I am Christina Saymansky, and I live in Southwestern Pennsylvania, just south of Pittsburgh, with my family. I have five dogs who keep life lively and entertaining. In addition to card making and my mission to spread kindness to patients across the U.S.A, I enjoy cooking, gardening, photography, swimming, reading, listening to music, playing cards, traveling, and relaxing on my front porch or back deck. I have always loved planting a variety of flowers to brighten my home, and I have had an aquarium filled with freshwater fish that I love watching for many years. I began making cards around 2010, after several years of scrapbooking. At first, I created cards on a small scale, mostly for friends and family on birthdays or special occasions, and I loved the smiles they brought. When I moved to the Pittsburgh area in 2015, I took a break from paper crafting until January 2022, when I found myself missing the joy of card making.
Over the past decade, the paper crafting industry has seen tremendous growth and innovation, introducing many wonderfully inventive products. These have enabled me to create unique, creative cards through techniques like die cutting, ink blending, layering stencils, mixed media, and alcohol markers. As my collection of handmade cards grew, I knew I needed more avenues to share them.
I found various organizations to donate my cards, especially those that support cancer patients. I was also able to send cards directly to individual cancer patients. This cause is close to my heart, as many of my family members have battled cancer—some have survived, while others have not. My best friend, Todd, passed away at 43 from Multiple Myeloma after a courageous fight. Whether or not a patient survives cancer, their life is turned upside down during their battle, and they need kindness to help them through it.
In July 2023, I lost my mother to cirrhosis, an end-stage liver disease that took her life within a few months of her diagnosis. The last few months of her life were incredibly difficult. She required frequent fluid removal from her abdomen and was treated with constant laxatives to manage ammonia levels, which otherwise led to a condition called hepatic encephalopathy, affecting her brain function. Her life became unbearably hard, and her quality of life was heart-wrenching to witness. Losing my mother to such a terrible illness made me realize I wanted to help others who face similar battles.
I began to recognize the lack of support for people with life-threatening diseases beyond cancer. My mission became to create a non-profit organization inclusive of all, as my family and I have been deeply affected by illnesses other than cancer. This realization gave birth to the Paper Hug Greetings Kindness Mission.
In 2023, to expand my outreach and further my goal of helping patients, I started my Etsy shop, Paper Hug Greetings, where I sell handmade cards to raise money for the causes I care about. I deeply appreciate every purchase made—not only do my customers support my craft, but they also make a significant difference in the lives of those who need it most. With the launch of my website and non-profit organization, I am introducing additional ways for people to get involved, such as subscribing to become a Champion of Kindness, making one-time donations, or joining my mission as a Paper Hug Ambassador.
Life is unpredictable, and none of us are guaranteed good health or that our loved ones will remain well. Acts of kindness can go a long way in bringing comfort to those in need. In honor of my mother, my dear friend Todd, and all my loved ones who have faced debilitating illness, my goal is to grow Paper Hug Greetings and touch as many lives as possible for years to come, and I cannot do it without you!
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