Alternative to Mother's Day Cards - A Card Journal

First and foremost, a Happiest of Mother's Days to all the Moms out there! Take a break, relax and spoil yourselves a little bit this weekend. You've earned it!

I'll start this post off by saying that I've never liked greeting cards. Sure, it's nice to get a card, but it's even nicer when someone handwrites an original message from the heart. It's too easy to go out, pick a card and then sign your name(s) on the inside. That, in my opinion, just doesn't seem sincere enough. Plus, there is the issue with collecting cards throughout the years. They come in all different sizes, some have glitter, some are electronic with batteries that could corrode, making preservation difficult.

We would like to present a simple idea that could make your trips to the Hallmark section of the store a bygone activity.

The Card Journal

Eccolo Eiffel Tower Journal with Nemosine Singularity Fountain Pen

This Mother's Day, whether you're celebrating the first one with baby on the way, or with your dear Grandma, you can start their own Card Journal. The journal acts as a catalog of all the holidays of which a card would have normally been given. Instead, a new page or pages are dedicated for the person giving the card to write a special note, draw a picture or paste in some crafty love. You can give the Card Journal to your special person on Mother's Day, or any other card-giving Holiday, presented with their gift (you did remember the gift, right?).

How to Start a Card Journal

You would want the designated card journal to speak uniquely to the personality of the intended recipient. The journal should be durable to last for decades. Ideally, it should have acid-free paper and a sturdy cover that is perfect bound or hard bound. We would recommend a Rhodia Webnotebook, Clairefontaine notebook, a Filofax or an Eccolo Journal. Keep in mind how you wish to write/draw/decorate in the journal, as you would need to make sure the paper could hold up to the medium(s) you wish to use. Rhodia, Clairefontaine and Eccolo Journals are suitable to handle most pens, including fountain pen ink. For watercolor or other mixed media needs, we would suggest thicker watercolor paper or using bristol board to fashion your own DIY notebook.

Starting at page 1, you would craft your message, making sure to date it appropriately. If you have young children, you can write on one page and the kids can fill in the opposite page with their scribblings, drawings, stickers, etc. This would look beautiful after some years when you start to see the kids' handwriting develop over time and be able to look back at the scribbles when the journal was first started.

You can also give the journal to other family members and friends that would want to contribute. It can be as fun and memorable as a yearbook if you get a number of different people involved!

After Mother's Day is over, Mom can keep the journal until you kindly ask for it back before the next card-giving Holiday. It sure beats having to run out to the drugstore, only to pace the greeting card aisle and purchase an overpriced card. Starting a Card Journal for that special person in your life can be a cherished tradition that is handed down from generation to generation.

Anyone else already keep a Card Journal or something similar to it? We would love to hear your thoughts on this by leaving a comment below.