April has certainly been a month for the record books. When this whole thing began nearly two months ago, most of us thought we'd be "back to normal" come May. At least here in Southern California, the month brings more of the same. It also brings the "May Gray" (followed by "June Gloom"); at least the gray skies will make it easier to stay home.
But the new month also has some exciting changes in store for us. We'll be launching four new collections of art prints and greeting cards: Quarantine Comfort, Dear Mom Dear Dad, Sweet & Sassy and Long Distance. They're pretty dang cute and a whole lot of fun.
We're also moving this month-- a whole two miles! We'll miss all the space and our amazing neighbors, but are looking forward to being a few minutes' walk to one of our favorite beaches and saving money to boot! It's a no-brainer (except for the whole moving part, of course).
But before we march on from April, let's wrap up National Card & Letter Writing Month with a recap of our final week's #write_on challenge writing prompts. A big thanks goes out to those of you who joined me for the challenge. I hope it brought a little joy, inspiration and creativity to your life.
WEEK 4 WRITING PROMPTS
23. CREATE A WORD SEARCH
Create a Word Search with words that are important to you & a loved one. It's easiest to first write out the words in a grid, then fill in random letters around them. It's up to you whether you provide a cheat sheet of the words they need to find or make them hunt without any prompts.
24. CHARACTER REFERENCE
If someone in your close social circle is on the hunt for a new job, offer to write a character reference. Focus on your loved one's personal qualities- think work ethic, integrity, reliability, positive attitude, etc. Your letter could be a General reference or for a particular job. Be honest, give examples & invite further contact.
25. PEN A STORY
Quickly write down the first five words that come to mind- don't overthink it. Then create a short story using these as the main ideas. Include a loved one or two in the narrative & share with them. Extra points for illustrating. Alternatively, recruit a partner to trade words & stories.
26. KNOCK KNOCK
As earlier mentioned (#1), kids LOVE getting mail. Think of a child in your life who could use some extra cheer & share your favorite (clean) jokes. Laughter releases feel-good brain chemicals & can help diffuse kids’ anxiety or bad moods. We'll get you started: When is a door not a door? When it’s ajar. Ha!
27. REACH OUT TO AN OLD FRIEND
Perhaps you've used this extra time at home to tackle a bit of spring cleaning. Come across a letter, photo or other memory of a friend you've lost touch with? Wonder what he or she is up to? Use the opportunity to reach out to them & reconnect.
28. GET YOUR CRAFT ON
Add a special touch to a birthday or anniversary card by making it yourself. Use what you already have at home: paper, markers, pens, scissors, yarn or thread, felt, paint, washi tape, etc. Just have fun with it! Your loved one will certainly appreciate the effort (& be amazed by your talent).
29. CREATE A CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Crossword puzzle junkie? Create your own for a friend, family member or even a group of loved ones using clues specific to your relationship(s). There are a ton of free online puzzle creators that will work out the details while you focus on the fun.
30. SHARE GRATITUDE
Sharing gratitude is one of the most effective ways to increase happiness- both your own & those you share it with. Practicing gratitude can lead to better health, less stress & increased optimism. Spread the love with specific examples, details and/or stories of why you're grateful for those special people in your life.