Cardmakers, Do you send your cards? *UPDATE in OP*

What a wonderful thing to do. I think it's lovely.

What a great idea!!! I bet the residents will put them to good use.

You do exactly what I do when packaging cards for donation right down to the plastic sleeve and the inclusion of the inside sentiment on a small piece of paper.

I also could have written your first paragraph word for word. Joy comes in the making for me, too. I donated over 1,000 cards last year and hope to donate 1,200 this year. If you need donation sites, let me know. I can point you in the right direction.

That's a great idea. I buy tons of stuff with intentions to make cards for specific family members and friends, but it usually it does not happen. I get too busy and end up not making the cards in time for the occasion. I do make cards that I have made with nobody in mind or trying a new technique out...those actually get used up when I need a last minute card. I am a perfectionist with sending out cards to my loved ones...which I am trying overcome because most of my family and friends have loved receiving them and think they are wonderful, when I do send them out.

Sounds like a great idea - I say go for it.

I don't make a huge number but end up sending most of them. I make sets to give to people and probably end up sending about 70-80% of what's in my stash.

I love your idea! I make a lot and mail few.

I'd love to know of other donation places. I truly love making cards and get so much pleasure in the process. I'd make more if I knew of someplace to send them.

That is such a great idea! I don't have many people left in my family to mail cars and I've been wondering what to do with what I want to make.

I've pm'd this info to GiantsFan but since others are asking about it, I'll post it here, too.

Here are some of the places I donate cards:

Cards for a Cause - A different cause every month, they have ranged from hospice to pet rescues to Meals on Wheels. The organization may ask for specific types of cards like thank you cards for the pet rescue to send to their donors or general cheer/thinking of you for Meals on Wheels recipients. You can see some of the previous months here. Any amount of cards can be sent and there is no commitment.

www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/cards-cause-f215/

Ronald McDonald House - You can participate in 3 ways here - as a hostess (for the Ronald McDonald House in your area), a monthly donor (minimum of 10 cards a month) or a donor who will provide cards as he or she can. The hostess will typically specify the types of cards they are looking for. If nothing is specified, kids birthday cards and thank you cards are always needed.

www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/cards-new-open-swaps-f426/open-recruiting-2017-2018-ronald-mcdonald-house-month-swap-t617797.html

Cards From the Heart Card Drive - This one is for Valentine's cards for kids in hospitals. It's just about over for this year. (Cards have to reach the organizer by Jan. 31). There are some fairly strict requirements for this one - nothing sparkly, glittery, anything that can be pulled off, etc. due to health hazards to fragile children. The organizer spells out the details in her blog.

winterwonderlandcrafter.blogspot.com/2018/01/2018-cards-from-heart-card-drive.html

Caring Hearts Card Drive - If you like to make Christmas cards, this one's for you. The recipients are residents of nursing homes. They will begin accepting cards in October.

lingshappyplace.blogspot.com/p/2017-caring-hearts-card-drive.html

I'm adding one more:
Royal Family Camp Card Drive - This is a week long camp for abused children. As I understand it, the camp counselors and other staff members give each kid a card every day of the camp. They hold a birthday party for all attendees (since some of them have never had a celebration) so birthday cards are always welcome. They also need a lot of encouragement cards (you are awesome, great job, you are a star, I'm proud of you, etc.). This camp typically runs sometime in June and the organizer has asked for cards by late May. I'm trying to reach her to confirm that she is once again collecting cards and the dates she needs them.

www.scrapbook.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/1665527/

I'm always looking for other donation opportunities so if anyone knows of others, please let me know.

I think your idea is so lovely and wonderful. DO IT GIRL! You will make the residents soooo happy.

I use to live near a elderly high rise. I would take my cards to them so they could use them as prizes for Bingo. They would fight over them and my purses I would donate. I loved it.

I do like to make cards. I make a lot of card fronts now. Some I hang as wall art, others I use in my journals, sometimes I turn it into a card and give it away.

I take mine to the local vet who sell them and use the funds to raise money for animal rescue.
They told me the other day they have raised $1400 and still going over the past 3 yrs!
I had the idea when I saw a note in the vets about one of their students raising money for elephant rescue inThailand and they were planning to raise the $ then visit the facility 
I think $1400 is nearly 1/2 the cost of one elephant rescue!
Luckily I am not solely responsible for the well-being all the rescue elephants in Thailand at this rate!

I did this and took about 25 cards w/ envelopes to the nursing home where my MIL was. I had cleared it with the staff before I brought them and specified that I wanted residents to be able to pick out cards to send to loved ones. MIL told me they never ever put the cards out for the residents and we suspect the employees took all of them. So now I'm looking for a new place to send cards.

From scrapbook.com's email today, an article on Card Making for Charity and Therapy

www.scrapbook.com/articles/cards-for-charity?contact_eid=0bba03e80000000000000000000004f98aab&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Read+Article&utm_content=%3F%3F+All+in+ONE?+A+Cardmaker%27s+Dream!&utm_campaign=2-2018+FYI+-+Exclusive+Card+Making+Kits&_bta_tid=120834796421392128517167717555262564322686718108074008502550911882742359048805085515394631253820743688

Believe me, none of us like them either. His mom will not stay with anyone-no amount of begging will change her mind. A couple of years ago she fell and has been in a wheelchair ever since. She walks a little with help but her house is not wheelchair or walker friendly at all, and she knows she can't stay alone. Her house is out in the country with no neighbors nearby so no one to check on her when family is busy or working. We've heard worse stories about in-home nurses than we have nursing homes around here so that's not an option either. Luckily the new place she's in, which is assisted living, is much much better. The old one just didn't have enough staff, for one thing. 

These all sound like lovely ideas.

mamakoala just posted on another thread about her plans to sell her cards at work in exchange for a cash donation to charity.