OCT 31, 2019 – Wishing you an abundance of all that makes you happy today. Being a relatively small company, Cardthartic leaves making Halloween cards to the big guys. But, because this card would have made for a fun one, we’re using it to wish you a good one!
My mother was decidedly not into Halloween and, consequently, never let her kids go trick-or-treating. Nope, not once was I allowed to don a costume and hit the streets. Over the years, I tried cajoling, pleading, whining … all to no avail. “If you want candy, we’ll buy candy,” she’d say, “but no child of mine is going door-to-door saying, ‘Gimme candy!’” Ay yi yi. Year-after-year, same infuriating, thoroughly unAmerican answer, even when I tried, “What if I just collect for UNICEF?” Her eye-roll said it all. “We’ll stay in and read a good book,” was always Mom’s Halloween Plan B for me.
I was in my 20s when I spotted it in a great little shop in Chicago: The Perfect Card, because it had my mom written all over it. :) On the cover it read, “For your front door this Halloween.” Inside, it was designed as a ready-to-hang sign that said, “Welcome, Children. The next History of Halloween lecture begins in 15 minutes. Please be seated and wait quietly.” Hahahahaha. I had one of those moments that all true Cardies know well — when your irrepressible laughter rings out from the card section, making everyone else in the store crack a knowing smile.
I sent that card to my mother every other year for decades, and Mom sent it every other year to me. It was The Cardthartic Experience through-and-through, saying, “I see you, I get you, I forgive you, I love you,” all in its clever card way.
While her stance on Halloween still makes no sense to me, Mom did redeem herself by going on to become Cardthartic’s original Fairy Cardmother (another story for another day). ❤️ So, in her honor, let’s do something Halloweeny of which she would heartily approve. No need going door-to-door for this treat, Cardies! :) Just click on the link below to be whisked to Cardie Favorites. Stock up on yours before November 10th using promo code CardieInAction and you’ll receive 20% off your entire order — then we’ll match that amount with a donation to UNICEF in your name! Together, we’ll contribute to this great organization’s efforts to help kids around the globe survive and thrive.
Little did Mom (or I!) know 30 years ago that our shared love of cards would lead to this wonderful, active Cardie Community making the world a better place … one card at a time. As Mom would say: Enjoy today! And, hey, maybe take a minute to share a favorite card memory of your own below. Happy Halloween!
~ jodee stevens
founder & chief creative
Happy Halloween, Cardhartic! Such a grand time to fondly recall childhood memories. My favorite is when I dressed my little brother as a TV and made the whole costume. And, love the card exchange story with your mama!
One year when I was a ghost with a sheet over my head once again (“Can’t we please just buy a costume one year?”) I thought there was another step on our neighbor’s porch as I couldn’t see a thing and I stepped into a bucket of eggs. Next year I did have a costume from the store.
A friend sent me a card one year that you hang on your door. “Leave all your candy in the basket below, go quietly and no one will get hurt.” Of course, I never used it but laugh every year when I get my Halloween decorations out and see it.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween..and don’t eat too many goodies !!