With more than 200 cards already made, 12-year-old Warrnambool child Charlize Materia's living room looks more like a production line as she works to raise funds for Emma House.
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Demand is at an all-time high for the grade six child's hand-made Christmas cards, having sold more than 60 in just one weekend.
While Charlize had always enjoyed making them for her friends, she said this year she'd spread the cheer even further, with a percentage of profits going towards Emma House and buying children's toys.
"It's a joyful way to spread cheer," she said.
"Every year people like to give Christmas cards and they can be different and give people different thoughts about Christmas.
"My Christmas cards have many different designs from being Santa related, to lights, to having Christmas trees, to elves and gnomes and much more.
"I like to cut everything out and then I will glue it all down. Once you get all of the pieces it can be quite simple from then.
"The prices are different from $3 to $5 depending on how much colouring-in there is."
Mother Sandra Materia said Charlize had been making Christmas cards for years.
"Charlize made cards for her school a couple of years ago at the fair where she entered the entrepreneur section there," she said.
"We also both do a lot of scrapbooking together and we've been taught by a friend how to make cards so Charlize enjoyed doing that.
"The last couple of years my husband - our family business is the fruit shop - said we should start selling the cards at the shop. We never really did it but because of lockdown, Charlize was home a lot and decided to sit down in the afternoons and do some scrapbooking and card making."
Ms Materia said Charlize chose the charity.
"You never make money on these sorts of things because with crafting, all the money goes into the materials, but we thought it would be nice to give back to a place like Emma House," she said.
"We generally buy for them every year at Christmas time and see the tree each time so Charlize thought that would be a nice place to choose and that way you're supporting a local place as well.
"We can support some kids that need a bit of an extra surprise at Christmas. Charlize is looking forward to buying some extra toys this year to put a smile on their faces."
She said support had been overwhelming.
"Charlize thought this year she'd get ahead and make more cards this year, but they're proving to be very popular and the community is really supportive. Toyworld is onboard and they're selling the cards there, as well as the school," Ms Materia said.
"We've been blown away by all the kindness and kind words they've given Charlize. It's lovely that people appreciate the work and what she's doing for Emma house. That's been really well received."
"We're very proud of Charlize, she has gone beyond with taking the responsibility to do this and get it done and she enjoys doing it and loves that people like what she does."
The cards are available for purchase at Materia Bros fruit shop, Toyworld, King's College, Up and About Fitness-Dalton's Road and Meaghan Twyford Personal Training in Dennington.
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Jessica Greenan
Journalist at The Warrnambool Standard covering both Moyne Shire and Corangamite Shire Council. Sometimes court. Special interest in all things environment.
Journalist at The Warrnambool Standard covering both Moyne Shire and Corangamite Shire Council. Sometimes court. Special interest in all things environment.
