Meet Annette Stevens | Health Coach & Greeting Card Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annette Stevens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annette, what matters most to you?
The value or principle that matters most to me is dependability. Throughout my life, I had the blessing of being surrounded by parents and siblings who were honest, reliable, and dependable. If they said they would do something, they did it. These values are a part of who I am today, and they carry over to all aspects of my life. I work in health care and have been with my current company for 27 years. Why does this matter to me? I take pride in learning and knowing what is expected of me and then doing it and going above and beyond when possible. I take pride in knowing that my employer and my co-workers can depend on me to do my job and do it with pride and attention to detail. In the end, I have a great sense of accomplishment and, more importantly, my patients have the best care and experience possible. My passion/hobby is making greeting cards, and my deep sense of principles are stamped (no pun intended) all over the process of making cards. I understand that people have many choices when the need to purchase a greeting card arises, from purchasing them at a dollar store or at a high-end boutique. My focus is not on where people choose to buy their cards from, but I lean heavily on the actual process of creating something unique and 100% hand-made. I love creating cards that are not mass printed or mass produced. We are all so busy with our day-to-day lives and t is so easy for any of us to send a text to let someone know that you are thinking of them, but when you send a card instead, the recipient has a deeper sense of being thought of simply because someone took the time out of their day to search for, select a card, and hand write a note. Also, who doesn’t like to get mail? I know I do!
  

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My journey into the world of card making is not a terribly long one. In January 2023, I came across a random card making video on YouTube that was showing the technique of heat embossing. Like many people who are new to crafting, this technique caught my attention well enough that I said to myself, “I want to do that!”

So began my journey of watching LOTS of YouTube card crafting videos and learning not only the tools, but also the techniques of the trade. In the beginning, I made some purchases to get me started (a stamping platform, inks, stamps, paper, envelopes, paper cutter, adhesives). I made a few cards in the evenings after I finished my day job, and quickly discovered the fun of making cards.

Several months into my new world of card making, I had ample supplies. I decided to focus on using what I have and that it is okay not to buy everything I see my favorite crafty YouTubers using. Often, I can find something in my stash that is similar to what they are using. Additionally, I can find in my stash something totally different that will also work!

There is great joy in learning a technique or seeing a completed card on YouTube and recreating it with my own personal twist. Are they all successful? No. But most are, and I view the unsuccessful attempts as great learning experiences.

Although my journey to card crafting is relatively new, I absolutely love creating cards! It brings me joy to create an entirely unique and hand-crafted card to share with others in hopes that it too brings them joy.
Every card I make is touched by me from beginning to end. I use high quality stamps, inks, and cardstock on each card, and, of course, each card comes with a high-quality envelope. My supplies are sourced locally from a Columbus, Ohio based craft company that is known globally for their quality products and outstanding customer service. I take pride in paying attention to detail on every card I create, right down to my packaging bags, which are compostable and biodegradable!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would love to take them around to some of our area Metro parks where we would enjoy either an easy hike on paths or even just drive through them. We have a wide variety of plant and animal life in our area. It is not uncommon to see majestic bald eagles around the embankments of the Olentangy River that runs through Columbus, Ohio and extends to its full length of almost 97 miles!

If my friends prefer to do something indoors, then I would suggest either the Columbus Art Museum, or the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens (or both). We have a wonderful art museum full of the classics and there is always a special exhibition going on if one desires. The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens first opened to the public in 1884, The John F Wolfe Palm House, as we know it today, opened in 1895. The Palm House features a grand Victorian-style glass greenhouse that is impressive and beautiful. The Conservatory has many species of plants, and it is somewhat known for its Blooms & Butterflies exhibit, which started decades ago as an exhibition, but is now an annual event. Besides being surrounded by nature, we also enjoy artwork from Chihuly displayed throughout the conservatory. I could go on and on because there are so many artists and botanicals to see! Definitely, a great place to take visitors.

For dinner, I love to take guests to Easton Town Center, which is a major shopping, dining, and entertainment destination for our area. It is pedestrian-friendly, has ample parking, and hundreds of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. I have been going there for years and never tire of it, as they continue to expand and add new shops and restaurants. A nice end to any evening is a trip to Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream (locally sourced ingredients and unique flavors – my favorite is Brown Butter Almond Brittle).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Such a great question! If I am being honest, there are so many people in my life (nearly all of them) that I owe gratitude and thanks towards.

First and foremost, on the greeting card side of things, my family and friends, who are too many to individually name, offer tremendous support! They are quite often the recipients of my cards and they always let me know they loved the card they received. I can almost “see” them flip the card over to see if my logo stamp is on the back, confirming that, yes, Annette made this card for me!  I also want to give a special shoutout to my brother, Mike, who helped me with the design of my website and is always willing to help me with video editing and social media marketing.

On the health coaching side, I credit my manager, Christine Day RN, my supervisor, Deborah Moomaw, RN, and my extensive team of doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, medical assistants, and community health workers for providing encouragement and feedback for not only a job well-done, but also to help me grow into more challenging areas that help me grow in my role in my department. We work together as a team to provide the best care and support for our patients dealing with multiple chronic illness who might otherwise struggle with managing their condition and/or connecting to community resources. It is very rewarding to be a part of our unique team of healthcare workers!

Website: https://ascarddesign.com/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ascarddesign/?fbclid=IwAR1dN4csttkOdquovjXuf29E-kgR3iV1HpeMGAIKXu6ZVJEBGi18fJxE2g0

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554096263832

YouTube:   https://www.youtube.com/@ASCardDesign

Image Credits
Photo credit: Mike Stevens, Annette Stevens