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Have you ever found yourself keeping a card you made
simply because it turn out so pretty or just because you want to look at it, over and over again?
I have made three cards lately for some friends, that turn out so pretty and much better than I thought they would, that I just can't bear to part with them!
Please tell me I am not selfish and inconsiderate!!! :-D
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Tee-hee! I justify it by telling myself that I'm keeping them so I can remember how to make them again. Usually I will duplicate them and send them off but occasionally when I need a card in a hurry they will get sent on.
I usually make a dozen at a time. (That means I net 8 or 9). One goes into my "keep" box and the rest are either given out as the occasion warrants, or in a pack of 4 as a gift. You're not selfish; just make 2 at a time! It only takes a few more minutes because all of your supplies are already out and ready to go.
__________________ Debbie "Make it work, people." - Tim Gunn My Gallery
I did that a couple of times, and then realized that they were going into a box and I wasn't really looking at them anyway. Now I just make sure to take a picture before they are mailed. I'm more likely to look back at the pictures, anyway
I keep my new cards pinned on my "JUST MADE IT" board. Then I get sick of it and in the "Giveaway" bin it goes! Haha...I have to get sick of looking at it first ;)
I always make multiples (12 or more) of every card I make and send. I save one for me because gosh darn it after all of the work I do to make pretty things for everyone else I deserve something pretty for my desk too. My husband and daughter always give me a card when the occasion demands it ( and I do appreciate the fact that they remembered me) but they are generic, store bought, run of the mill, last minute and no thought put into them. So I try to be good to myself.
Anna Lee
When I make a really good one I send it to my Mom because she displays all of my creations like they are museum quality or something. She just recently moved in with us and I told her we would have to find room to set up her card gallery again. She was pleased to hear that.
__________________ Barbara SU! Demo with a Blog
Procrastinators of the world unite... tomorrow!
simply because it turn out so pretty or just because you want to look at it, over and over again?
I have made three cards lately for some friends, that turn out so pretty and much better than I thought they would, that I just can't bear to part with them!
Please tell me I am not selfish and inconsiderate!!! :-D
Yes, I've done this a couple of times. I just didn't think they'd be appreciated in sufficient proportion to their gorgeousness by the people I'd originally made them for ;)
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
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Frame it! Display it! It's a work of art!
Otherwise there are some other really good ideas others have posted.
I always send mine, but I can understand keeping them for awhile and displaying them.
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Last edited by Allistamps123; 04-03-2014 at 10:54 PM..
I'm in both camps. I take a picture, yes,and most of mine go into my regular send/use for gifts box, but I have a "keeper" box too. I cull it every once in a while, and will use cards from that box for extra-special people. I don't, to be honest, know why I do keep some of them; because I don't use a lot of DP and supplies so most of mine would be easy to replicate.
But no, you're not odd, it's totally normal ;-) in my opinion.
I'd add not only take a picture but begin a recipe book that has your measurements and supplies (ex., color of ink) used to recreate even quicker.
August29....you actually still receive cards? Great!! My family stopped giving them to me. They claim they can't find any as good. On one occasion I actually received one of my own.
I keep pictures of my cards. If it is one you want to look at for a while use it as a screen saver on your computer and then send it to the friend/relative it was made for so others will enjoy too.
__________________ Mary Jo
prairiepapercrafter.blogspot.com
Totally understand what you are saying. I haven't done this with a whole card but have lots of stamped scenes, backgrounds etc that I put away for someday... and yet... someday has yet to arrive, lol.
Cobrylin: I do get cards from my husband and daughter and I keep each and every one of them. But, I don't make handmade cards for my husband because he doesn't have a sentimental bone in his body and it would just land in the trash can. Which is really strange because that was how I met ( he says trapped ) him. My friend dared me to send a Valentine card to the cute mailman we had seen around town. Not wanting to send an ordinary card I made one out of two sheets of 22 x 28 inch poster board and mailed it to him. Long story short it must have worked because 28 years later he still laughs about it......and he didn't save it...it went in the garbage can.
Anna Lee
I literally have hundreds of cards I have made and never sent to anyone. I occasionally do manage to send or give a card, but for the most part...not. I finally started selling them on Etsy. While I can't bear to write in them (thus spoiling their beauty), I am glad to sell them to someone else who will. Having cash to buy more stamps to make more cards that I can't send and must sell to buy more stamps to make more cards...well, it just makes it all better.
Almost all of my cards are made for a reason and not just to have in my stash eg: it's for a birthday or a particular occasion, so I rarely keep them because they have to go in the mail - but just every so often I love a card so much that I will keep it for a while. Those "kept" cards usually end up in the mail later on when I need a card urgently and I don't have time to make one. I guess I figure that if I take a photo of my card and it's here on SCS, I can always look at anytime I want. I think I kept more cards early on in my cardmaking.
What a great topic. I have a rubbermaid bin full of cards I refuse to give away because they are so nice. I'm forcing myself to use my cards as of late.
Does the fact that I have a photobox labeled "keeper samples" answer your question? :oops:
In all seriousness though, I do have such a box. There are a very small handful of cards in that box that I made and just couldn't bear to part with (and I do cull those once in a while. Sometimes a year or two later, the urge to keep it just isn't as strong.), but I do keep quite a few in that box that are samples of techniques or folds or layouts that I want to remember and use again.
__________________ "You may not have lost all your marbles, but there's definitely a hole in the bag." Grumpy Cat
I make cards everyday and have a huge stash. Sometimes I can't bare to part with them, but the attachment wears off after a while and I send them if needed. I supply a lot of relatives with cards (25 at a time), and I did get one of my cards and it was like seeing an old friend. My daughter saves all the cards I make and send to her and a few times I have seen one laying around her house and admired it before I realize I made it! That's what happens when you get too old and make too many cards.
__________________ Millie I joined the Fan Club... So Many Stamps...So Little Time!
I usually make a dozen at a time. (That means I net 8 or 9). One goes into my "keep" box and the rest are either given out as the occasion warrants, or in a pack of 4 as a gift. You're not selfish; just make 2 at a time! It only takes a few more minutes because all of your supplies are already out and ready to go.
The hardest, or at least most time consuming, part is the design process. I usually make a few at a time too
I take photos of my cards before I send them, along with a post-it note listing who I sent it to and the occasion. I can't tell you how many times someone came to me and said "I just loved your card!" and I couldn't remember which one I sent them. I send out lots of cards. I sent five just a couple of days ago, 2 get well, 1 sympathy and 2 thinking of you. This seems to happen a lot. I never send a card without taking the identifying photo. Well, almost never. Once in awhile I get busy and forget, then kick myself!
__________________ Sylvia D.
Melodious Mingler Grandma My Gallery
I, too, have a few cards I can't bear to part with. Most of those were made for SCS challenges and turned out exceptionally well. But I have so many cards for the challenges that just go in my stash because if I'm making cards for a specific reason/person they are not generally challenge cards and do get given. My stash doesn't grow too large, though, because I include them with my Hope You Can Cling To challenge cards that are sent to MD Anderson each year in October. If you've not participated in this fabulous challenge I encourage you to do so this October. It's an amazing experience (and there are terrific prizes!)
__________________ JodyLynn - "Love me - love my cats!" DTGD12, DTGD14, HYCCT12, HYCCT13, HYCCT14, HYCCT15, Love Fest 2013, Love Fest 2014 CAS and CC guest designer QFTD 258
I was so afraid I would forget what I did and not be able to do it again. I finally realized the cards were like my kids school projects- I got out the camera and opened up an album in my digital photo program. The bottom line with paper is that eventually, pretty much no matter what you do, it's going to fail you. Unless it's in an acid free scrapbook you can't keep that card, tag, or whatever forever. So best to make peace and find a way to move on.
I take photos of my cards before I send them, along with a post-it note listing who I sent it to and the occasion. I can't tell you how many times someone came to me and said "I just loved your card!" and I couldn't remember which one I sent them. I send out lots of cards. I sent five just a couple of days ago, 2 get well, 1 sympathy and 2 thinking of you. This seems to happen a lot. I never send a card without taking the identifying photo. Well, almost never. Once in awhile I get busy and forget, then kick myself!
This is a brilliant system. I need to start implementing it ASAP!
LOL! I just did this last night! My mom wanted me to make a birthday card for her coworker and I love it so much, I don't want to give it to her, haha! I also feel this way when I make tags. I will tell the person you are NOT allowed to throw this away!
I always make an extra card when I make a special card. On the back of that one, I put a sticky note with the materials and measurements, so that if I ever want to re-create it, I can do it quickly. Like some others, I've also evolved in my creativity so that some of my earlier cards do not excite me any more, and I give them away, in packets, to family and friends.
I always make 2 cards- one to send and one for my portfolio. I also have a digital copy but there is just something about looking at and feeling the real deal
I do both. I usually always keep an extra for me in a binder in year order. I am not worried about the recipe because I am not doing anything so complicated I cant tell by just looking at it. This allows me to avoid duplicating designs for holiday cards, and I can see my skill progress over time which is important since as a newbie I get very frustrated sometimes when I cant get a concept to work.
Sometimes I will take pics but somehow I seem to have lost that file (ack!) and I really prefer to touch to think about what I have embossed, etc.
Maybe down the road when I have a LOT of them I might re-think this but for now I like it.
I have 2 cards that I have hung on to. They are encaustic pictures. I couldn't reproduce them in a blue fit and I was so surprised when they actually looked like scenes. I have had them on my wall for over a year. Eventually I will probably pass them on, but they were so far out of my normal skill level, that I admit that I am proud of them. Glenda
Over the years I have made soooo many cards and have always kept one copy of each either in an album or in photo boxes by subject ( Get well, Halloween, Winter, etc.) along with the patterns and instructions. I want to "see" a tangible card. I don't trust keeping pictures of them anywhere.
I used to make 4 of each card---one to send for the person it was designed for and 3 others with a different greeting or blank. One of those I kept in a binder with the instructions on a sticky note and who it was made for. After filling at least a dozen 4" binders with cards, I decided that I would have to get a bigger craft room if I continued, as I make about 15 different cards a month---more for holidays. So three years ago, I began scanning them into my computer or taking photos of those that were unscannable and also wrote the directions in a text program. I have done them by season and also theme. I have been giving all of these to my sister so she can send them to others. I still have about 200 Christmas cards to go and maybe 75 leaf cards (all sorts of greetings or blank). I had no idea it would take this long, but had thousands of cards without realizing it. My sis just loves them and often saves some to display for seasons. I came across some I wanted to save, mostly for decoration, but I only have 2 full binders and that may be it. I no longer make so many of each card as I have boxes and boxes of extras, so always have a card for most needs. I still make individual birthday cards and holiday cards for everyone on my list, but seldom do I make extras unless I'm getting low on thank you cards or sympathy. Just can't save everything anymore no matter how much I like them, but I do understand the desire to.
Have you ever found yourself keeping a card you made
