November 1, 2022 — How’s this for a winning card?! (hehe) Last week it was fun to hear from Contributing Cardie Nancy McGinn that she’d ordered it to give her granddaughter Brooke’s cross country coach. Valiant Coach Amy McKinty had led the Brimfield Middle School team of 6th-8th grade girls to back-to-back Illinois State Championships.
“As proud as I am of Brooke and her teammates,” Nancy said, “that’s how much we appreciate the coach who fuels this girl-power. She motivates these kids to be out there running at 6:45 each morning Monday through Thursday, rain or shine. That takes real dedication from a coach and her team!”
You’ll see Brooke on top row, left, with her grandma’s same great smile. Nancy said that Brooke and her running mates all love Coach McKinty because “she makes them work hard, which drives them to win State. That’s not easy to do once, much less two years in a row!”
It was Coach Tracy Batchelor who led our Creative team to a winning strategy for this design. By day, Tracy is card buyer for Hollin Hall Variety Store in Alexandria, VA. Always one to go above and beyond, back in June Tracy emailed us, “Would you consider creating a thank you card for coaches? Our customers are always seeking such at each season’s end and we’d like to offer better designs than we now have. Thx!”
When we let Tracy know we’d be game but would need, um, coaching, she jumped right in! “You all have such a wonderful way with words that I feel like this will come very easily to you,” she began with a pep-talk. It was Tracy who proposed we feature the whistle and cap in “energizing green.” And when we asked what she thought of adding the trophy, she affirmed. “I’m so thrilled that you’re taking the ball and running with it. You can do this … I know you can!!” It was fun teaming with her.
Seeing the final card layout for approval, Coach Tracy proclaimed, “I LOVE IT!!! It’s AWESOME! I think I might even cry … this has been a little like giving birth ;)”
Haha, when we asked her to please send a pic for this story, the true team player asked if she could include Susan Colvert, “my friend who introduced me to Cardthartic – and the impetus for Variety Store to start carrying your cards a few years back. We can’t wait to see this design printed. SOOOO excited!!”
Minutes after a few dozen of the published card reached Coach Tracy, we heard from her. “It’s so cool to see it in person. I sent Susan a text right away saying the card was ready to go, so I hope to surprise her before she heads out of town on grandma duties. My grateful heart is full! Please let the whole team know that I’m equally grateful for all of them ;)”
Last we checked a few weeks ago, Coach Tracy said the card is “Doing quite well! The woman who creates our neighborhood newsletter plans to highlight the card and its story, with mentions of its community ties (since we chose the old high school and current youth league’s color, etc.). She was so excited about it. The store’s co-owner Deb was very happy and touched that the store is highlighted for all to see on the card back!
“Thanks so much for your support through the process,” Tracy said yet again. “I’ve been talking up the wonders of Cardthartic to many people lately 🤩.” And halfway across the country, Brooke’s Coach McKinty and Grandma Nancy must surely be doing the same about Brimfield’s best. Yay for coaches and all the good they do!
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
November 1, 2022 — How’s this for a winning card?! (hehe) Last week it was fun to hear from Contributing Cardie Nancy McGinn that she’d ordered it to give her granddaughter Brooke’s cross country coach. Valiant Coach Amy McKinty had led the Brimfield Middle School team of 6th-8th grade girls to back-to-back Illinois State Championships.
“As proud as I am of Brooke and her teammates,” Nancy said, “that’s how much we appreciate the coach who fuels this girl-power. She motivates these kids to be out there running at 6:45 each morning Monday through Thursday, rain or shine. That takes real dedication from a coach and her team!”
You’ll see Brooke on top row, left, with her grandma’s same great smile. Nancy said that Brooke and her running mates all love Coach McKinty because “she makes them work hard, which drives them to win State. That’s not easy to do once, much less two years in a row!”
It was Coach Tracy Batchelor who led our Creative team to a winning strategy for this design. By day, Tracy is card buyer for Hollin Hall Variety Store in Alexandria, VA. Always one to go above and beyond, back in June Tracy emailed us, “Would you consider creating a thank you card for coaches? Our customers are always seeking such at each season’s end and we’d like to offer better designs than we now have. Thx!”
When we let Tracy know we’d be game but would need, um, coaching, she jumped right in! “You all have such a wonderful way with words that I feel like this will come very easily to you,” she began with a pep-talk. It was Tracy who proposed we feature the whistle and cap in “energizing green.” And when we asked what she thought of adding the trophy, she affirmed. “I’m so thrilled that you’re taking the ball and running with it. You can do this … I know you can!!” It was fun teaming with her.
Seeing the final card layout for approval, Coach Tracy proclaimed, “I LOVE IT!!! It’s AWESOME! I think I might even cry … this has been a little like giving birth ;)”
Haha, when we asked her to please send a pic for this story, the true team player asked if she could include Susan Colvert, “my friend who introduced me to Cardthartic – and the impetus for Variety Store to start carrying your cards a few years back. We can’t wait to see this design printed. SOOOO excited!!”
Minutes after a few dozen of the published card reached Coach Tracy, we heard from her. “It’s so cool to see it in person. I sent Susan a text right away saying the card was ready to go, so I hope to surprise her before she heads out of town on grandma duties. My grateful heart is full! Please let the whole team know that I’m equally grateful for all of them ;)”
Last we checked a few weeks ago, Coach Tracy said the card is “Doing quite well! The woman who creates our neighborhood newsletter plans to highlight the card and its story, with mentions of its community ties (since we chose the old high school and current youth league’s color, etc.). She was so excited about it. The store’s co-owner Deb was very happy and touched that the store is highlighted for all to see on the card back!
“Thanks so much for your support through the process,” Tracy said yet again. “I’ve been talking up the wonders of Cardthartic to many people lately 🤩.” And halfway across the country, Brooke’s Coach McKinty and Grandma Nancy must surely be doing the same about Brimfield’s best. Yay for coaches and all the good they do!
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
What a lovely surprise to see an unexpected package in my mailbox yesterday! Sharing favorite cards of Hannis wa s so generous and, more importantly, a special and wonderful way to remember the beautiful woman that she and the way she lived her life. Each time I give one of those cards I will remember Hannis and be thankful for having known about her and been able to send her good wishes before she passed.
I’m so glad Tracy and Cardthartic came up with the coach’s card. Thanks for making it easy to thank those who give so much to our kids, grandkids and community!
I can’t stop buying your cards!! I’m not exaggerating when I say I have over 30 and I will still buy more. Thank you for creating them!!
What an awesome story! Coaching students, co-workers, sport-wannabes, and dealing with spectators is not easy. Finding a perfect card to express things is hard. This card is perfect!
Coach Amy McKinty has cultivated strength of mind, body & spirit in the girls on her team. What a gift to receive. They are so lucky to have her.
THANK YOU COACH AMY. I so admire strength in girls and women.