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Jon Kocan - Stillwater NewsPress
Jon Kocan - Stillwater NewsPress

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May 22, 2007

Jon Kocan - NewsPress The Stillwater News Press Tue May 22, 2007, 09:42 AM CDT

Hobbies always start from personal interest. Some are large and time consuming and some are there to alleviate the daily routine.

For Gretchen Cathy, hobbies were a way to keep memories of her children. The hobby of choice was scrapbooking. But lately, another related hobby has been keeping her busy.

Cathy said she had been interested in scrapbooking for a while and last fall she began to put together scrapbooks of her childrens’ photographs and memories.

But scrapbooking didn’t last long. All it took to sideline Cathy was call from a friend and an invitation to learn card making. After a night of crafts, she was hooked and decided hand made Christmas cards would be her focus during the holiday season.

Little did she know what the Christmas cards would get her into. She made 60 of them and they were sent to friends and family. As soon as they were received, people called to compliment the cards and inquiries about having cards made came as well.

Cathy described herself as a person that cannot say no. Just as she could not say no to sharing her story, she could also not refuse requests from friends and family for homemade greeting cards.

The new hobby provided additional benefits as well. Cathy began devoting one night a week to card making with her best friend, Cate Harrison. The two began with baby shower invitations. The hardest card to make was picked and the two spent a week and a half getting them prepared.

The two also decided they needed to let folks know who the cards were made by, so they has a stamp made that said Pink Inc.

Next thing they knew, friends were calling from all over to have cards made. Most of the time it is the husband that is out late, but in this case Cathy and Harrison began working after their kids went to bed.

Card making went from one night a week to seven and word of mouth has kept the two busy. Cards were requested for baby showers, wedding showers and countless birthday parties.

“Our husbands think we’re crazy,” Cathy said.

Along with frequent trips to Hobby Lobby, the two also started a wall of shame to display the card designs that didn’t make the grade. She admitted some of designs were requested regardless of their home on the wall of shame.

“If it didn’t take so long to do, we could do it full time,” Cathy said.

She said a simple card takes ten to 30 minutes to make.

She also said she is not looking to make card making a full time gig. It would change if it were a job or a chore and Cathy said for now she will keep things the way they are; having fun, laughing and carrying on while enjoying time with her friend and hobby. She said it important that cards are personal and handmade.

As far as the scrapbooking goes Cathy said, “I have not done one page since I started making cards.” She said one day she will get back to it.

You never know who will be on the other end of the line when the phone rings. Everybody has a story and next week it could be you.

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