“Happy” New Year card

… but what if it’s not such a Happy New Year?

originally published 10 January 2022
updated 2 January 2023

The New Year doesn’t always start out with champagne and fireworks.

Maybe a parent, sibling, spouse, or child has just died. (Here are some of the best and worst things to say to someone who’s grieving.)

Maybe you are dealing with mental health challenges. Divorce. Unemployment. Addiction. Infertility. Self-harm. Suicide.

All of this crap doesn’t just go away because the calendar turns.

It’s totally unrealistic and extremely hurtful to tell someone “Look on the bright side! Be positive! Everything’s going to be great this year!” when it is not great now. (That’s called toxic positivity.)

Don’t minimize their pain.

Sometimes you need to say “This situation sucks and I can’t take the hurt away but I am here to listen or support you in any way I can.”

So I created some cards to give to someone when it’s not a happy occasion.

What message should a support card have anyway? Below are a few ideas.

Feel free to copy the wording into your own hand-written card. Personalize it as much as possible.

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Download the SVG design # 97 – Last Year Sucked SVG – card & envelope to create this card.

I started cutting it from gold glitter cardstock…. but that was a mess! Glitter everywhere, glue spilling out of the sides….

Then I wondered how easy I could possibly make it… so I set the front text to operation “Pen” in Design Space, Attached it to the shadow, and slid a metallic Cricut marker into my Maker.

I used Print Then Cut for the sentiments.

All four messages are in design # 96 – Tough Year Messages.

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To make the PRINTABLE support message cards, you’ll need:

• Free printable PDF, which is design #65 Supportive cards for tough times in the Free Files Folder
  
• a printer (this is my printer and I love it)
  
• 8.5 x 11 inch cardstock (regular copy paper works too)
  
• glue or tape runner
  
• scissors

* Links to products are for your convenience in finding tools and materials, however, they are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. *

The printable PDF has 12 different supportive messages on it, so you can pick and choose what you want to say. (It’s design #65 Supportive cards for tough times.)

(They aren’t just for the new year. Most of them can be used at any time, in many different situations.)

This is the simple printable version; keep scrolling down for the Cricut version.

How to assemble the Not-So-Happy-New-Year Cards:

Download the ZIP file.

Open the ZIP file. Then open the PDF file.

Choose which pages of messages you’d like to use. Print those on white cardstock.

Print the last page (the card base) on colored cardstock.

Cut around the edges of the messages you’ll use. (It looks better if you don’t cut on the line; cut closer to the text.)

Fold the card base in half.

Next, glue or tape the message(s) on the card.

And it’s done! It’s a super easy project.

Write a personal, heartfelt message so your friend feels extremely loved and supported.

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— How to make the card using a Cricut —

Materials needed to make the support message card:

• SVG for the card base and envelope, plus the image messages for print-and-cut. All of these files are in design #65 Supportive cards for tough times in the Free Files Folder.
  
• Cricut such as an Explore or Maker
  
• Blue LightGrip mat
  
• Scoring tip or stylus
  
• a printer (this is my printer and I love it)
  
• 8.5 x 11 inch cardstock for the card base and messages
  
• one 12×12 sheet of cardstock for the envelope
  
• glue or tape runner
  

* Links to products are for your convenience in finding tools and materials, however, they are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. *

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How to prepare, cut, and assemble the card for tough times:

Download the ZIP file. Open the ZIP file.

Upload the “card-base-and-envelope_minorDIY.SVG” file to Design Space. (Need a refresher? Click here.)

Upload the JPGs with the text you want to use to Design Space. Save it as a complex print-and-cut image.

Ungroup everything.

Select the two layers as shown below. From the Operation dropdown menu, choose Score.

Then Attach each score layer to the one below it.

This is how the envelope should look.

This is how the card base should look.

Next, we’ll get the Print Then Cut image ready.

When we imported the JPG, it was very large. Resize it so that it fits over the white card base image, as shown below.

Next, click on the Flatten button.

Now we’re ready to cut out the card.

Click on the green Make it button.

Then, click on the “Send to Printer” button. The following screen will pop up.

I always choose “Use System Dialog.” This way, I can choose if I want to print using the black cartridge only, set it so that it prints with high quality, and select the type of paper I’m using.

It says it “may” open behind the Design Space window… but in my experience, it is behind the window every single time.

Just click on the top of the Design Space window and drag it down until you see the Print window.

Click anywhere on the Print window and choose the options you want to use.

Then, click on the blue Print button.

Put your printed sheet exactly in the top right corner of your mat. Load it and select the type of paper you are using as usual.

When you press the “Go” button, the Cricut will shine a light over the edges of the black box. Then it will use those guidelines to cut out the image.

Peel off the mat.

Cut and score the card base.

Cut and score the envelope.

Crease on all of the score lines. Fold the two sides in.

Glue the bottom of the envelope to the sides.

Slide your card in.

Close the envelope with a sticker.

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Do you have some wise words that have helped you get through a tough time?

Leave a comment below and let me know if you’d like me to turn them into a card.

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