot com

Unknown said...

What a wonderful way to brighten someone's day. You know, working in retail, how exhausting shopping can be . What a nice surprise one of your cards would be!

Super Stick Chick said...

Great cards Barb. Hope you had fun with your brother and family. I've been spreading the kindness this week too. See you over at SSS flickr.

Sue D said...

Lovely design to hand out.

Peggy said...

Love your idea for sharing kindness!

Unknown said...

What a great idea! I wish I still worked as a cashier so I could slip some cards in the customers bags. But I'm sure I can always just distribute them another way.

Greta said...

What a great idea, Barb! You surely made a lot of people smile when they found the cards in their bags! Hope you had a lovely holiday by the lake!

Unknown said...

Love Love Love this card and the idea. It would make me smile to find one of those in my bag! Great idea.

Lagene said...

Awesome way to cheer up a stranger's day!

Unknown said...

Such a great idea, Barb! What an impact these surprise cards will have. You just never know what people are going through and your thoughtfulness can be such a bright light! You have a heart of gold, Barb, my dear♥

Barb Ghig said...

I check your blog all the time, so I'm really upset that I'm so late seeing this post!!!

What a wonderful idea, Barb! Your customers are going to flip when they see this card in their shopping bag...and they will be so impressed with your beautiful CAS design! Thanks so much for sharing this idea with us...You're the BEST!!! And, thank you for inspiring us with your beautiful designs all year long...I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday with your family ~ (((HUGS)))!!!

Kathy Mc said...

Barb, your cards are awesome and no doubt brought joy to those random recipients. What a wonderful act of kindness!

Unknown said...

Cute idea! Would be great to use those removable sticky note pages so the recipient can pass the card along sharing even more kindness! Thanks for sharing!

Virginia L. said...

You are setting a beautiful example with your kindness, Barb! Happy to see your wonderful post! My belated Happy Thanksgiving to you and family! Hugs!

ivy said...

HI barb! You're awesome to surprise your unsuspecting customers!

Lisa T said...

How lovely to receive that in with your shopping. Great idea Barb and I am sure was very well received :)

Cheryl H said...

How fun! I used to work at the grocery store too, and it amazes me how much just giving a little bit of kindness helps make your day so much brighter :D

Judy Kay said...

Wonderful! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Judy

wendy said...

What a perfectly lovely idea! And the card is beautiful!

Teresa Kline said...

these are soooo pretty!

sparkle & shine, kindness *~*