Donna Frith, owner of independent card and gift retailer, Donna Marie Gifts in Warrington has joined forces with Laura Alcock, the founder of greeting card publisher Laura Sherratt Designs, to launch a greeting card design competition to bring out the creative talents in children and adults alike.
“The idea was to get anyone and everyone of any age to sit down and create a card of any style or for any occasion. While we normally spend so much of our life rushing around, under the new guidelines, we all do have time,” explained Donna. “It was my hope that the open brief of the competition would see individuals as well as families getting creative by making a card for someone to make them smile. I call it happy post,” adds Donna before revealing how her love of sending and receiving cards goes back to her childhood.
“I remember how as a little girl I loved running to the door to see if there was any post for me and when there was my eyes lit up. It could be a card from a relative or a note from a pen pal, but it absolutely made my day I would invariably then grab some paper create something to return some happy post back to them.”
Having stocked Laura Sherratt’s cards for many years, Donna contacted Laura to ask her to get involved, to help publicise the competition to her contacts as well as be a judge.
“I was delighted to get involved,” Laura told PG Buzz. “I am so impressed by the entries we have had so far, including from my own children. We have some amazing artists and future card designers coming up. I had better watch out!!!”
The winning designs in each of the age categories are to published as actual cards and sold in Donna’s shop, with the proceeds going to the Warrington Food Bank. As their prize, the winners will received some free cards featuring their design as well as a luxury hamper, the contents of which will be tailored to each winner.
As well as publicising the competition, Laura has also used it as an opportunity to promote card sending generally.
“Remember to keep sending cards and let those in isolation known you care,” she wrote on one of her recent posts.
Mindful of these challenging times, Laura Sherratt Designs has just launched a trio of cards which carry the message ‘stay safe’.
Just while its retail stockists are not open, the publisher has extended its services to write and deliver cards ordered online by consumers as well as offering various packs for the public to order. It has also extended its credit terms for retail customers, plus is now allowing cards to be ordered in threes rather than sixes.
Top: Two of the entrants into the competition with their creations.
