cutting the cost of cards

sonnythecat

Does anyone have any bright ideas about spending less on birthday and thank you cards?

I must say, I love receiving handmade cards but its just not something I'm likely to get round to or to do very well.

Has anyone found an internet source, for example?

I'll be interested to read your thoughts.

qwiksave

I love making my own cards and think homemade is much more personal and thoughtful than buying them cheaply from a shop or online, but then I love crafting, as do many of the people that use this part of the forum.

There are card shops in town (eg Card Factory) I have noticed that sell 7 for a £1 and for some people that is fine, but its not for me.

sonnythecat

I know where you're coming from Qwiksave.

I love sewing and I can do it, but when it comes to paper crafts I'm truly hopeless: no imagination and a very wonky finish!!!

Perhaps I'm being a bit defeatist.

When I've received handmade cards, I've always treasured them and kept them for ages which says something about how lovely they are doesn't it.

AND the funny thing is, I don't begrudge the cost of buying a handmade card for someone.

OMG I'm conflicted hahhahahahhahhaha:rotfl:

midnightraven3

i make cards from seeded paper

i make the pulp mainly from junk mail
and the seeds i harvest from my garden

i then write a little poem on the back explaining what to do with it

like this

sonnythecat

wow - how do you do that? (if its not a trade secret!)
It looks really really good.

midnightraven3

gosh no trade secret
same way people have made paper for centuries really
just on a small scale in my kitchen!

i did write out a small tutorial (in the wedding section ages ago)

i shall go have a rummage in my photobucket
and then explain
its easier when you can see what i am talking about

that one is wild flowers
but i also do disks, with herbs/peppers/chillies in them
i get a pot, decorate, get a wee baggie of soil, and put the disk on the top
for people who dont have gardens
a present for literally pence

i shall go rummage:D

midnightraven3

sorry if this is long:o
any instructions written down are though
but its not complicated

i tear the paper into pieces roughly 2" x 2"
and put in a bowl
cover with hot water, and leave overnight

next day is a mushy pulp

i then half fill my sink with water
and dump the whole lot (water & pulp in)
if i am colouring it i do it now
the one above, the whole batch was coloured with 1 square inch of yellow tissue paper (yes just ONE INCH)
toss it in, the dye comes straight out

i use a frame, but 2 frames from poundland work just as well



mine are hinged but they dont need to be

in the middle of these, i put a stiff gauze



close frames ontop of each other, like you are framing a picture?

i have an old towel, on the floor, folded up, and another for later
you also need something to put your paper onto
what you use depicts texture
sometimes i use floor tiles (poundland pack of 6) or i use jay clothes
just whatever you have really

take you frames to the sink, if you are adding seeds etc do it now
swirl the water, and dredge your frames through and lift so its flat
if you are happy you have even covereage of pulp, let water drain
if not swirl water and do it again, the more pulp you use the thicker your paper

open frames
place tile (or whatever) onto pulp and flip
peel gauze off and place tile & pulp onto towel on the floor
cover with a jay cloth

repeat till all your pulp has gone
place your other towel ontop of stacked sheets of pulp
and stand on it
thsi will press out all the water

lay pieces out individually to dry
do not dry too quickly or it will curl and be brittle

if you are not using seeds but dried flower petals etc, lay them on as you lay them out and press in gently

sonnythecat

A huge thank you for passing on that info.

I'm going to have a go this weekend.

Can I just ask what kind of paper you use to start with. ie, does it need to be mat not shiny, can it be different colours or does that make it go sludgey coloured (iyswim).

I'm inspired - thanks again xx:T

midnightraven3

not shiney, no

and if it has lots of print or colour it can go very grey

i use junk mail etc and dye them very deep colours, like red or blue
those are more for the disks for the pots

that one i posted, i used smart price copier paper
its cheap and a pack makes loadssssssssssssssss

on the back of mine i write a wee poem along the lines

i send you this greeting, instead of a card
being a friend of the earth, is sometimes quite hard
when frosts have gone, plant this in the ground
and when summer comes, flowers will be found

it helps, as you sometimes need to point out what it is!

themull1

Wow, how clever. I'm very impressed at your seedy paper.

midnightraven3

dont be:o

my children used to make it when they were very young (pre school age)
i just carried on as they grew up and didnt do crafts as much