Saturday, December 17, 2011

A Very Special Gift

This week, unexpectedly, I received a very special gift and it will be one that I treasure all my days. 
Let me give you a little background.  About eight years ago I started a "recycle your holiday cards" campaign at work and began collecting cards after the holidays.   The first year I started collecting cards, St. Jude's Ranch for Children's Recycled Card Program was the perfect solution for a way to recycle thousands of Christmas cards a perfect way to help support a great cause.   When the next year rolled around I was ready to repeat the process but sadly there was a post on the St. Jude's Ranch website stating they had too many contributions from the previous year and would not be able to accept cards.   So I asked around within our firm and found an employee who leads craft activities at nursing homes in the Charlotte, N.C. area and she agreed to accept the card contributions.   She was overwhelmed with the number of cards collected so she asked we not send her cards again.  

It was a bit frustrating and I was getting a bit desperate for a solution.  Then Marci called me.   At the time Marci was a secretary in our firm though she is now retired (lucky Marci)!   Marci told me she could use as many cards as I could collect and thus began my friendship and admiration of Marci and her work in the community.
You might be wondering what Marci could do with thousands of Christmas cards so I'm sharing a small sampling of one of the card baskets she made for me a few years ago. For a couple of decades, Marci has been teaching anyone willing to learn card crafting the art of recycling cards.  Almost all of the items Marci makes are gifts for shut-ins, nursing home residents or hospital patients.  I add almost because this week Marci gave me a treasure - a card montage.   
The montage I received was made to be a tray though I've hung it on the mantel (along with some of my Holt Howard pieces).
Marci even built the frame around the final piece.  Every small scene is made up of tiny cuttings from Christmas cards. 

It took more than a week of cutting and piecing to create it and every time I look at it I see something new and magical. 
 I don't know how to say thanks Marci.  It is beautiful.

19 comments:

  1. Oh My! That holiday montage is amazing! It makes me want to try it. I have never seen anything like that before.

    Hugs,
    Penny

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  2. That is a treasure! It reminds me of some of the exquisite Victoria cut out art that I've seen in museums. Such a lovely gift - we'll all be wishing to try this!

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  3. Cheryl, this is exquisite! I can see why you consider it a treasure. I'd say this took real talent. This looks like it would be a fun project. ~ Sarah

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  4. Incredible! What a lovely idea and what a wonderful gift not only for you but for all the lives she touches. Merry Christmas.

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  5. Wow! that is amazing and I would like to give it a try myself. What a wonderful gift to treasure and so pretty.

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  6. Cheryl,What a fabulous and fun piece. I'd love looking at the scenes, and I can't imagine how long it too Marci to make it.Definitley a "labor of love".

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  7. That is the most amazing piece of artwork I have ever seen!!! Can't wait to try this.....also have been looking for directions on how to make the baskets out of cards, I remember those as a child.....hugs....cleo

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  8. What an awesome idea. I've always wanted to make something out of the cards I'm so blessed to receive. Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas. ~CJ

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  9. I love the Montage it's so beautiful and the card basket is so unique. How nice. Pat

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  10. Amazing! Lovely! Great idea! Christmas cards are so pretty and filled with such memories.

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  11. That's a wonderful gift. Such attention to detail. And all that painstaking cutting. It's truly something to treasure.

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  12. I'm so happy you visited my blog and left a comment!
    The Montage is amazing! What a wonderful piece of art!

    Merry Christmas,
    Carol

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  13. Oh wow! I can imagine how long it took to create this beautiful treasure...Christine

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  14. This is truly a beautiful treasure and such a thoughtful gift from Marci! I always lament at having to throw beautiful Christmas cards in the recycle bin and I often save many from year to year. I will love to try doing a picture like this.

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  15. That is Wonderful! Very clever idea! Thank you for stopping by my blog, I am new to this and am so excited to be here among such great and talented people! Merry Christmas!
    Cindy

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  16. Merry Christmas and oh what a wonderful and breath taking gift. Wish I could learn to do something like that! sandie

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  17. It is beautiful! Post where to send her cards if she needs them, I would be happy to collect and mail them to her!
    Merry Christmas, JoJo!
    Loved dh making his gingerbread house! :)

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  18. What a wonderful and beautiful gift! Wow, I wish I could do that, my goodness JOJO. Thank you so much for your sweet and kind visit to my kitchen post, I was away for a week at my daughter's out of town helping her to her new house...therefore, I'm late paying a visit back to you, but here I am to wish you the merriest of Christmas and many blessings.
    FABBY

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  19. Fabulous gift! Merry Christmas to you and your family and a happy and healthy new year!
    Joyce

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