SB: ideas for unusual greetings cards

Luna69

Hi there
I can't totally help you with your themes, I've tried this approach myself before as I too look for different ideas/themes that people may look for or be interested in.
I've personally been designing and making cards for about 25 years as a hobby and a love of papercrafting, I only started selling accidentally about 11 years ago after some family members started asking me to make them some one Christmas. It kind of escalated from there and went rather well for a few years, just word of mouth and a website, then it trailed off and kind of stopped.
Because it was first and foremost a hobby, I've carried on with them for myself and it started to pick up again, through my website and ebay.. although ebay is a struggle I agree. In saying that I only have 3 cards listed of the same design, I've sold about 3 or 4 in the last month, so it's not bad. Won't make me a millionnaire though! :rotfl:

Cardmaking is a suffocated craft at the moment. One of the reasons I stopped selling as many was that a few family members started to make their own, including my mum and sister, but that's it, they make them and now they feel they have to, or should. But I've stuck with it and if it's a love and passion, then it wont' matter. It can be very frustrating though at times.

I am asked for all manner of themes for cards, or have been in the past... I found it easier when there wasnt' anything out there, or hardly anything. Now you can buy so much to stick on a card, it makes it more difficult to design something different.

Good luck with yours
Yvonne

Savvy_Sue

I haven't exactly looked, but I haven't noticed many "congratulations on your civil partnership" cards, although equally the only people I know who've gone for one have referred to "the wedding" as much as "the civil partnership ceremony" so maybe that's why?

candyblue

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I haven't exactly looked, but I haven't noticed many "congratulations on your civil partnership" cards, although equally the only people I know who've gone for one have referred to "the wedding" as much as "the civil partnership ceremony" so maybe that's why?

I agree, my friend who had a civil partnership asked me to make her a wedding card for the big day for her Oh, she wanted 2 brides on the card, apparently she couldn't find any.

She also says that cards for gay/lesbians are very difficult to buy and are very tacky usually. She also commissioned me to make one with two pairs of mens pants on the washing line, with the phrasing - a new home what will the neighbours say?

So this could be a market you could explore, especially if you could set up a website.

donna73

thanks for the suggestions everyone, i've given up with my ebay shop at the mo, tried it for 6 months but when i worked out the figures it really wasnt worth it.i'm still making for friends that ask and my own use, but i'm putting it on the back burner for a bit. going to concentrate on making christmas presents for family and friends for a while.

heartonmysleeve

i love my crafting also and understand the problems of selling unique ideas although i very rarely do the cards. i have a card idea for you of which i have had a problem buying and that is a babies naming cards! im a spiritualist/healer and in the the few years we have found alot of people now have their children named in a spiritualist church instead of christened ect. 1 reason maybe the alot of churches dont believe in christen children who`s parents are not married (a problem i found myself). when my daughter had my grandson named he ended up with loads of the same cards as there was only 2 designs of naming card to buy in the area.:rolleyes:

hope this may help
hope all goes well in buisness
good luck

Savvy_Sue

Maybe the obvious one for MSE is "Congratulations on clearing your debts!" or a "To a DFW" range ...

Mark7799

The one I always have to look for (and rarely find) is a card saying "To Mam". Neither myself or my stepsons have ever referred to mothers as mum, mummy or mother. A perennial problem at birthdays, Christmas and mother's day.

bbford

Hi,

I have problems finding 'ethnic' cards, ie black princesses / black babies cards etc. think you'd be onto a good market there!

donna73

thanks everyone those are some great ideas! i've just been asked to make some cards to sell at a fund raising event at my daughter's preschool so i'll try out some of your suggestions.