Card Making & More Project Ideas

So you have all the gorgeous products in front of you but a little stuck on what to do with them? This section aims to give you a few ideas, as well as providing hints and tips both for making your cards and selling them.

If you are serious about card making and want to make a business from your craft, then there are numerous ways in which to sell your handmade cards. Here are just a few suggestions:

• Retail Shops - Create a portfolio of your best work and take it the shops, don't limit yourself to greeting card specialist shops, try gift shops and craft shops who may be very interested in stocking your products. If they don't seem keen to buy your stock outright you can perhaps suggest a sale-or-return scheme, in which you leave your cards with the retailer and they only pay you for what they sell.
  Ensure that you can create a number of identical cards, a retailer will probably not be interested in single designs. Present your card with envelopes in a polybag to give a professional look.
  Don't be disheartened by any negative responses. Keep trying and you WILL succeed! There is a huge market out there for hand crafted cards.

• Boot Sales - Although many people visiting these types of markets expect a bargain, there are also many more that appreciate a quality hand crafted product. Check out your local paper for news of upcoming events.

• Craft Fairs - Craft fairs are normally at their very best in the months leading up to Christmas. You pay a small fee for your stall and that's it. Don't limit yourself by location, these fairs are worth travelling for. Each event normally only allow a limited amount of stalls selling the same type of goods, so ensure you book well in advance. It is a good idea to plan ahead for next years events and get on the lists as soon as they open.
  Ensure you have plenty of stock, you don't want to left with an empty stall half-way through the day and kicking yourself wishing you had brought more stock!

• Schools - If your local schools do not have a PTA card making committee then it is a very good idea to try to offer them a percentage/set amount for allowing you to sell your cards at their annual fairs. You could also try selling them in the playgrounds after school.

• Internet - There are huge scopes for business on the Internet. These days you can sell your cards on blogs, in Etsy shops, and some Internet Market Places. Present your work clearly and include accurate descriptions. Factor in your postal costs and present any applicable terms and conditions.