THOUGHTS ON PRESENTING YOUR BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED HANDMADE CARDS

After some research I noticed that there are a few things I must bear in mind when I make a greetings card.

1.  PUT THE CLEVER STUFF ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CARD

Generally speaking the recipient will stand the card on the mantlepiece with just the front showing, so if you have laboured long and hard over a spectacular inner to your card it will stay hidden from view and all your efforts will be in vain.
I have made some beautiful cards in my time with pop up and pop out inserts being the main attraction of the card, only to find them on the shelf with just the not so clever outside of the card showing.


2. MAKE THEM THE RIGHT SIZE TO FIT ON THE SHELF

 

Cards can only take up a certain amount of space.
The area available to most people for the display of cards is usually limited so if you have a card that pulls out a long way to the back or side the chances are, because it won't fit onto the shelf or takes up more than it's fair share of space the card will be viewed, admired and put back into the envelope.


3. MAKE IT VERY CLEAR HOW THE CARD SHOULD BE DISPLAYED

If you make any card that isn't purely a book or tent shape, ie an easel, shelf or any card that needs arranging on receipt, the chances are even when you provide instructions the recipient will not understand how to present the card and again the card will be popped back in the envelope.
I have been amazed at how some of my cards have been displayed.  The problem is that you have made the card, and  you know the way it should be arranged, but if you're not in the know ........... well.......??

I have tried printing instructions on the card itself.  But if you watch, the person will take the card out of the envelope and straight away try standing it up in either a book or tent like manner, overlooking the printed instructions.  
People don't look at the back of cards.

I have found that the best way is to make a wrapper for the card with instructions printed on it, so they have to be read before the card can be viewed.

SO.... bearing all this in mind, I try to make my cards 
a) clever on the outside
b) small enough to fit on any shelf and 
c) as easy to display as possible.

My research is still in progress, but since I've taken these ideas on board I've noticed that my cards have been much more appreciated as all my hard work is being shown of to best advantage. :0)

Please be kind - particularly if you download a freebie - and 'like' me on Facebook, Pinterest or Google+ or 'Stumble' upon me. 
 « The buttons are floating over there on the left - no excuses ;0)

FREE PRINTABLE HOT CROSS 'BUN'NY EASTER EGG BOX

Whoopee!  The sun is shining and it seems we'll be having a warm and sunny weekend.  Perhaps the Ark will be able to find dry land and we will be able to disembark.  :0)  Poor old Britain, we really seem to have had a hammering this year as far as the weather is concerned.
 

So.... as it looks as though Spring might be heading our way, and Easter is fast approaching, I thought I would share this fun Easter box - ideal for creme eggs and other goodies.

Now before we go any further I think I ought to explain why I have a box with a scowling bunny.

Are we the only country to have hot cross buns at Easter?  (They are a fruit bun with a cross marked on the top which we toast and are traditionally eaten on Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion)  When they come into the shops you know that Easter is on the way bringing with it Summer and some warm weather - can't wait!

I digress - As to how I came up with this stunning Easter bunny box idea -
  

The other day we were reading a story about a bunny who got stuck in a hole in a tree trunk, and he was a ......  hot cross bunny .... and my little butterfly brain suddenly had a lightbulb moment and I thought - how about a Hot Cross 'Bun'ny Box for the Tiddlers Easter eggs.  It's cute and you don't get too much sugar overload, always a problem on Easter Sunday.  Tiddlers tearing round like mad things on a sugar high is never a good thing when you have a house full of people!

So off I went to the trusty computer and came up with this.

The file is downloadable, printable and very easy to put together.  You get two on a sheet of A4 card (preferably photo paper) and the only other thing you need is some glue.

If you want to have a go the link to the file is below, then right click and 'save as'
If you download it please leave a comment or send me a photo of your creation. I'd love to hear from you.

I must admit my little Hot Cross Bunny might not be everyone's cup of tea, so I'll be adding a happier, sunnier bunny box in the near future.  Stay tuned!

LANTERN'S GLOW CARD AND GIFT LABEL - DOWNLOADABLE AND PRINTABLE WITH EDITABLE GREETINGS

I made these cards a couple of years ago and by golly weren't they a success!
They are so different from most Christmas cards and because they are 3d will stand very happily on their own and, I found, take pride of place on mantlepieces!

 

I have made the file so you can edit all the text, personalising it for each recipient by just highlighting the 'your text here' and replacing it with your own greeting.

They really are so simple to make, and only require scissors, a craft knife (not essential, but useful) and a bit of double sided tape or glue.

They fit into a C6 envelope and in the UK can be sent by standard 2nd class mail

I've also added an editable gift tag to go with the card to make it an all round package.

I hope you'll have a go at these.  They really are worth the effort and believe me yours will be the Christmas cards that will be noticed and remembered.
Mine were :0)

This file is available from my Etsy store for £1-50p  Instant download .pdf

ANOTHER COUPLE OF LITTLE FREEBIES FOR YOU!

I've been doing some cards lately for a friend and needed a 'Happy Birthday' greeting to pop in them. So I came up with this which I hope might be useful for some of you out there.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD RED HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLIP

They are.png files so have transparent backgrounds which can be popped anywhere in your document without causing any 'white box' issues.

 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BLUE HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLIP

I hope you find them as useful as I did.

Enjoy!

p.s.   As usual these are for personal use only and please don't pass them off as your own, or sell them on in any way.  Thanks - hug!

MOTHERS DAY/BIRTHDAY CARD WITH LOTS OF FREEBIES!

Although this card has been featured in my blog before, I have had so many requests for the actual card I thought I would put it on as a freebie for Mothers Day.

It is easy to make and does look very pretty when finished.I added some silver peel offs round the edge and across the diagonal and then popped a little butterfly on a transparent strip to give a floaty butterfly effect.

I also used one of these greetings which are in .png form with a transparent background so they can be popped on the card where ever you want.

 

                 Click here - then right click and save image as .......

                 Click here - then right click and save image as .......

 

                 Click here - then right click and save image as .......

                 Click here - then right click and save image as .......


Mum's deserve every bit of love we can give them - so please have a go at making the card, I'm sure she'd be over the moon when she receives it and it will make her day!

A BREATH OF SPRING

If like me you are suffering from all the miserable weather we have been having lately and need a little cheering up, pop along to this blog, http://cajoline-scrap.blogspot.fr .  It really is just magical.  Not only does she have wonderful designs for you to feast your eyes on with freebies galore, there is birdsong and sounds of summer to really lift your spirits.

ALL WRAPPED UP

I've just started making matching gift cards and wrapping paper.  It was a little idea that surfaced and has turned out to be very well received.  

I was particularly pleased with this set I made for my friend Christine.

The card front was made with paper I designed with her name on it, then put through Ulead Photo Express to put the curl in the corner.  I then added a flower with a holographic backer, using papers I bought from Lily of the Valley.  I wrapped the parcel in the 'Happy Birthday Christine' paper I made and added a flower together with a wrapper matching the card wrapper, that was made using an x-cut butterfly punch and holographic paper.

I've had to use pieces of A4 paper, which is a bit of a bind when you have a biggish parcel but I hope to get an A3 printer shortly which will dig me out of that particular hole  :0)

The whole thing was then finished off with a matching envelope.  I must say I was very pleased with the overall result - modesty has never been my strong suit I hasten to add.

MAY THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON BE LUCKY FOR US ALL!

I just can't believe how quickly January is going.  I've just got over the new years celebrations and here we are celebrating the chinese new year - the year of the dragon.

Each year I make a card for Michael and his family, to wish them good luck for the new year.  I always have a bit of a panic in case the writing I put inside, which I hope is "Happy New Year" is correct, and that I haven't caused serious offence by a miss spelling.  They are all still talking to us, and as he runs our local exceptionally good chinese takeaway The China Garden and hasn't poisoned me in revenge, I think I must have cracked it ;0)

Paperfolded Fan card in black, red and gold with lucky coins attached

My Year of the Tiger fan card with, hopefully, correct sentiment inside

So Kung Hey Fat Choy or Gong xi fa cai to all my Chinese friends and here's hoping 2012 is not only happy, healthy and prosperous for them but for us all!!

A LITTLE 'SPRING' IN THE AIR & A WINGE

I needed an eyecatching card for a friend of mine so I thought I would have a go at this design.  I love the decoupage black and white design and coupled with the bright pink and silver edging, it really makes a striking card which springs into life when taken out of the envelope.

Most of the cards I make are done with Word 2003.  It's amazing what you can do with the program, although I have been having great difficulty since I upgraded to Word 2010.  In the old program you can lasso objects and text boxes together using the mouse, but in the newer program this it would appear isn't available so you have to select items one by one. Honestly, when you have 40 or 50 items to select you almost lose the will to live!!

The thing that really bugs me though is you can do it in Excel 2010, which appears to have the same set up as word - go figure!!

Please, please, please if there's anyone out there who can whisper in Microsoft's ear, can you let them know there are a lot of very frustrated Word users out here waiting for someone to put them out of there misery and fix the problem.

Apparently they have told the millionth person complaining that there isn't the call for a fix  ;0)

ROUNDING OFF THE CORNERS WITH A FREEBIE

I made this card for a friend of mine and was so pleased with the result, I thought I would show it off.

It's one of those cards that once you've got everything in the right place just looks stunning.


I've put a couple of floaty butterflies onto thin strips of acetate, which I've then adhered to the back of the card

 


I really must stop taking photos of my cards on the carpet!  But in my defence I was a little pressed for time.

If you can see the greeting inside it says 'Blowing lots of love your way'




This is one of several .png files I have made to use in cards, which work really well as the background is transparent so you can stick them on top of anything.

I've put a couple of freebies on the bottom of this post for you to download.  I hope they are useful.

If you download them please be kind and don't pass them off as your own. You won't sleep peacefully and I'll come and haunt you!! ;0)

          Blowing Birthday Wishes Download - Click here

 

          With love on your Anniversary download - click here