Celebrating World Card Making Day: Sharing Creativity, Spreading Kindness

Every year, the first Saturday in October is celebrated as World Card Making Day—a day for crafters around the world to come together and create something heartfelt. The holiday was first started by the crafting industry in 2006 as a way to kick off the holiday card-making season and inspire connection through handmade cards. Over time, it has grown into a global celebration of creativity, kindness, and the simple joy of sending a card.

For me, card making is deeply personal. When I first began crafting—and when Serenity Lane Designs was just starting out—it all began with rubber stamping and card making. That love of paper, ink, and creating something unique grew into what SLD is today. Card making has always been at the heart of my creative journey.

I had planned on hosting a special event this year for World Card Making Day, but sometimes life has other plans. Instead, I’d love to encourage you to celebrate the day in another meaningful way—by donating your handmade cards.

One of my favorite ways to make a lot of cards at once is using Call Me Crafty Al’s Sheetloads of Cards. Her monthly templates make it super easy to cut, assemble, and create a whole batch of coordinating cards. It’s a fun and efficient way to build up a stack to send off to organizations that need them. The pic below shows a couple of her designs I've used to send off to Cards for Cubs -- more on that below ;)

💌 Places to Donate Handmade Cards

1. Cards for Cubs -This one is a favorite of mine—I donate every year! Cards for Cubs collects handmade cards that are distributed to children and young adults in foster care across the United States. A simple card with an encouraging message can remind a child that they are loved, seen, and cared for.

2. Chemo Angels - Chemo Angels pairs volunteers with patients undergoing chemotherapy. They use handmade cards, notes, and small gifts to provide encouragement and emotional support during a difficult journey. Your cards can help lift spirits and bring hope during treatment.

3. Caring by Card - This organization collects and distributes handmade cards to nursing homes, hospitals, and community programs. Their mission is to help people feel remembered and less alone. A cheerful, handmade card can truly brighten someone’s day.

4. Cards for Kindness (by Scrapbook.com) - Cards for Kindness partners with hospitals, crisis centers, shelters, and other organizations worldwide to share handmade cards with people who need encouragement. With a global reach, your cards could make a difference in someone’s life far beyond your local community.

5. Inspiring My Generation - Focused on mental health advocacy, Inspiring My Generation’s “Encouragement Card Program” collects handmade cards with uplifting messages that are sent to patients in psychiatric hospitals and mental health facilities. A card with a positive note can be a powerful reminder that someone cares. I just ran across this one --- for those of you who don't know -- my "other hat" is Executive Director of the American Mental Wellness Association --- so -- this will be on my list.

How You Can Celebrate World Card Making Day

Even if you can’t attend an event, you can still join the celebration:

• Spend a little time today making cards.

• Try out a Sheetload of Cards template to whip up a whole stack at once.

• Or send a batch to one of the organizations above and spread kindness further than you can imagine.

For me, card making has always been about connection—with creativity, with others, and with kindness. This World Card Making Day, I hope you’ll join me in making a difference, one card at a time.

Enjoy the day --- make a card or 2, make someone smile!

Happy crafting!