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I tend to make single cards because I'm so excited to use a stamp set and come up with as many things as I can. Then when I'm just about out of ideas for that set and I could start duplicating, I get a new set and tend to start over again. I do have a few "templates" that I seem to follow quite frequently with birthday and wedding cards, but that's because I think they're quick and elegant and I just love them. But otherwise, I like to tinker with my new ideas!
Hi Debbi -
When I am experimenting with a new design or technique, I will make 2 to 4 cards. One always goes into my "Show and Sell" box (unless it's a flop!) and the others go out as RAKS or to make a friend or relative's day. I do enjoy mass producing though. I make around 120 - 140 Christmas cards every year! I use 6 or 7 designs and make 20 of each design.
Great question and one I've wondered about, too!
I'm probably about 50-50. I definitely mass produce thank you and thinking of you cards. But for birthdays and family events I try to make them one of a kind.
Speaking of...now I'm off to make the thank you's for my son's birthday!
If I make a card and love it, I'll make 2 more of the same and keep one. If I make a card and like it but not love it, it goes right into my "to send" box And if I make a card and absolutely hate it, I figure out a way to salvege as much CS as I can and start over!
I guess that even when I do make many of what I call the "same" card they are never the "same". I may tear some or straight cut some, some postitioned straight and some at an angle, some landscape and some portrait. I guess in my case the only thing that may be the same is the color and the stamp set. :oops:
__________________ Debbi~SU Demo~SCS#6378 ~My Gallery~My SUO Blog~ Mother to 6 and Grandmother to Katie- 7/31/09 & Kyle-12/6/12
So far, the only things that I've made that have been the same are invitations and thank you cards. . .
For everything else, I try to just do one or two of the same and then tweak them some as well. I'm just trying to practice as much as possible and when I get ideas, I try them out.
__________________ Kathy
Proud Mama to Mason 4/3/99, Miles 5/25/02, and Maya 8/26/04
Interesting to see everyone else's different habits!
I tend to make a few originals, and when I come upon one I really like I usually make 8 - one goes in my sample basket, one to keep for myself to send out, and 6 to give away as a gift or send to sell to my mom and her coworkers. They love them! I had been making mostly originals, but I got so many requests for more of "that" card, and I could never remember how I made it! Now I have my "reference library" - and I can always go back and use the template.
Gretchen in SC
It took me FOREVER to do more than one card at a time.
Now, with joining the RAK group and making lots of friends on this site I find that I make as many as I can of one, especially if it's a "thinking of you" or that sort of card...
As well I want to start amassing so that come Xmas I can sell them at a craft fair locally. More $$ for stamps, right?!
__________________ ~Debbi~
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~Author Unknown
usually i cut a sheet of cardstock in half, pick a stamp set, and make two 'related' cards. very rarely are they exactly the same. if i really like it i might make 2 (or more) of it.
i stamp with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and we've determined these card relationships:
twins are exactly identical
siblings are very very similar yet often rearranged
cousins are usually the same colors and stamp set, but different train of thought
it amuses us, just thought i would share. another idea that worked great before i got a digital camera was to lay out 5 or so great cards and take snapshots. now we have a little 99 cent book full of great cards to CASE!
I always make a dozen of each design.
Don't know why I started doing it that way.
I fall in love with a stamp and work it!
Avian Toile was my best buddy!
My dear friend, Bonnie, is a "one-of-a-kind" original girl.
Interesting question.
Michelle
To keep the cards straight to who got one card or the other. A friend makes the same card for the year...1 for ladies, 1 for men, and 1 for kids. And making money at cards is only possible when you make multiples...time and supplies you get more for your buck.. But when I make 12 of the same I theme them happy birthday, thinking of you and thank you.... have fun
It takes me FOREVER to make just one card! I go through the whole creative analyzation / design process - then have to pick the colors, etc. etc. etc. (of course, now that I have found SCS, I can case some!)
I would love to mass-produce some. For those of you that do en masse, what's the best method? Cutting out everything first and then doing an assembly line, or what? Would love to hear others' processes!
We are hoping to move in the near future and as Masculine cards are hard for me, I came up with a neat one of an old car. I stamped on brown card stock cut it out and edged it with gold leaf pen. Then I had some old map paper. I cut that in a triangle so it goes corner to corner and set the car on it. I have about 25 of these made up. I make cards for all the members in our church so I have to have a few ready at all times. This card works up very fast and so I am able to get ahead for the time that we hope to be packing. I am now working on a card for the ladies. I do not put the happy birthday, get well or happy anniversary on the cards so that I can interchange them when needed.
I started out only making one or two. Then I went to 6. Now I do at least 12. It takes so long for me to decide how to make one. When I get going, I just can't quit. I sell a few to friends and am going to try a 1 day craft fair next month. I stay so busy with RAK cards, I'm getting low. I have been working on some Stella Stamper cards for RAK's, for 3 days, and still not done. I'm making 36!!! I do make approx 100 cards for Christmas too. Will get started on them after craft fair.
Also, I don't usually save any. My son bought me a scanner for Christmas, and a rewritable CD burner for Christmas. I just save them on CD. Some are still on disc.
Good Question!!
I started participating in swaps, which forced a certain amount of mass production. I got very bored with more than 10-15 at a time, however.
I tend to sell more of my cards than I sell stamp sets, and that is probably because I enjoy the art of stamping more than doing workshops and schlepping everything all over NY. My habits now tend toward making 10-16 cards at a time. Then I keep 2 to send and sell the others in packages of 4 with envelopes in the SU stationery boxes, which I adore. I sell these filled/decorated boxes for about $10-12 each - more if the cards are elaborate.
I have found, however, that many of my customers are looking for larger sized cards - both to make and to buy... Have the larger envelopes and the 12x12 cardstock in all our colors is nice for this.
In addition, if I'm just bored and watching tv with DH, I will stamp images to be cut out and colored with watercolor pencils or watercolored with blender pens - or bleached with the water brush. I get SOO much done this way, and it makes me feel more productive than just sitting and watching tv or stamping and ignoring the wonderful man to whom I am bless to be married.
All my best,
The OTHER Nancy in NY
__________________ You can always tell a real friend; When you've made a fool of yourself, he doesn't think you've done a permanent job.
- Lawrence J. Peter http://community.webshots.com/user/neighbor_nancy
If I like the way a card turned out, I may make one or two more but they NEVER come out as good as the first. Maybe I'm in too much of a hurry? I take digital pictures of all of my cards so if I have a creative block (or not more CASE's to look at!!) I can go to my digital file to get an idea.
I am a mass producer. Usually for christmas, Shower invites thank you's and anouncements and swaps.
We have a few months that have a lot of birthday's so it is easier to just make a bunch at once and have them signed and ready to mail.
It seems to me that it takes longer to come up with my own original idea cause you have to play around with everything to get it just right. I do come up with thngs on my own and of course the ideas come at the strangest times and places!
I guess I like both. I like the challenge of coming up with my own idea, but the ease of doing a bunch of something that I already know what I am doing makes it nice too.
Ohhh and to the question about the easiest way to mass produce is assembly line. Do all the cardstock cutting, then stamp/emboss/cut out or however it works best for you!
Ok speaking of mass production I have got to go and get these shower invites made up! Better get busy!
My sister who is my upline says she never makes the same card twice. She sells a lot so she doesn't keep even one as a sample, but I think she does take pictures. I like to make several if they turn out well. I just can't stand to only have one of something so beautiful (imo)! And I use the assembly line technique. Once you make the first one, which can take a long time to figure out just how you want to do it, the next 6 or 12 are easy. That's how I made over 100 Christmas cards last year. At first I felt overwhelmed, but when I sat down to count them, discovered I had already made 80. Nothing's more fun than stamping away a day!
I usually mass produce (unless I don't like it) because I'm trying to get up stock to sell, and because I like using them as gifts. I'm much more likely to actually give a gift if i have the cards already made (and can just grab them and go!).
Even when I'm not mass producing something, I usually make 3: one for my files, one for my upline, and one for my new recruit!
__________________ Geojlc --I never met a craft I didn't like!
it depends.... when I'm experimenting, there are varieties of the similar card. But, if it's the Christmas card, it's mass produced. All the others are one of a kind.
Mass produce or Single cards
