23 Reasons to Draw a Blank - Occasions for Blank Cards

The craft of handmade greeting cards is an endangered art form, silently threatened by the booming card business and the domination of the giants like Hallmark and American Greeting. Many of us are grateful for the creative hands of our children with finger-painted- hand colored - glue caked glittery creations; for the diverse divisions of the large companies such as Mahogany; and for the much smaller niche cards, like the erotic card line, California Cosmo.

Recently, I created a new division of Dramatic Pause Publishing that competes with all the above pre-printed, mass produced greeting cards with its appeal to the consumer who is looking for something absolutely unique. Hand painted note cards. Sure, the mass produced greeting cards may be for the lazy, the excessively busy, or for those who habitually stumble over their words like clutter in their living room. Drapa Notes, as I have come to call them, are for the consumer with an eye for art, who actually have something personal to say.

Exploring the usefulness of this line got me to thinking though. Is a line like this even useful? On top of being more expensive than many of the pre-printed, mass produced cards, what exactly would they be used for? There has to be more use for a card than birthdays, anniversaries, getting well and missing someone. But what? I pondered over this idea for a week, and though hoping for one hundred, by the end of the week, I came up with 73 reasons and uses for hand painted note cards and blank cards throughout the year but out of respect for your time, I'll give you the top 23.

Birthday - of course this is an obvious one. I just mentioned it in the paragraph above. The difference though, between a mass produced birthday card and a hand painted one, is that with the hand painted one, you get a 2 for 1. Not only are you using it to send your personal message, but the receiver is also able to treat it as a framable piece of original art work.

Get Well Soon - This one is among the obvious as well, but with a huge personal spin. It means you thought about the receiver in more than just passing the card isle in the grocery store.

Miss you - In the land of the obvious once more with a deeper personal spin.

Sympathy - People shouldn't even get away with giving mass produced cards in the event of a sad tragedy. If there is ever a time to come up with words from the heart, this would be the time.

Mother's Day -The place to impress your mother with that great story about how she stormed up to the school and got you out of detention for being sassy with the teacher - even though you really were sassy with the teacher!

Father's Day - It is my experience that pre-printed Father's Day cards are not nearly as good as the Mother's Day cards. I'm not sure if that is a reflection of father's as a whole or not, but if you see it as an injustice to the great father's of the world, here is your chance to show your father, or father figure that that your words and card are far superior to anything he could ever receive from a Hallmark store.

Divorce - Whether you are asking for one, or consoling someone who is going through one, you won't find too many pre-prints on the shelf on this subject.

Graduation - Poll recent graduates, and see if it means more to them to see a personal note from you rather than a pre-printed blanket one. Most people probably use both, buying the pre-printed card and scribbling something personal too.

After a meeting - A great way to woo a potential client is to show them your appreciation of their time and consideration.

A promotion - Some people feel as though they celebrate by themselves because they can't share their success due to jealous people around them. A personal card is a great way to let someone know you're right there celebrating with them.

Retirement - A person works 20 years at a company just to get a pre-printed generic card? I hope not.

Wedding anniversary - No one can say "I love you" or "We showed them" like you can.

Valentine's Day - Yes, this is probably the holiday created and pushed by the greeting card industry, but since it's here, go ahead and make it personal.

Christmas - It may be a tall order if you plan on giving everyone in the office a card, but if you have a couple of close chums or family members, it will be the card that stands out for them the most.

New Years Day - What a way to start off the year!

Secretary's Day - For the underpaid and taken for granted.

A special teacher - All teachers are not created equal. Whether it's for your son or daughter's most impressive teacher, or your own patient instructor, they would love a little extra demonstration of gratitude to reciprocate their own extra effort.

Birth of a child - For many people this is the biggest, most memorable event they'll ever experience. It should be made extra special.

Engagement - To bring in all the parties and roller coaster of emotions.

Wedding Day - To close out all the parties and roller coaster of emotions.

Labor Day - As the U.S. Labor Department puts it, "is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers."

Memorial Day - And according to usmemorialday.org, "Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service".

After an interview - There's nothing to get you noticed faster than an exotic looking kiss-up card written in your own hand.

As I have said before, there are plenty of reasons to drop a personal line. Most of us don't think of the many opportunities to create happy moments for others as our focus has become laser sharp on ourselves, our friends or our family. Try something new. Give someone a card, just for the heck of it. Wait and see what happens.