A few years ago, Julie Blankenbeckler scheduled a yard message for a loved one who lives in Maryland, and it made her smile all day when she thought about how the recipient would feel coming home to the special message. That’s when she knew she wanted to bring that same joy to the CSRA and in 2022, she and her husband, Mark, started Card My Yard Augusta.
“Nobody gets mad when they are celebrated, whether that’s with a yard sign or something else,” says Julie. “They feel loved, validated, and special. Every now and then we get to see and be part of that celebration and it’s great!”
Yard signs provide countless options for celebrating people and events. Common themes include birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations, but Julie says the signs also celebrate other milestones. “We did a sign for a young boy who was very, very sick,” she remembers. “He had been hospitalized and was coming home for the first time in six months. We got to do a welcome home sign for him that was very special.”
This time of year, as teachers and students head back to school, having a special message to greet them brings a smile to their faces and adds a level of excitement to the occasion. “Signs welcoming students back to school are so fun,” says Julie. “They give students and parents an opportunity to take a photo with the sign on their first day.” They also provide a fun way to document milestones, whether that is celebrating the graduating class, marking the beginning of a new grade, or cheering on teams as they head into competition.
Messages can be tailored for any occasion and Julie spends time getting to know details about the recipient of the sign to help highlight personalities and themes. She pays special attention to preferred colors, hobbies, mascots, and other individualized characteristics and can create customized graphics for brands and organizations. Signs can also follow party themes, serve as photo backdrops, and share important announcements, such as the birth of a baby or congratulations on retirement, with friends and neighbors.
The large signs serve as a powerful way to show support and motivate participants in fundraisers like the Alzheimer's and Breast Cancer Walks. Businesses also find the signs particularly effective in showing customer and employee appreciation as well as celebrating achievements. “We have helped businesses celebrate ribbon cutting ceremonies and it’s a very large way for businesses to make an announcement,” says Julie. “We’ve also partnered with realtors to advertise an open house or for a closing gift to clients to welcome them to their new home.”
For Mark and Julie, their work is more than simply sharing a message, it is a ministry of their hearts and a way to bring joy to others. “We put the love of Christ into every set up and we see each interaction as an opportunity to pray for each situation, each family, and each child that we come into contact with,” shares Julie. “We’ve also gotten to meet people that we would have never known otherwise.”
Whatever the occasion, Card My Yard Augusta provides extra fun to enhance the celebration. “If you have an idea, give us a call and let’s see what we can create together,” encourages Julie. “It’s a simple process. You place the order, then we come and do the rest. All you have to do is sit back and watch them smile.”
For more information, to browse the gallery of options, and get a free quote, visit www.cardmyyard.com/augusta or call 706-834-3068. Also follow @cardmyyardaugusta on Facebook and Instagram.