Hand Writing Sentiments & A GiveAway

Last week, on Facebook, we were chatting about hand writing sentiments on the cards we make. And I was really surprised at the number of us who dislike our handwriting enough that we will never write a sentiment on our cards. Most of us will write on the inside - but very few of us ever do on the outside. And it seems to be because we dislike our handwriting.

I don't mind mine. I don't particularly love it. But I don't dislike it enough that I will never hand write on anything I make. I have enough confidence in it to write my own titles for pages on the web site and here on the blog. And there are sentiments in the Boutique that I have written too : )

So I will, sometimes, hand write a sentiment on the outside of my cards. But I save it for very special cards, for very special occasions. And for very special people : )

And I do it, mainly, because my handwriting to me, isn't about how I feel about it. It's about how other people feel about it - the friends and family I have made a card for.

I know as card makers we already put an awful lot of love and an awful lot of ourselves into every card we make and give. And I think we always appreciate the love in every hand crafted card we receive. But have you ever received a card that included a handwritten sentiment on it too? Did it makes a difference? Didn’t you love it? It’s even more special isn't it? It makes for a very personal card.

And I think that by not doing it, avoiding doing it or never even trying it, we miss out on an opportunity to add an entirely different dimension to our cards.

So .... I bought a copy of 'Love Your Handwriting' by Heidi Swapp. It's a book that's been in print for several years now. And is, in my opinion, a classic on the subject in the papercrafting industry. It's a great book a handwriting workbook. I've never seen a bad review of it. And I'm going to give it waay : )

So if you'd like to love your handwriting a little bit more, and be a little more adventurous with it on your cards, you could win your own, very special copy of Heidi's workbook, just by answering the following question & leaving your answer in comments below.


I'll choose the winner randomly, and announce who the lucky winner is here on the blog, next week, on Friday 4th May. Just one comment per person please!


Have fun with it!



52 comments on Hand Writing Sentiments & A GiveAway

  1. Never! I hate my own writing :P

    Tags xx

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  2. well not often, i do if i do not have the stamp i need to use for that certain card, i dont have the greatest handwriting is probably why i dont as much, but i try...thanks for the chance to win

    Tina

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  3. Never! Would love to read this book, never heard of it before.

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  4. I've never written the sentiment on my cards :)

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  5. I never hand write a sentiment on my cards and my writing is SO bad I'm quite reluctant to write on the inside too! It was interesting to read your positive thoughts,it's something I've always struggled.

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  6. Almost never on the front of my cards but inside I like to write plenty. I personally like my handwriting but other people don't! Thank you for the chance to win, Jane x

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  7. Hi Liz, I never write on the front of my cards as I think my handwriting is awful!! I do write on tags for my scrapbooking, but always hide them away.I think for future generations it is important to see handwriting before it disappears. Perhaps I need a book like this!!
    Julie xx

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  8. I hate my handwriting far too much to ever use it on the front of my cards! So never!!

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  9. Not often enough! I don't mind my writing, and I can be quite creative with it when I put my mind to it. I suppose it's like everything in life, we don't always have the time so we just grab what's there, not using what we possess! Take care Zo xx

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  10. Hmmm, I don't think I've EVER written on the front of a card... because I hate my handwriting! (sounds like I need your book Ha!)

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  11. I would never never never hand write a sentiment on the front of a card, even though I have been told in the past my handwriting is good......bizarrely though I sometimes spend ages looking for the right font to use...and it is usually a fond that looks handwritten that I end up using!!!!

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  12. I like my handwriting but don't feel it would work on the front of one of my cards. This blog post has got me thinking though...
    Damasa

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  13. Hello Liz, What a lovely and unusual prize this will be for someone, I'm sure there are a lot of people like me who 'used' to have beautiful or reasonable handwriting but have lost the knack with the advances of technology...bring back handwriting it is so very personal. x Sue (Brannan)

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  14. Oh Liz - I wish I had the confidence to do it but I'm always worried I'll spoil a perfectly good card in the process. I only do it when I just can't find the right stamp to say what I want to say so Heidi's book sounds as if it could be very useful.

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  15. I never hand write on my cards as i would be too cautious about making a mistake but when i write letters, or people see my course work (i am an art and design student)they say it is ery elegant they dont teach handwriting skills at school any more but they did when i was young and i think it should be brought back and we should be proud of the handwritten word x

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  16. I cannot write, as my hands are not what they use to be, plus my handwriting is not good as when I was younger.

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  17. I never handwrite a sentiment on the front of a card I've spent ages perfecting just "in case" I spoil it! My handwriting used to be quite nice but I guess with all the rushing about I do these days there is no time to do much more than a scrawl on the inside. Maybe we don't write enough anymore, we don't need to write cheques, we use a card and pin no. we don't write letters we use the e-mail, perhaps we should take out time to learn to write nicely.

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  18. I am more comfortable using a computer to access various fonts. I don't feel as comfortable with my handwriting. This would be a great book to read. Thanks.

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  19. Hardly ever - never turns out just right.

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  20. It's not that often that l write free hand now as computers are so much easier and faster to get emails out or even an address to put on an envelope and if l did do a letter now l'd get cramp on the side of my hands:)x

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  21. I'd really like to be a bit more creative in the choice of words for the sentiment and also hadwrite rather than printing a greeting using a handwriting font.
    maryb*

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  22. Never use my handwriting don't want to spoil my creation lol

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  23. I don't write on the inside OR the outside. People tell me that either I should have been a doctor or it looks like a drunken spider fell into some ink and staggered across the page.

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  24. Rarely & then it puts me off the card!!! :o)

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  25. i think its a confidence issue.....i do occasionally handwrite sentiments if i want to say something different or 'more' than i can find on a stamp.....but i always worry that people will think it looks scruffy! i've probably handwritten half a dozen sentiments - but i'm quite new to the card making addiction :)

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  26. Hi! I have perhaps hand written on a card six or seven times in the last three years, I would love to hand write sentiments more so that my cards can say exactly what I need them to say.

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  27. I always write my own sentiment in my cards - i dont have very good writing - but i do it coz its more personal i think - i also write in my scrapbooks to preserve my handwriting for future generations to see - kym xx

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  28. I have never tried it but can see the appeal, I'd love to win the book it might just encourage me to have a go :-)

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  29. never... i like my handwriting but i'm scared to ruin the cards lol xxx
    think i might just give it a go now though (before i stick the card together of course)

    thanks for the thought Liz

    jen xx

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  30. I never write the sentiment on the front of my cards. I tried it once and it looked terrible. My handwriting is not that bad under normal circumstances, but on the front of a card - nooooooooo!!!
    Jo x

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  31. never ever written on the front of a card I've made, always feel I would spoil my hard work, don't even like to write the envelope!! Wold love the chance to see a copy of this book. Thanks for the chance x x

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  32. I don't think I've ever handwritten a sentiment on the outside of a card. I usually just use the lovely Pink Petticoat handwritten ones!

    Jackie

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  33. I would love to include my own handwriting on the front of my cards I just worry that it would spoil the finished look.

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  34. On ocassions, I have wrote peoples names on the front of my cards, I dont do it very often though, even though people say my handwriting is lovely and neat... I should do it more often as when I recieve a handmade card (especially from my children) and the sentiments have been hand written, it makes it more special. Would love to read the book you are offering... do you know what... I am going to handwrite a sentiment on my next card and I will let you see it :o) Thanks for the challenge hahahaha Diane xx

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  35. My writing's not that bad but I always either stamp or print sentiments for the front of my cards. I would love to have the confidence to handwrite more often. I would love to read this book.

    Ruth

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  36. I work in a school with SEN students. Sometimes I cannot
    read their handwriting and so want to help them make it readable.
    My handwritng is pretty good but I have never thought about putting
    it on the front of a card, how exciting it would be!

    Linda

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  37. I rarely handwrite the sentiment on my cards, but will certainly consider it more often now.

    Kate Martin

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  38. My writing is legible, pretty, BUT VERY small, and though I write by hand lots of notes & letters to friends and family (in fountain pen, which I snail mail!), when I try to write larger, it no longer seems like my own handwriting. So, no, I dont write my sentiments on cards, but I do on tags, when incorporated into the card front.

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  39. I have large distinctive handwriting and love writing with my fountain pen: lots of letters, stories for my grandchildren, my amusing travel and other adventures, and about half the sentiments on the outside of my cards.

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  40. I hadn't ever thought to use my handwriting on the front of a card...guess my handrwriting would be classed as 'just okay'...maybe this book would direct me to ways it could be improved so that I would feel confident in using it on my cards :) Thanks for the thoughts Liz and of course the chance to win x

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  41. I have handwritten a couple of sentiments on the front of my cards, but I do mean literally just 2 or 3 times. However, after reading your blog post, I will try to do it more often now. Thanks for the interesting post and a chance to win such a useful book.
    Ali x

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  42. I've got to admit that I do put my own handwriting on cards every now and again... but I have to practice first lots till I get it just right and the size perfect!
    Thanks for the chance to win this fab book..

    Hugs
    Christine x

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  43. I've never written on the front of a card, although I do usually add a hand written sentiment. People have often commented that I have nice handwriting. While on holiday in Singapore the passport control officer commented that my handwriting looked like 'stencil writing'. At first I thought there was something wrong with my paperwork he was looking at it so closely! :)

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  44. Never! Sounds like I need to read Heidi's book...
    DeniseB

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  45. I've only ever written on the front of a card once. That was a French bday sentiment with a Versamark pen that I then heat embossed. And only cuz I didn't have a bday sentiment in French. I guess I would do it again...

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  46. Nope never hand written a sentiment. Like others I am too scared of ruining a card that I have spent time perfecting. Would be interesting to read Heidi's book.

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  47. I was once shown a technique that I use quite often which is to write tall letters and put little blobs at the ends. I think this looks great but is more suited to a "fun themed" card. So for other cards I use stickers or print tiny sentiments and cut out with stampin up little punch which fits perfectly. I would LOVE to learn some new styles to write for a more elegant card like a scrolly-looking or script writing.
    I think your own hand writing adds the personal touch!

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  48. Sadly, i do not write on the outside of my cards. I too do not like my handwriting. Once it's on the card it's a
    done deal, which is usually yuck.

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  49. A quick answer ... NEVER. I don't hate my handwriting but would hate to spoil a card if my hand slipped or I made a silly mistake.

    Lynn x

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  50. Wouldn't trust myself incase I spoilt the card. But then again I am a fontaholic and need therapy!!

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