It was way back in 2013 that this wise and caring woman first introduced herself to our Cardie Community. “I love sending cards,” she said, “because I love knowing that receiving a card at precisely the right time can change the trajectory of someone’s day. Plus, in the digital age, the act of putting pen to paper is somehow more personal and meaningful than ever before.
“I first picked up a Cardthartic card on Martha’s Vineyard,” she remembered. “I loved the cards and visited the website to learn more about them. And I was hooked. I have two favorite designs: I love Passages’ ‘Country Church’ because of its simple, heartfelt message. Sometimes sympathy cards are so overwrought with sentiment, so I appreciate the simplicity of the visual and the message.
“My other favorite is the Meanings of Life ‘Cardinal.’ Before my dad passed away, I had never heard the story of how cardinals represent our loved ones who have passed. The winter after my dad died, my backyard feeders were polluted with cardinals — and my sister told me the story. Ever since then, when someone loses a loved one, I send the Cardinal card about three months later as part of what I call ‘aftercare.’ After the funeral has long since passed, the phone calls are fewer and farther between, and there hasn’t been a sign of a floral arrangement or casserole in weeks — but the burden of grief is still so heavy that you can physically feel it — that’s when I send the cardinal card.”
Amy’s story and powerful sense of caring inspired us to create a second Meanings of Life cardinal design in 2020. Like Amy herself, the card is very uplifting. When our founder Jodee was mourning the loss of a dog she held dear, she felt so supported by a note Amy penned that we asked if we could publish it. Amy had written, “Our hearts are with your heart. Our sadness is our sadness.”
“What an honor!” she said when we asked her permission to publish. “Of course, I’m thrilled that you would turn my sentiment into a card. Honestly, those are words that I use most to close sympathy cards, simply because — in most cases — there are no better words. As a dedication, I’d like to say, ‘For those facing the loneliness of grief, please know you’re never alone.’”
All through the years, Amy has made sure Cardthartic’s team has felt supported. When Hurricane Irma threatened in 2017, she emailed, “Just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking of you and hoping that you’re making your way to a safe place. No need to respond — just wanted to send some good vibes your way. Love to you. Amy”
At the height of the pandemic, she placed an online order and, at checkout, in the message field wrote, “As always, thank you for providing a means for us Cardies to put positivity and caring into our fragile world. I firmly believe that times like these — while bringing out some of the worst in humanity — bring out the best in it as well. People reaching out and showing they care during the need for social distancing … while you couldn’t have envisioned a circumstance like this, I have to believe that Cardthartic was built for this moment! Thank you for keeping the cards coming. If you keep making them, I’ll keep sending them! And a special thank you to the team working to fulfill and ship our orders out! xoxo, Amy” How kind and thoughtful was that?!?
In 2023, she sent another lovely message to founder Jodee. “On your birthday and every day, thank you for putting so much love into the world.” That card was a keeper for Jodee, and its message one that we thought Cardies everywhere would love. When we let Amy know we’d found a great image to go with another of her messages, she said, “Oh my goodness, what a nice surprise! I’m truly honored and touched. As far as a dedication, let’s honor my mom, the first ‘Cardie’ in my life.”
Amy perfectly summed herself up when she said, “I’ve heard more than once that I have a knack for sending the right card at the right time, for knowing exactly what someone needs to hear exactly when he or she needs to hear it. If that’s the best thing someone can say about me, I’ll take it. That’s pretty awesome!”
Designs with Messages by Amy
Inspired by Amy
Amy’s Favorites
It was way back in 2013 that this wise and caring woman first introduced herself to our Cardie Community. “I love sending cards,” she said, “because I love knowing that receiving a card at precisely the right time can change the trajectory of someone’s day. Plus, in the digital age, the act of putting pen to paper is somehow more personal and meaningful than ever before.
“I first picked up a Cardthartic card on Martha’s Vineyard,” she remembered. “I loved the cards and visited the website to learn more about them. And I was hooked. I have two favorite designs: I love Passages’ ‘Country Church’ because of its simple, heartfelt message. Sometimes sympathy cards are so overwrought with sentiment, so I appreciate the simplicity of the visual and the message.
“My other favorite is the Meanings of Life ‘Cardinal.’ Before my dad passed away, I had never heard the story of how cardinals represent our loved ones who have passed. The winter after my dad died, my backyard feeders were polluted with cardinals — and my sister told me the story. Ever since then, when someone loses a loved one, I send the Cardinal card about three months later as part of what I call ‘aftercare.’ After the funeral has long since passed, the phone calls are fewer and farther between, and there hasn’t been a sign of a floral arrangement or casserole in weeks — but the burden of grief is still so heavy that you can physically feel it — that’s when I send the cardinal card.”
Amy’s story and powerful sense of caring inspired us to create a second Meanings of Life cardinal design in 2020. Like Amy herself, the card is very uplifting. When our founder Jodee was mourning the loss of a dog she held dear, she felt so supported by a note Amy penned that we asked if we could publish it. Amy had written, “Our hearts are with your heart. Our sadness is our sadness.”
“What an honor!” she said when we asked her permission to publish. “Of course, I’m thrilled that you would turn my sentiment into a card. Honestly, those are words that I use most to close sympathy cards, simply because — in most cases — there are no better words. As a dedication, I’d like to say, ‘For those facing the loneliness of grief, please know you’re never alone.’”
All through the years, Amy has made sure Cardthartic’s team has felt supported. When Hurricane Irma threatened in 2017, she emailed, “Just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking of you and hoping that you’re making your way to a safe place. No need to respond — just wanted to send some good vibes your way. Love to you. Amy”
At the height of the pandemic, she placed an online order and, at checkout, in the message field wrote, “As always, thank you for providing a means for us Cardies to put positivity and caring into our fragile world. I firmly believe that times like these — while bringing out some of the worst in humanity — bring out the best in it as well. People reaching out and showing they care during the need for social distancing … while you couldn’t have envisioned a circumstance like this, I have to believe that Cardthartic was built for this moment! Thank you for keeping the cards coming. If you keep making them, I’ll keep sending them! And a special thank you to the team working to fulfill and ship our orders out! xoxo, Amy” How kind and thoughtful was that?!?
In 2023, she sent another lovely message to founder Jodee. “On your birthday and every day, thank you for putting so much love into the world.” That card was a keeper for Jodee, and its message one that we thought Cardies everywhere would love. When we let Amy know we’d found a great image to go with another of her messages, she said, “Oh my goodness, what a nice surprise! I’m truly honored and touched. As far as a dedication, let’s honor my mom, the first ‘Cardie’ in my life.”
Amy perfectly summed herself up when she said, “I’ve heard more than once that I have a knack for sending the right card at the right time, for knowing exactly what someone needs to hear exactly when he or she needs to hear it. If that’s the best thing someone can say about me, I’ll take it. That’s pretty awesome!”
Designs with Messages by Amy
Inspired by Amy
Amy’s Favorites
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