Hobbies and Crafts

Sounds like you have all the idea's there Ann:))
Libby good luck:))
If l think of any other ways l'll add it here.

jude :-)

I thought maybe you'd had a go at it sometime Jude, never done it myself but trawling the internet brought up those ideas.

Some westonbirt photos on the photo blog.

Just had a look Ann, they are lovely and the colours are perfact, I have tried 4 times to add a comment and it was refused every time same on the card one too, so dont know why as i have always added without any problem....
thanks for showing them....
love Jean xx

I've sent you an e mail as I tried to send you photos Jean but the email with photos was rejected. Not sure why.

Last posting dates for Christmas mail

UK
Thursday 13 December Standard and Mail Order Return Parcels
Tuesday 18 December Second Class and Recorded Signed For
Thursday 20 December First Class and Recorded Signed For

International Surface Mail
Friday 28 September Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central America, New Zealand and South America
Tuesday 2 October Far East (except Hong Kong and Singapore), Middle East
Tuesday 16 October Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and USA
Tuesday 6 November Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta and Turkey
Tuesday 20 November Western Europe

International Airmail
Wednesday 5 December Asia, Australia, Far East (including Japan), New Zealand
Friday 7 December Africa, Caribbean, Central America, Middle East and South America
Monday 10 December Canada, Eastern Europe and USA
Wednesday 12 December Western Europe

British Forces Post Office (BFPO)
Friday 30 November Airmail to Operational BFPOs
Friday 14 December Airmail to Static BFPOs

Thanks Ann, Love jean xx

Nudged this up in case anyone else is interested in the posting dates.

3 cards on the blog from Jean

Jean, I have just coloured two of the foil embossed pieces you sent me with peel off markers and they worked really well.

Tell me again what you use the greaseproof paper for, I know it is something to do with die cutting but can't remember. :-)

Ann, you put the waxed paper in between your die and card so it releases very easily and makes getting all the bits come out easier too, I stick mine down with low tack tape so it doesnt move about, take a pic of the coloured embossing will you , I would like to see it....I watched a youtube craft site earier and instead of using two B plates the lady did only one the C plate on top, she also spritzed with water the card before she put it in the folder and it was a much deeper emboss, so I will try it tomorrow,just had my ear syringed, it was impacted and painful however its all out now, thank goodness....

love Jean xx

So you can hear me better now down the line can you?

I thought the waxed paper was used something like that, thanks. I will try and take a photo but it is a bit reflective so will have to see what happens tomorrow in daylight. Pointless using the flash.

I have decided I have finished making Christmas cards. I have packed all the stuff away. I have over 180 cards made ( I had a few left from last year). So now it is back to birthday cards and a scrap book I have to make for third Grandson's 21st next March. (Pleanty of time to do that :-D).

Good evening, I am recovering from a very busy crafty week :-) in 8 days I had 6 classes and a craft fair phew plus attended a craft morning and made a pumpkin pin cushion. I hate sewing but was very pleased with attempt, I only went to keep a friend company :-)
Ann, good for you on that many cards, I really need to get mine finished but have another craft fair due on the 17th so need to get a good selection of cards and Friendly plastic jewellery made to replace what was sold.

xx Jill

Well Jill you can't do it all, it is either be busy making money or cards :-D
You have been a busy little bee.

I quite agree, there's not much profit in selling hand made cards; but for me its fun creating.

I was reading today that to make intricate die cuts cut cleanly and release the bits of paper, its helpful to put greaseproof paper between the die and the paper.

anyone tried this before?

Yes Moombi, I always use waxed paper, so much easier to release the die, if you have cereals save the inner packets, they are great to use with dies...I am like you the creating is the main topic for me, never make much money now, in the early days when I first started crafting there wasnt many craft stores or internet
but I did make a nice little living out of making them, now its much harder so one has to make extra special ones if they are to be sold, now I do them for charities and too keep my mind active, a great hobby , just like your quilting ,
do try the waxed paper it is so much better....
love Jean xx

I think there is no profit now because so many people make them and sell them. If you go in the shops here where they sell local crafts, the hand made crafts are put in at a ridiculous price. I know you have to cost out your time but people just won't pay those prices. I have not tried to sell mine for ages, not since the hobby became so wide spread.

But Jill is in a different class (excuse the pun), she runs classes for card making etc besides having slots at craft fairs. And being on the Isle of Mann the competition is probably not as great. (And to be fair, her cards are also in a different class to mine :-D).

Thanks Just Jean, when I'm all set up again next year, I shall start saving my cereal liners.
a really good tip then.

I've sold a few cards now and then over the years and only managed to cover my costs, and I have spent more on tools of the trade, but my most recent sale was from my latest christmas makes, 3 cards for $6, so I thought that was fair.

For my BFF party last weekend; held to say thanks to all my friends for their constant friendship over the years; I had recently made about 30 crissy cards.

I put them all on the table and said they could take 3 each, maybe send to their other friends. I didnt expect any payment, but I was given $6 by one of the ladies for the three that she took. - to buy more paper , she said!
so that's exactly what I will do.

Ive noticed that many hand made christmas cards are white on white, this year. usually embossed and added silver or gold stamps. Looks nice too.
xox

Just been doing some more die cutting and thought I would try and use baking parchment the sort you use to line cake tins and it worked :-D :-D its much cheaper than buying ready waxed paper , and handy if you run out, I made some flowers with what was left over..... result....... :-D
Ann, I made use of the lattice die on thin scraps of card, and it makes a nice border I may try threading ribbon through it too, end of tips for today.

Love Jean xx