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Well....that kind of depends. How much time are they going to take for you to make them? How many layers? How much will each one cost you to make?
It's always hard to decide what to charge. That is my least favorite part of stamping. Just be sure not to under charge. Your time and talent is worth something!!
OK, so I used to sell wedding invitations, and the first thing I asked when someone said they'd need 200 invitations was were they expecting to have 400 guests at the wedding. They quickly realized they only needed 100 invitations (one per household). That said, I won't sell a card for less than $2 for the most basic, so at least $400 for 200 cards.
You can't give her a price without knowing what she wants (been there, done that!).
Make a few quick samples (basic (no layers); one layer; blow-the-roof-off fancy), price the samples based on supplies & time to assemble the supplies. Are you including envelopes (good question, right??)?
If you are not sure which way to go on the samples, ASK her. (hey, is your wedding formal? beachy? flowery? do you know your colors?)
[QUOTE=phunkymama;6960817]OK, so I used to sell wedding invitations, and the first thing I asked when someone said they'd need 200 invitations was were they expecting to have 400 guests at the wedding. QUOTE]
Thank you for saying this! I asked her about that and she said 'wow I did overestimate' and put it down to about 300 guests and wants ~150 cards.
Eight million dollars! I just finished my own Save the Date cards, so I'm a bit biased...
The above poster is right about the numbers of cards needed for the number of guests. They need to go and count the number of actual invites they plan to send out and then add on about 10-15 more for the people they forgot about. I'd charge at least $2 per invite, if not twice that. They're a lot of work! Plus, you'll likely need to provide the envelopes and that adds to cost, especially if you use square envies like I did.
Eight million dollars! I just finished my own Save the Date cards, so I'm a bit biased...
The above poster is right about the numbers of cards needed for the number of guests. They need to go and count the number of actual invites they plan to send out and then add on about 10-15 more for the people they forgot about. I'd charge at least $2 per invite, if not twice that. They're a lot of work! Plus, you'll likely need to provide the envelopes and that adds to cost, especially if you use square envies like I did.
I actually intend on using regular invitation envies that I'll get at office max and add that cost in. I'm worried about this now. :( How long did it take you?
What kind of "'save the date" notices does she want? We received a cute little card from my DH's friends in the Christmas card they sent us last year. The main piece was maybe 1/8 of a sheet of black card stock. On top of this was the wording that was printed via a computer/printer onto white card stock that was stuck to the black. They had a black and white polka dot ribbon threaded through the top. The wording was very simple too. Basically just:
Save the Date!
FName LName and FName LName
Have set the date of
Month Day Year
More information to come!
Are you going to be making the invitations too? If not, does she know what she wants for them? Should the Save the Date cards be similar to the invitations? Does she want these to be an actual card that folds or maybe a postcard size that can easily be stuck to someone's refrigerator to be seen easily? If she wants the postcard size, does she want them mailed naked or in an envelope?
Kimberly
__________________ "There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness." -- Dave Barry
What kind of "'save the date" notices does she want? We received a cute little card from my DH's friends in the Christmas card they sent us last year. The main piece was maybe 1/8 of a sheet of black card stock. On top of this was the wording that was printed via a computer/printer onto white card stock that was stuck to the black. They had a black and white polka dot ribbon threaded through the top. The wording was very simple too. Basically just:
Save the Date!
FName LName and FName LName
Have set the date of
Month Day Year
More information to come!
Are you going to be making the invitations too? If not, does she know what she wants for them? Should the Save the Date cards be similar to the invitations? Does she want these to be an actual card that folds or maybe a postcard size that can easily be stuck to someone's refrigerator to be seen easily? If she wants the postcard size, does she want them mailed naked or in an envelope?
Kimberly
OOH! I like this idea! A postcard size would save money on cardstock and time. That's how I've always seen them. I personally would mail them in an envie cause I just don't like having all my information out there but will ask her about that.
See NOW I have ideas just flowing and I'm not home to play with them! *WHINE*
WHOOHOO... she likes the idea of a postcard. That will save a LOT of paper! She also liked the idea of a simple background with a ribbon on top. I think we have a design. I hope. That sounds simple enough!
Before she gets an idea in her head of what she wants to pay you, you should visit a stationery store, a card shop or a wedding shop and see what they cost to have them printed. Your highest imaginable price may seem like a bargain after that sticker shock. Then you can make some money and still help out a friend.
Mary Beth
Before she gets an idea in her head of what she wants to pay you, you should visit a stationery store, a card shop or a wedding shop and see what they cost to have them printed. Your highest imaginable price may seem like a bargain after that sticker shock. Then you can make some money and still help out a friend.
Mary Beth
Actually now a days you would be quite surprised...I have been researching for my sisters wedding and I thought - well I can just make them...I told her to go on-line and find a few she liked and let me know...
cost wise for me to do them buy the time I bought all the materials I would need to make them it would only be "saving" about $75 - that is just for the materials - I would still have to stamp and put them all together.
As far as the orginal poster goes - best bet is to figure out the cost of materials per card and double or triple that - so if it costs .50 per card - then charge $1 - $1.50 per card depending on the complexity.
__________________ Jenni -Happy SU Demo - MY GALLERY & MY CHAOTIC LIFE One kid makes you a Parent - Two makes you a Referee
Might give you ideas..... Their prices aren't very expensive one of the designs I looked at was 150 for $111 -- with free shipping. (I looked at the flourishes one that is shown on the main page.) I think their cards are postcard size and include the envelopes.
__________________ "There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness." -- Dave Barry
Actually now a days you would be quite surprised...I have been researching for my sisters wedding and I thought - well I can just make them...I told her to go on-line and find a few she liked and let me know...
cost wise for me to do them buy the time I bought all the materials I would need to make them it would only be "saving" about $75 - that is just for the materials - I would still have to stamp and put them all together.
As far as the orginal poster goes - best bet is to figure out the cost of materials per card and double or triple that - so if it costs .50 per card - then charge $1 - $1.50 per card depending on the complexity.
I guess I have inflated prices in my head from too many "platinum" wedding shows on TV!
Mary Beth
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This is one that I did for a friend's in-law's 50th anniversary. We printed it out as a 4x6 photo. Then we matted it on a thin black layer with a larger gold layer. We used the same gold CS as SU! but we bought it a MILLION times cheaper at a local paper store. It was $15 for 50 sheets and I could get 2 per sheet. What a deal! This was just a photo of them, made true B&W, softened the edges and then added the text.
I would say around $1.50-$2 per for a postcard type. But even just buying envelopes is expensive!
I am not buying envelopes. I told her what kind and where she can get them. So that is an expense I won't have to bear.
I really think I can do them for no more than $0.50 a card if I'm doing the math right on the design we are looking at. She is on a budget wedding so I don't want to break her for just 'save the date' cards.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lutheran
I guess I have inflated prices in my head from too many "platinum" wedding shows on TV!
Hee, heee, heeeeee! DD (12) and I have been watching those lately and even she says that's just a waste of money for one day! She'd rather use that kind of money for a house! PHEW! That bodes well for DH and I, eh?!?
This is one that I did for a friend's in-law's 50th anniversary. We printed it out as a 4x6 photo. Then we matted it on a thin black layer with a larger gold layer. We used the same gold CS as SU! but we bought it a MILLION times cheaper at a local paper store. It was $15 for 50 sheets and I could get 2 per sheet. What a deal! This was just a photo of them, made true B&W, softened the edges and then added the text.
That is GORGEOUS!!!!!
I don't really know where to get heavy cardstock to act as the postcard base. We aren't putting any layers.
Hee, heee, heeeeee! DD (12) and I have been watching those lately and even she says that's just a waste of money for one day! She'd rather use that kind of money for a house! PHEW! That bodes well for DH and I, eh?!?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by austamper
I really think I can do them for no more than $0.50 a card if I'm doing the math right on the design we are looking at. She is on a budget wedding so I don't want to break her for just 'save the date' cards.
Krista,
You just have to decide what's right for you. I don't want you later on realizing that it's a LOT more work than you thought and feel like you were "cheated" on your time/talent, etc. That's a LOT of Save the Dates. And personally, if she's going to pay for save the dates and is having a wedding that she's invited over 200 people to...maybe cutting back on the amount of people or NOT doing save the dates and just sending out her invitations a little bit earlier would be a better option for the "budget". I just know TOOOO many "friend crafters" that end up getting "screwed" because they undercharge for a product/service. Be Kind to yourself and I can't wait to see what you guys come up with collaboratively!
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Krista,
You could also just throw out the option to her of a photo save the date kind of card. Those are really nice as well and a MUCH better price point option. I designed 1 for a friend of a friend's daughter's 15th bday party. She did them because it was at the end of the school year and knew that a lot of the kids were having end of the year parties and wanted to make sure that people could attend her DD's party. I designed it in PhotoShop in about 15 minutes, she had them printed out @ Sam's Club......super cheap, super easy, and looked REALLY nice!
You just have to decide what's right for you. I don't want you later on realizing that it's a LOT more work than you thought and feel like you were "cheated" on your time/talent, etc. That's a LOT of Save the Dates. And personally, if she's going to pay for save the dates and is having a wedding that she's invited over 200 people to...maybe cutting back on the amount of people or NOT doing save the dates and just sending out her invitations a little bit earlier would be a better option for the "budget". I just know TOOOO many "friend crafters" that end up getting "screwed" because they undercharge for a product/service. Be Kind to yourself and I can't wait to see what you guys come up with collaboratively!
I know... Your right and I am trying not to do that to myself.
You could also just throw out the option to her of a photo save the date kind of card. Those are really nice as well and a MUCH better price point option. I designed 1 for a friend of a friend's daughter's 15th bday party. She did them because it was at the end of the school year and knew that a lot of the kids were having end of the year parties and wanted to make sure that people could attend her DD's party. I designed it in PhotoShop in about 15 minutes, she had them printed out @ Sam's Club......super cheap, super easy, and looked REALLY nice!
I am a total dumb dumb when it comes to photoshop... I would be no help. *LOL*
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I found the ones that I did for Erica's BDay. This is the first one that I designed and my friend thought HER friend would just LOVE:
Turned out that the party had a 'theme'....I use that term loosely. The 'theme' was "Glow Sticks"....uh, 'theme'? Okay, whatever! So I made THIS Save the Date card instead:
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Okay, not so huge now. I KNOW! I LOVED that first one too and so did my friend....she printed it out and was about to PEE her PANTS when she showed her friend and then the friend's reaction was like, "Well...that's NICE, but not really what I'm looking for! Could she make another one?" I was kinda ticked because the first one was SOOO pretty, and the other one just looked kind......icky. But she called me almost in TEARS about the 2nd one, just AMAZED that I could make the invitation "glow" like that. It was "perfect"! (YUCK!)
I actually intend on using regular invitation envies that I'll get at office max and add that cost in. I'm worried about this now. :( How long did it take you?
Let's see, I think I made 86. Mine are gatefold square cards. The base is Bazzill Crimson paper and I cut all of them myself to make 5 1/2 by 5 1/2 inch squares (because Bazzill envies are 5 7/8 squares). The front of the card has polka dot ribbon wrapped around it in the middle. Then there's a stamped cake on Very Vanilla and a little saying (all in black). I think the VV piece is 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches. I backed the VV piece with a black piece of CS. That's secured over the closing of the card. On the inside, I have a 5x5 black piece as the backing for the wording, and then printed the wording on VV and cut it to 4 1/2 by 4 1/2. Then I stamped the swirly thing from Baroque Motifs on top of the wording in River Rock (stamped off once first). I printed the insides myself on a laser printer. I did them in two series - I did a set of 56 of these back in October. They took me about a day to make. I did a second set of them (30 more) this week, and they took me maybe 3-4 hours. I spread it out over several evenings. I'm usually really fast, but I ran out of some of my supplies and kept having to go digging! I'd post a pic, but I've long since lost the camera cords in my messy apartment and my camera battery has run out, so I have to wait until it surfaces during my upcoming move before I can post anything!
I like the postcard idea - much easier to do and less expensive to mail. However, if you're doing the ribbon tie through, I suggest you secure the ribbon down to the card completely so it won't get mangled in the mail or returned for additional postage. You may be able to do this easily by just running the tied ribbon through a Xyron. You won't be able to actually run it through the card that way, but you can get a similar look.
Those photo cards are really cool. That's actually the kind of save the date cards I've received from others in the past.
How much do I charge?
