Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
A luxury greeting card company that uses archival papers, 23-carat gold, as well as precious and semi-precious stones, is selling a Christmas card for $5,000. The Florida-based card company, Gilded Age Greetings, makes its luxury cards to emulate the manuscripts crafted during the Middle Ages, in the hope people will see them as 'cherished heirloom for generations'. The company's opulent Christmas card, part of its Grand Couture collection, sits alongside graduation, anniversary, wedding and birthday cards made from diamonds, emeralds and sapphires.
Expensive Christmas: Gilded Age Greetings, a luxury card company that uses archival papers, 23-carat gold, and precious and semi-precious stones, is selling this Christmas card for $5,000
For $5,000, the Christmas card is hand-painted in a traditional Renaissance technique using calf vellum adorned with precious stones, before being hand gilded with 23-carat gold. It also comes with a pair of complimentary white gloves for proper handling.
A Chanukah card is also featured, in the company's Couture section, but it is $2,500 less expensive. Meanwhile, the Signature collection includes a selection of greeting cards for $450.
Tapping into the nostalgia of greeting card traditions, which began with the ancient Chinese and Egyptians who sent good wishes on papyrus scrolls, the website describes each of its cards as 'a masterwork of design and detail, a fabulous and luxurious gift of taste and refinement.'
Opulent greetings: This limited edition Peacock greeting card with Swarovski Crystals sells for $425 (left); while a handmade anniversary card will cost $375
Cards are a girl's best friend? A limited edition Beautiful Birthday with Roses card is $375 (left); and a Valentines Day 'I Love You' Couture card will set you back $2,250
It was by the 15th century that Europeans circulated hand-made paper greeting cards, and with improvements in printing during the 1850s, cards became more affordable as a personal means of correspondence.
Advancements in color printing in the early Thirties propelled the greeting card industry to new heights, Hallmark being the industry's longstanding frontrunner. So Melissa Schechter, a self-proclaimed master penman, and illuminator Rosemary Buczek founded Gilded Age Greetings in an effort to provide the public with couture greeting cards.
Gilded gift: Hand painted in a traditional Renaissance technique using calf vellum, the cards also come with a pair of complimentary white gloves for proper handling
AT&T, Exxon, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Sony, and The U.S. Army are just a few clients that have bought cards from Gilded Age Greetings. During the Gettysburg Address to the President in 2010, Barack Obama was also given a Grand Couture card from the company
Quite frankly, I've seen better cards on SCS. And our members GIVE theirs away to charities like MD Anderson and military recognition organizations. Still, it is good to dream. . .Thanks for sharing.
__________________ Jean2009 Stamping Royalty, Papercraft Magazine; Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen, 2016; Proud Fan Club Member; Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Am I the only one that thinks these are ugly??? maybe it is the gold??? not sure but NOT my style....or price range!!!
I'm not impressed with them either. I certainly would not pay that kind of money for a card, but then there are people out there will pay crazy amounts of money on stupid things up for auction on Ebay.
I used to do illumination in the SCA and think some of those cards are pretty gorgeous. I still have my materials. I wonder if I can recreate it? Granted, without the actual gems ...
HaHaHa!! That article is so true of what people think. If it were me, I would have encouraged my neighbor to "make her own". I would have had her choose a sample of the kind she would like to make, and given her a list of basic supplies and tools, the general range in cost for each, and where she can get them. I'm sure the start up cost for her first card would have put things into perspective.
Although I can appreciate the skill, time and special materials applied to those christmas cards, I still would not ever pay thousands of dollars to send one to somebody.
All the cards I make cost (me) about $300-500 each. My own fault of course... I can't stop buying stamping supplies!! Help I am addicted!!
I don't want to think about my cost. I buy way more supplies than cards I make. I probably can be considered more of a supply collector than a card maker. Also, I am OCD about organizing and constantly change, re-arrange and purchase storage items which adds up as well. I think perhaps organizing maybe my true hobby.;)
Yes!!! I would rather have one $5,000 dollar ring than a card sprinkled with small chips. I'm sure they are only industrial grade. High quality diamonds would not be broken down into small chips. Even in the jewelry business, industrial grade is generally used for pave unless you buy high end.
All the cards I make cost (me) about $300-500 each. My own fault of course... I can't stop buying stamping supplies!! Help I am addicted!!
Describes me also, except that I don't want to be helped.
I've often thought about getting a custom stamp made that says something to the effect of "yes, I save money making my own cards. For example, this card cost only $299.95" or maybe leave the amount blank so I could fill in the amount.
StamperDea
Don't you hate it when you give someone a really nice card and they just throw it away?
Seriously, how would someone know to "recycle" the embellies?
Everyone that I know appreciates my hand made cards, they know what the labor & time I make in each one. If for some reason someone wants to throw my card I give them, I would be hurt knowing that they did.
I totally agree with you on the embellies, people don't know. If it was me, I'd be attacking the embellies.
Everyone that I know appreciates my hand made cards, they know what the labor & time I make in each one. If for some reason someone wants to throw my card I give them, I would be hurt knowing that they did.
I totally agree with you on the embellies, people don't know. If it was me, I'd be attacking the embellies.
Connie, I send lots and lots of cards, and I'm always so touched when someone says they keep them.
That said, I am pretty philosophical about my cards though. Once they are given, they have accomplished their purpose. I know that not everyone is inclined to keep cards they receive, handmade or not. I don't give too much thought to what happens to them after they are sent.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
__________________ 2 cats short of the Crazy Cat Lady (5 Ragdolls RIP Katie DSH, RIP little Merlot Flame Ragdoll & Sunna Torbie Ragdoll- we miss you! Damn FIP) http://rebecca-rebeccasemptynest.blogspot.com/
So your friends think hand made cards are 'Cheap"
