HELOISE Cards make a great gift for special occasions

Dear Heloise: Every year on my mother's birthday, I picked out cards that were on sale and ones I knew she would mail to her brothers, sisters, sons, daughters and in-laws, and gave them to her as a gift.
Years later, my family bought me a very attractive box (about 11 inches long, 9 inches wide and 7 inches deep) filled with index cards, notepaper and birthday, get-well, thank-you and sympathy cards for my birthday. They replenished the used cards on my next birthday, along with a roll of stamps.
I believe this would make a great gift for the busy woman of today. Dennese Hoppel, Greenbelt, Md.
I agree! It makes a wonderful gift for anyone, including children, and it's a good way to teach children how important and special it is to send cards for all occasions. Heloise
P.S. A hand-addressed and handwritten card means more today than many years ago.
Dear Heloise: Concerning the lady who had a problem getting her patterns folded to fit back in the envelope: I put them in a zipper-type plastic bag.
Fold the pattern and, along with the original envelope it came in, put it in a plastic bag, with the picture side of the pattern showing. If necessary, press the pattern the next time you use it. Works for me, and I've been sewing for 60 years. Carmen, Elizabethtown, Ky.
Dear Heloise: My hint is for summer picnics. A few years ago, I purchased several wicker paper-plate holders. Before a picnic, I snap four inexpensive paper plates into each holder.
After we finish a course (or before going for seconds), we simply remove the top dirty plate and pitch it in the trash can, and we are now ready for the next course. No more salad dressing with dessert. Nancy Savage, Waynesboro, Pa.
Dear Heloise: I was about to go to my friend's birthday party when I realized I had no wrapping paper! I didn't have time to go to the store, since the party started in a half-hour. Thinking quickly, I decided to use some leftover wallpaper. This idea got tons of compliments. Penny H., Columbus
Dear Heloise: Begin laundry day by washing dark clothes first, then light-colored ones, then end with white clothes where you would use bleach. This automatically leaves the washer clean and smelling good. Ruth Morgan, Columbus
Dear Ruth: Good hint, but here is a Heloise update about using chlorine bleach on whites: Many newer white clothes and towels actually state on the care label "No chlorine bleach." So read those tags carefully. Heloise
XSend a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letter personally but will use the best hints received in my column.
King Features Syndicate