This hobby is starting to cause some stress

[Oddesigns]

:rolleyes:

I just finished 120 wedding invites. That burned me out a bit. Now I realize I have a bunch of imminent birthdays, I was hoping to get some Thanksgiving cards done, I need to make 120 wedding thank-you cards, and I'm two months behind on my Christmas Card challenge.

Then, I was talking to a friend, who has a friend who owns a local picture framing business. In addition to the main business, the store also carries some items from local artists like jewelry and handbags. My friend talked to her friend, and arranged to have me bring in samples of my cards on Friday! Ack! I don't make duplicates so I'm going to have to redo some of my favorite cards. This was just an idea, and I haven't even thought about pricing, commission, commitment, angel policies, etc. I'm excited, but I'm also a little stressed.

It's funny that my "fun" activity is now causing a little stress. I usually only get stressed in December when I try to make all 80+ cards at once.

[Loretia]

I love the line from an old movie entitled "Renaissance Man". "The choices we make dictate the life we lead".
I feel for you. I turned down an opportunity to sell cards I make for the very reasons you are talking about. I was afraid it wouldn't be "fun" anymore and would turn into "work". I realize I'm losing out on some money, but the fun and "therapy" I get from making cards it's worth the loss to me.
Balance is so daggone hard to find!
I know you can clearly take pride in your work that it is in such demand.
Just make the choices that work best for you in the long run.
Good luck!

[fionna51]

Man, does that all sound familiar! Not always just with cards, but with other life-things.

The list:
A few birthdays,
Thanksgiving,
Wedding thank you's,
Christmas cards,
Some samples

What would I do if I was in your position right now? Either I would simplify or I would eliminate the unnecessary. Maybe make all the same thanksgiving cards...and mass produce them. Make them and the wedding thank you's simple. Use a couple of these for the sample collection. Make just a few of each of the CCC cards...and put one of each in the sample collection too. Make 2 of each birthday card and put one in your sample collection.

I have gotten to the point where I have a large stash of cards on hand. That doesn't mean I always have the best card for a certain person, but at least I don't have to always be making cards at the last minute. And if people want to buy some, I have lots of choices for them.

[Oddesigns]

Thanks for the suggestions, Diane.

I would love to "get ahead". My goal for the year was to get all birthday cards mailed on-time (traditionally, I either sent them late or didn't make them at all), get a few cards mailed for each major holiday, and get my Christmas Cards done before December.

The wedding invites threw a wrench into the plans. I was only late for two birthdays, thankfully.

I would love to concentrate next on having the birthday and holiday cards done in advance. That may be next year's goal.

The card sales is something I've toyed with, but always dismissed because I don't want my hobby to become work. That's why I'm not bothering with craft fairs or anything that requires that I actively spend time selling. If I can have a basket or display in a store somewhere, I think I could handle that. A coworker just started a cheesecake business, and once she establishes a store, I could put some cards there. She just does craft fairs, farmers markets, and direct orders now. If there's no demand, then I haven't lost much.

I've had a few people suggest that I also do wedding invites. I don't want to go there. So many reasonable women become absolute terrors when then get engaged. I don't think I could handle that.

[xayide2]

That's a lot of wedding cards to make. I think I would have bought some nice ones that I liked, and them embellished them some more to save time and sanity.

I've got a list too:

Christmas Cards
Neighborhood gifts
Stocking Stuffers/Co-workers gifts
Treats for an upcoming cookie party

I say skip the cards to sell this season and if you'd like, bring it back up with birthday cards. Everyone uses those!

[Mindykid]

wedding cards would give me the willies - bridezillas and all!

I just sold a ton of cards at a craft fair for $2 each including envelopes. I probably could have charged $3 and still sold a lot of them. Compared to paying $5 at the store, it's still a deal.

I also made 50 gift tags and they sold out @ $1 each.

[Cook22]

In this case I'd let the non-duplicate stance go by the board and make duplicates at least for the wedding thank-yous and probably for Thanksgiving too, thinking of the date.
On the other friend of a friend, am I understanding that they'd sell cards you have, rather than that you'd be making cards to sell? That's not so bad, I used to do that with my sister; I'd just give her three dozen or so cards that were cards I'd wanted to make just for fun, not cards I'd made to sell. But is there any time imperative on that, or could you, at the meeting, just show your samples and say that with it being a busy time of year you wouldn't be in a position to supply any till after Christmas?
I think making them to sell takes the fun out it. I stressed and sweated over a new baby card commission from a work colleague of DH's. She wanted specific things, and I hated making it the whole time I did it. She paid me two and a half times what I charged, so that made it easier, LOL.

[Kgeans]

Can you take digital pictures of your cards instead of duplicate cards?

[Cathy H]

I'd skip Thanksgiving cards.

[fairsinger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathy H

I'd skip Thanksgiving cards.

I agree. I'd concentrate on the samples for Friday and skip the Thanksgiving cards. I'd also make duplicates (you can make several birthday cards as samples for Friday and for your use at the same time). Since you'll be visiting the business owner the day after Thanksgiving, he/she may be very busy and not have time to look at a lot of samples, so I would use the "I-know-you're-busy-so-I-just-brought-a-small-sampling" line and offer to bring in more samples next week if he/she is interested. My guess is that once the owner sees your work, he/she will know if they are interested in pursuing a business relationship with you and then you can go from there.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Good luck, and try not to stress!

[lylacfey]

We don't eat elephants! I love elephants

I am going to say something card blasphemous. Go to Dollar Tree and pick out some cards. I know I am horrible. I won't eat an elephant and I buy store bought cards. I have been in your same spot and hit the wall so fast. I decided to prioritize. I make a list of what is most important work on that first. Once done I go to the next item. If some things on my list don't get finished that is great. There is always something new on my list to make up for it. I prioritize my list on Thursday night because I take the weekend off to spend with my DH. I start crafting again on Sunday.

Skip the Thanksgiving cards.

[ceramicat1]

I think I would ask myself what I wanted from cardmaking and prioritize accordingly.

And are you sure the store owner wants you to bring samples by on Black Friday?

[PedalPower]

And this, my dear crafty friends, is why I order photo greeting cards every year. I love to make cards, but this time of year is just too much. I do a large order for a client every year and that's about it as far as holiday cards go. It's just too much, so I do the photo cards and have totally forgiven myself about it. It means I enjoy my hobby during a very stressful time of year in general and I still send out a holiday greeting, so it's a win-win for everyone!!

[fairsinger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lylacfey

We don't eat elephants! I love elephants

I am going to say something card blasphemous. Go to Dollar Tree and pick out some cards.

You know, I always hated that elephant quote when someone would say it to me, but I still quote it because it's been driven into my head!! ;-) I am glad someone has admitted to buying cards at Dollar Tree...I sometimes think we feel like we "have" to make cards when there's nothing wrong with buying them to save ourselves some stress. My thank-you notes for my baby shower gifts have all been packs of thank-you cards I bought in a store, but the important thing is that I sent thank-yous with heartfelt messages. Since I didn't have to make the cards, I was able to take more time to think about what I wanted to write inside each one and I think it was just as personal as a card I'd designed myself!

[hoptownracer1]

If I were in your position, I would probably do store bought cards for Christmas and Thanksgiving, if you are wanting to get into making and selling cards. I would definately skip Thanksgiving cards either way. I would probably take a break if I could. I learned the hard way that sometimes we have to tell ourselves and others NO, or we will make ourselves sick. That is what happened to me, and I still struggle with it at times, because I line up too much to do, but now that my health isn't as good, I have to pace myself and prioritize and do what my body dictates. But I know everyone is different, I get stressed when I have to deal with a deadline.

[Scrapjanny]

I've learned - the hard way- to say no. I've had to do some serious prioritizing since I've gone back to almost full-time work, and it was a necessity. I've been asked to make cards and scrapbooks for people (who would pay me), but I had to sit down and ask myself what was really important in my life right now. Spending time with my family and making the things that I want to create for us is more important to me than a little extra money. I've even taken some time off from writing articles for which I was getting paid.

If you want to make cards for some much-needed income, then that might be a priority for you. You might have to lighten-up on the hand-made cards for your own personal use. Maybe a few special ones here and there.

Try not to over-commit yourself, and recognize your limitations. You'll be a happier and healthier person for it. Good luck with your decision.

[Oddesigns]

I got it back under control, with some help from here.

First, for the Thanksgiving cards, I pulled out every one I ever made at a workshop and sent those out to my family and a few select friends.

Second, I got a reprieve on the samples for the frame store due to unfortunate circumstances. The store owner lost her mother earlier this week, and she will not be in on Friday. Very sad.

I have all day Thanksgiving to make cards. I'm not celebrating until Friday, so Thursday is all mine.

When I said I don't make duplicates, it's not that I never repeat a card. It's just that I make only what I need to send. I don't make an extra for myself. I use my photo library to track what I've made. I don't have space to store an extra of everything that I make.

[CAKath]

I feel you.... Just mailed off 85 wedding favors for my sister's wedding on Friday. I am behind on my monthly family birthday cards. Finished all the HYCCT challenge cards but forgot to mail the box... Haven't started Christmas. It's just that time of year. Did I mention my corporate job? Speaking of which, better hop off. I take a deep breath and just re-evaluate what matters as I go. Let's try to channel some peace here going into the holiday season. Stamping hugs.

[LaLatty]

Hi Sue! I'm sorry you are starting to feel stressed. I was thinking of you the other day and wondering how you were making out with the invitations. Be sure to take time for yourself when you can and I'm glad things are getting better for you.

[Oddesigns]

Hi Patty. Thanks. The invites came out perfectly! The bride received a ton of compliments.

I guess what threw me this time was my friend arranging with the shop owner for me to drop off samples, without consulting with me first. When she told me, I was grateful that she is trying to help but I nearly panicked when I realized what she had done. She doesn't do any kind of crafting so I don't think she realizes the kind of time needed to prepare for something like that.