Cardmaking advice needed

lynnemcf

Hello

I have been asked to organise a cardmaking event at my local community centre. I do make my own cards, and I enjoy my hobby, but the idea of demonstrating is sending me into a panic. I'm not looking for links to internet sites, I'm hoping someone on here has experience of craft demonstration and can give me a few hints and tips.

Its quite a popular event, so there will be lots of other things going on. I'm intending to come up with two or three simple designs, perhaps glittery ones for kids and a matting and layering ones for adults. I should be getting an idea of my budget next week, but I think it will be tiny, perhaps no more than £20.

Thanks

li'l_p

I have never demonstrated myself, although I do make cards and have been featured in a few magazines with my cards!

I would suggest plenty of preparation of 'here's one I made earlier' pieces, for speed so you don't make a pigs-ear by rushing. Sometimes things like stamping/embossing and even simple gluing can go wrong when you're trying to be quick, so at least with prep pieces you can whizz through the practical demo's and skip to the end result. I've observed a few craft demos and this seems to be the done thing. Plus, people get easily bored if they have to wait while things dry or set, so at least having pre-completed pieces you can quickly jump ahead. Also set yourself some finished cards in varied styles so at least after the demo you can say "...here you can see I've changed the colour or design" or you can show how one stamp (for example) can be used to create many diffferent designs.

In terms of your budget, The Papermill Shop are good for buying bulk card and the Do Crafts/Whispers/Anita's range are cheap and cheerful and they have ink pads, peel-offs, stamps and embellishments, etc without breaking the bank. Plus, if you're demonstrating I think it's a good range to refer to people.

Good luck and let us know how it goes...!