Hobbies and Crafts

I hope you are getting paid for all these cards Jean, don't let people take advantage of your good nature. And charge them a realistic price too. If you do too much you will start not enjoying your hobby. that is what it is love, a hobby to enjoy. And methinks you must learn to say no too. :-) :-) <3

I am getting well and truly cheesed off doing christmas cards, :-\ :-\ :-\
I have now made 200 + and still have more orders coming in,in fact I will say no to any more, havent done my own yet luckily I dont send many, small family, but lots of cyber friends, so will make a big effort to clear the back log.... my mind is starting to close down......lol...... l have some general ones to do, then I shall shut up shop. at least for a while.... ;-) ;-)the craft room looks like a disaster area, cant think were it as all come from....more white choc to keep me going I think :-D hope all fellow crafters are well and enjoying their crafting, some news telling us what you are up to would be nice.... time for some sweet and sour pork with mash and peas for tea so bye for now.
love Jean xx

I am very envious Ann.

I spent a lovely afternoon at the Hobby and Craft Fair at the NEC yesterday. OH found a footie match nearby to go to so I could browse for 3 hours!! It was like being in a sweetie shop as a child!! There were all kinds of workshops in progress and I enjoyed some of the demos. Needless to say I spent more than intended, but some things were cheaper than elsewhere and there was so much choice. Now all I need is another shelf putting up to keep things on!!

That is where I got my Art deco stuff from. I have to admit though the stamp is very difficult to colour successfully.

We are going to Range tomorrow, we need a new bread bin after hearing a top chef saying dont put bread in the fridge it goes stale very quickly, good excuse to have a peep at the craft stuff ....

Have you seen the new Papermania art deco stuff? I got some toppers and gems and bought the DoCrafts magazine that had a free stamp on the front so am looking forward to having a go with those. Pouring here today and OH gone on an away day golf so may have a go later. Was going into town but not in this weather I don't think! :-D

Well the ribbon didnt work too well, it was one of those days when it all went wrong , ....lol.... I managed to ruin three cards !! can you believe it ? I should have walked away , but didnt so now i have to see if I can salvage any of them...
did manage to do a few good cards though...luckily I have the die so can cut more if needed.....I found a load of small gift tags, trimmed them up and added them to the front of some cards, not too bad either....you can use all manner of things I made some flowers too...raining here so good excuse to craft...

love Jean x

Just made five cheque envelopes (like voucher envelopes only to take the cheques the Grandchildren and their partners have for Christmas.)

Well done Moonbi for making money without trying :-D How nice to give your friends 3 cards each to send though, a nice thought.

Jean thanks for that idea and let us know how the ribbon works.

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

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

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).

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 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?

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.

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

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).

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.

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