Handmade Cards

It is quite a lucrative business
One of our ladies at work, does these, she does the work herself and despises the pre-cut press out and asemble ones

Charges about £4 a card, and knocks out about 20 a week
Birthday, retirement, promotion, leaving, Christmas, Christening, Sympathy, Weddings stuff etc etc

With over 600 staff who all know her it is easy peasy

Mind she is braver than I taking money, for work "on the side" sat at an
HMRC desk :yess: or is it

Jack McHammocklashing

 

Crikey Jack she must make a fortune, very brave .
Maybe I should put a few on ebay:D, but then again unless its people you know no-one ever wants to pay much do they, often not worth it, I used to crochet shawls and christening gowns for a local baby shop but the hours it took to make them it just wasn't worth doing for the money, mainly did it for the enjoyment of creating something that would probably passed down through the generations.

 

I bet the postman loved you, Zig.

 

I have actually made some Christmas cards once with dried lichen and other exotic stuff picked in Swedish woods when I was up there once.
I bumped into one of them recently and I must say that it did look much prettier when I sent it.

I haven't tried the cards with paper decorations though.

 

Sound lovely Miraflores, amazing what you can use of them really, found some really pretty christmas ones in a mag recently decorated with lace.

 

I would be worried about Cariboo nibbling them on the mantlepiece.

 

I think if you have a buyer base then you are made, Though beware the taxman
There are lots of people delighted to have a bespoke card for minimum cash then shop you to the authorities

ebay would be good if you can get established, facebook and word of mouth is better
(do not ask me about facebook I am too old and aint got a clue)

Facebook
My eldest daughter is very artistic
She made things for people, and they responded on facebook how fantastic it was
She is mobbed with replies saying can you do this or that
(not a product that is new or unheard of, just her slant on it people seem to like)
A major company have asked her to provide x thousand for them
Unfortuately NO she does it all by hand and could never meet the supply needed and if she employed anyone else or farmed it out, it would not be hand made exlusive
Her prices are CHEAP if they increased the demand/income would not be there

She has been asked to do tupperware/bodyshop type parties, but again could not meet the orders in a reasonable time so that is a NO, So she can not make a living out of it just pin money Taxed (Tried it once and ended up with complaints due to not available and delivered within one week :-(

So free access to hundreds of people on a casual basis is the real option you just need to be in the right location and DECLARE your income or it will come back and bite you

Jack McH

 

One of the reasons I haven't gotten into card making is because I already make jewelry. I started last year so am really just a beginner and could probably benefit from some "how to" classes. What I've done I've figured out on my own. I use semiprecious stone beads and sterling silver findings. It's not cheap...... you keep seeing this or that and wanting different bits. I've just spent 40 quid on various item, some I needed and some I just couldn't resist. I can see that the card making would probably go in the same direction. I think I'd better stick to 1 winter time hobby.........

 

Yes Catztail can see that would be just as addictive a hobby, I had a go a few years ago but mainly with beads, made curtain tie backs and things more than jewelry.
Would love to see some of your jewelry :D, go on put some pictures on.
A friend of my daughters has just started making jewelry too, she works in a factory with all men, who always forget to buy their wives Christmas pressies, she has sooo many orders already.

 

I'll try and sort something. I've not really taken any pics. I mostly give things away. The other thing is, although I like jewelry I almost NEVER wear any........

 

I would love to see some of the pieces that you've made.

 

That'd be great Catztail look forward to them :D
Fancy that, then again I love baking but never eat the cakes I make, luckily I have 2 hungry teenage daughters and all their mates :D
Heres a few more card piccies.

Another from the Enchanted Dreams cd, bit of decoupage on the ivy leaves which you can't see from the photo, made this for my sisters birthday

And another decoupage on butterflies on this one.
A few more below from the same cd, really love this cd.


And a few Me to You ones made for daughters mates birthdays, the teddies are done in decoupage but again you can't tell from the photos.


And a Good Luck one made for daughters friend who's opening a beauty parlour, and a waterfall wedding card.

 

I can see why you like the enchanted ones! They are gorgeous!