how many cards do you make in a day?

[layla]

Hello crafters,I keep reading about how many of you are selling your cards in fairs etc and I'm wondering when you make your cards?Do you make them every day?And how do you find time or make time to make a whole load up for selling?You obviously have plenty of cards made if you are doing a stall?

I've got to make some new ones up for the shop that sells them as they've sold them now.And I said to the girl it may take me a couple of months.But actually it is going to take me longer than that.I just feel so tired at the moment I can't be bothered to get all my stuff out to make them.Anyway I have always been slow and only make 2 a night.How many would you make in the same time?And how can I get motivated to do more?Just a lighhearted chat really,nothing heavy if it's come across like that ok.

Depends on what mood I'm in & what else I have to do. Have been neglecting cards of late - only making ones that I need. I need to get back into it. I try, if I'm making a simple card up for someone, to make up a spare for stock.

I just haven't had the time to try & sell many recently. I would love a shop outlet or maybe try Ebay.
I think it depends on how complex your design is as to how long it takes. If it's easy & you know exactly what you want to do - it's a doddle. If howver you ahve an idea & don't know how to do it (see my other thread !!) it can take an age !

Hiya Layla

I've been making LOADS of cards lately, because I've had two stalls at a local shopping centre (second one today [knackered]).

I do them when the boys are asleep, when someone else has my 2yo (MIL has him one day a week, which really helps!), but I have the 5mo with me then, so in between bfeeds! I sometimes make in the evening, but I've found that I'm quite productive on the stall itself too, which I didn't expect.

A lot of my cards are hand drawn so I don't need much stuff out - just blanks and pens - which helps.

I would say the way to get motivated is to set yourself a target. I started by making a list of all the different occasions and doing a card for each of them - otherwise I get stuck making new baby or new home ones (because I like doing those!) and I neglect the male birthday sorts. One of my most successful designs is a with sympathy one, which I'd never have made without that technique!

As to how many I make, I found that terror was a good prod in the productivity stakes - I couldn't quite believe I'd booked and paid for a proper market stall in a busy shopping mall and when I saw I only had about 20 cards, I was quite scared! It depends how intricate the design is, but I can make between two and twenty in an hour depending on the design.

HTH and good luck!

Hi layla.

your designs are wonderful and so different but I guess each card you make must take ages??
I have a simple range which I make to sell on....I can make 20 in an hour but its a production line. I make the toppers first and then sit and stick.

Hunker...how is the stall going? Well I hope.

JM, thank you, was just going to post an update

20 in an hour Well, layla, be rest assured I cant manage that! I tend to make cards when the kids are in bed asleep of an evening. Depending on the design of the card and if its a new design or not I can make between 2 and 5 and hour. Agree with Hunker - fear is a wonderful prod!!

If I have an order of personalised cards to do it will take me longer.

Hunker - I am impressed that all you need is blanks and pen . Would love to see some of those cards. Put some on here :)

Just looked at your cards layla and they are beautiful. No wonder they take you ages - they have a lot of detail. I think its better to take longer on a card and get a really good result than just rattle them off - not saying that those of you that do rattle them off they are naff cos they are not but I know that if I was to rattle cards off the quality would go downhill cos I am not that good at it yet IYSWIM.

She is modest ladies

I buy Poppie's cards and they are great!!!

I LOVE you Magnolia!

I meant that if I sit and make the toppers/embellishments in one go...it takes an hour to put together 20....toppers are mainly Sizzix die cuts...matted/layered add ribbons, brads eyelets etc....then I sit myself down with a pile of card blanks and add away.

I think I am another slow coach here!!!

If I am making up a new design or working on a commissioned card-it can take me hours!

\link{http://uk.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/mumsnetcrafters/photos/view/22f6?b=9\This}is the one of my most recent. I made it for the May challenge on LCC. It's a very simple design but not too hot with dry embossing and hand cutting!! It seemed to take ages because I only had chance to do a bit at a time but I suppose it took about an hour in total!

Layla - I too think your cards are wonderful.

When I'm in the mood, I can make about 6 fairly involved cards in an evening. It all depends on the mood I'm in. Sometimes I go for weeks without selling any and my card box fills up again. Then, I do a couple of fairs or card parties, and end having to make more. I'm doing a village fete on 23rd July, and a girls' night on 20th July, so hope to sell some then.

Just keep plugging away. Quality not quantity!

I never sell any! Just no confidence inthem to ask anyone to buy them.

I don't make very often, but when I do I can hit 'the zone' and make say six in an evening. I work like that dfor my Uni stuff, too. However, I do like quilling, and on a new design, can happily spend two evenings.

I don't ever repeat designs though (although I will very occasionally do close variations- say for twins, or if two people I now are engaged then one each same but in male / female colours). So everything is done from scratch.

I sell them on ebay and I always try to make two or three when one is ordered. It takes me a couple of hours to make ten simple ones. I do personalized ones which takes ages esp the wedding ones. I'm sure my hourly rate is about 50p for those but I enjoy doing them.