We’re just a week away from Valentine’s Day so it’s time to think about those you love. There’s no better way to show your appreciation than with a handwritten note. A good way to start a note is to finish the sentence I Love You Because… Here are some ideas:

Happy Chinese New Year! The Year of the Rabbit! According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012. The Rabbit is extremely lucky in business and monetary transactions and wise at striking bargains. After the Year of the Tiger, now is the time to pause, catch your breath and calm your nerves. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on...

I used the Pentel White Sunburst Gel pen to create this card. First, I stamped the main image on kraft cardstock and highlighted it with the Pentel Sunburst pen. I then tore strips of Stampin’ Up! First Edition paper and Bashful Blue cardstock for the left border. I punched out my main image with a circle punch, and distressed it with a dark chocolate ink around the edge of the circle, and mounted that focal point with foam dimensionals. I then stamped the sentiment in black ink on the front of the card.

Today is Monday, January 31. This is the last day to send in your National Handwriting Day letters to our troops. They must be postmarked by midnight tonight. Now that’s motivation!

Compelling Lucidity In hand you have two items to read. One is an email, and the other is a hand written letter. Which gets read first? Which gets read, and saved, and reread? If you are like me, the email is not really read but rather scanned quickly and replied to just as quick. The letter though deserves more attention, more time, and more devotion because that is what the writer put into it. As I pondered this about two years ago, I found that letter writing is hard work ...