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This page offers greeting cards
handcrafted by disadvantaged Indian children,
from handmade paper and plants in Peru,
banana leaves in Rwanda
and from corn leaves in Nicaragua.
Indian Children Help Craft their Future
The drawings on these cards showcase the artistry of young children from Hariharananda Balashram,
a residential school for disadvantaged children in Orissa, an eastern coastal state of India.
The school's mission is to provide physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual development for up to
480 poor and underprivileged children, regardless of caste, religion, or gender.
Each year, forty children are enrolled for 12 years of education. Approximately 50% are orphans,
and the others are from the poorest families in the least developed districts of rural Orissa.
Were it not for Balashram, these children might be living in the streets, without health care,
education, or opportunity for productive futures.
The school gives the poorest children the chance for an education normally only available to those of wealthy families.
Sales from these colorful greeting cards help provide bright futures!
These cards can be purchased in a few ways.
You can receive a set of 6 of the same design cards, and you have a choice of 4 designs: Christmas Tree, Happy New Year,
Stars, and a Forest.
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Christmas Tree $18.00 HIH:CRDTREE-6
6 cards of this Christmas tree design. |
Happy New Year $18.00 HIH:CRDNEWYR-6
6 cards of this Happy New Year design.
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Christmas Star $18.00 HIH:CRDSTAR-6
6 cards of this Christmas Star design.
(Sorry - out of stock.)
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Forest Scene Cards $18.00 HIH:CRDFRST-6
6 cards of this Christmas Forest design.
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Handmade Paper Cards using Plants & Natural Dyes from Peru
Hearts and Love Card HOJO:CARD-HRT $4.50
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In October of 2004, two Peruvian college students, Beatriz and Jaime, implemented a project they had envisioned for some time, and
created a small business to produce high-quality, handmade paper products from recycled paper in their community.
This new company would depend not on any other institution, but simply their own experience and hard work.
In the beginning they sold cards in the local market.
These were produced in a primitive way using mixers, pots, containers, and other household implements in their parents' home.
They were excited that the cards sold very well!
They take care to ensure that each step in the production process is ecologically correct.
As demand for their cards increased, they expanded by purchasing a small, rustic house in the countryside near the town of Huaychulo, Peru.
At more than 10,500 feet, Huaychulo is home to many native plants and flowers that can be used to produce handmade paper.
Many people from this community are farmers and cattle ranchers, but there’s also a high-level of unemployment and poverty.
Beatriz and Jaime found that the people were filled with potential and creativity.
They’re now employed in the factory, and through the exchange of ideas, encouraging creativity,
and a respect for the environment, they’ve been successful. |
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Hearts and Love Cards $4.50 each
Show that you really care for your friends and that "special someone" with a unique, handmade card, crafted with love and an abundance of heart.
Colors vary from sky blues to lavenders; designs will vary so that each card is a piece of art.
Inside each card is another decorated piece of handmade paper to write your message.
The back of each card says that natural dyes, plants and flowers were utilized to create this special card in the Andeans of Peru.
Available in English or Spanish. Cards are about 5.25" wide, 4" high and include a 6.5" x 4" envelope.
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Flower Cards (vertical)
$4.50 each
These natural, handmade cards feature flowers and are various shades of yellows and golds.
The back of each card explains that natural dyes, plants and flowers were utilized to create this special card in the Andeans of Peru.
Available in English or Spanish. Cards are about 4" wide, 5" high and include a 6.5" x 4" envelope.
(Sorry - the Spanish cards are out of stock.)
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Flower Cards (horizontal)
$4.50 each
These natural, handmade cards feature flowers and are various shades of whites with oranges and reds.
The back of each card explains that natural dyes, plants and flowers were utilized to create this special card in the Andeans of Peru.
Available in English or Spanish. Cards are about 5" wide, 4" high and include a 6.5" x 4" envelope.
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Banana Leaf Cards from Rwanda, Africa
These handmade cards are painstakingly created by widowed and
often handicapped women, who survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Painstakingly crafted from banana leaves, these cards are inspired by
the imaginations of the artisans and no two are exactly alike.
In addition to providing much needed income,
these cards inspire hope for a better future.
Each ivory-colored card is 4.75" by 6.75", and comes with a darker colored envelope (shown behind the cards in the photos).
They're individually wrapped, and the back of each card is stamped "Handmade in Rwanda".
The designs come from the imaginations of the artisans and no two cards are exactly alike.
You might like these artistic cards so much that you won't want to give them up!
Consider framing them and decorating your home or office. A very inexpensive piece of artwork.
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$4.00 each
SALE! $3.50 |
(left) | Star |
(right) | Palm Hut with Star
(Sorry - Palm Hut with Star is out of stock.)
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$4.00 each
SALE! $3.50 |
(left) | Bells |
(center) | Candle |
(right) | Gorillas |
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$4.00 each
SALE! $3.50 |
(left) | Peace Dove
(Sorry - out of stock)
PLEASE NOTE that we DO have a card in this single dove design
that's just a brown outline! |
(center) | Seated Peace Doves
(Sorry - out of stock) |
(right) | Peace Dove Family |
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Corn Leaf Cards from Nicaragua
These Santa, Holiday and Flower greeting cards are crafted by women from Somoto and Condega, in the north of Nicaragua,
from dyed corn leaves and pieces of recycled paper.
The designs reflect the creativity of Nicaraguan artisans, while the bright colors and the
warm texture of the natural fiber convey the feelings of happiness and affection,
making the handmade cards an ideal product for Christmas, New Year's or birthday greetings.
MAISA is part of an extensive network of local cooperatives
which represent a total of 900 small farmer families.
These greeting cards provide Nicaraguan women with a steady monthly income and an opportunity
to improve their living conditions.
Card sale profits are used under the supervision of the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives (UCANS)
for the financing of small scale community development initiatives.
You might like these artistic cards so much that you won't want to give them up!
Consider framing them and decorating your home or office. A very inexpensive piece of artwork!
PLEASE NOTE that we only have a couple of each card in stock, although we might be able to get more in.
If you place an order and we discover that we have become out of stock on the card you've chosen, we'll contact you.
At checkout, if you leave us your phone
number, that may help us offer you other cards that we do not yet show on our site. Thank you.
4" x 6" Holiday Cards $4.00 each
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Santa's Helper |
Angel |
Candles
(Sorry - out of stock.) |
Christmas Tree
(Sorry - out of stock.) |
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Reindeer
(Sorry - out of stock.) |
Flower Trio |
Gifts |
Church |
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Mother's Day Retablo Card
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Mother's Day Retablo Card $24.00
This card is a great way to tell a special woman in your life how much you really appreciate her.
Folks in Ayacucho, Peru created this Mother's Day card in the style of a retablo, which
traditionally is a box displaying a scene made out of plaster of paris, or painted, inside it.
The outer part is wood and the bouquet of flowers and "Happy Mother's Day" banner is created of plaster of paris.
This hand-crafted Mother's Day card is about 5" wide and long, and about 1" deep,
and will be much more cherished than a paper card from one of those big-name companies.
It can easily be displayed on a mantle, desk, etc. for years to come.
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Assorted Cards
43 Ellicott Ave 