is it really possible to make money selling handmade cards?

[MakemineaGandT]

I'm thinking of doing this - what should I know first?!

i don't think it is - sorry.

unless you make qvc type
a/ get card blank
b/ slap pre-made embellishment on
c/ stick on a peel-off

Probably not, no.

Lots of competition out there.
Do you have a unique style or angle that would help to market your particular cards?

i doubt it unless you value your time as zilch

No

I have friends who do it

They all go to the same school and craft fairs, sitting looking across at each other's stalls

Not selling very much at all. Sorry

I think it is, if you are very good - know your market (have a market !), know what you are doing & offer a service that others don't. ie personalising cards, making specific themes to order. But you need to buy so much stuff up front I don't think you will ever be rich - but if successful you could cover your costs + maybe a bit!

'Handmade' or 'hand finsihed' cards are in many of the high street shops now at very low prices, so you will always be up against them, plus a lot of people want to spend as little as possible on a card ie 50p from Asda!

hmm...I feared this. I guess I do have a "style" - almost aplique (handcut pieces and lettering) and I don't use ready-made stuff (a la qvc!). I find it takes at least 15 mins to make a card. So, I guess I am never going to make much am I. Ah well, perhaps I'll carry on doing it for fun. Everyone loves my cards but I'd need to charge at least £2.50 a card to make it at all worthwhile...no-one really wants to spend that much do they?

Well I think they would for a special occasion and/or a personalised touch. See if Dingle comes along - she makes lovely cards & may have some tips

makemineaG&T - if everyone loves your cards then you already have a market! next time someone says they love them tell them you take commisions - thats what i do - i charge upto £8.00 for a very personalised card but i don't really make money on it as i put so much time into it - so it's always going to be just a hobby for me.

A lot of those on sale are very alike, lots of gold stick-on messages and so on.

I buy handmade cards if they're good, and don't look like I made them!

there are some of mine on my profile - they were all comissioned from family and some from people i've made ones for from other people IYSWIM

I must also add - if anyone is after any card making stuff - shout up - I have loads I'm trying to slim down (in order to get more beads )

I don't make money of my cards, I spend far too long on them to ever make any profit. I would love to branch out but time just always gets the better of me.

I don't sell many but I charge £2.50 for an A5 card, whether it is personalised and often I give 10% of that to my local Down Syndrome Charity - so after actually taking the cost of materials into consideration it really doesn't leave that much left. I keep saying I will put prices up for the really personalised ones but that's something else left "undone!"

The compettion out there is tough, I tried my first Craft Fair at the beginning of the year and all around me 50p cards with a peel off stuck on the front were selling...but I won't go down to that level, I do it as a release for me and the stress of life!!LOL

Welcome to have a nosey here

Good luck.

dingle did you get my email about stamped images?

No vInTaGe....where did you send it, blueyonder or yahoo? I am having a bit a nightmare!!

blueyonder shall i send it again?

Great cards VintageViolet and Dingle, and thanks for the advice. I think I will give it a go - I'll let you know how I get on! (If I feel brave I might even put a few examples on my profile!!)

Where do you recommend for card supplies? I've only used MadaboutCards so far

In my opinion, no, not with the likes of Phoenix selling for £1.00 - just can't compete.

I made my own cards last year with my own photography and although they were very well received you just can't charge enough to cover your costs.

Good luck though.

if you can draw you could apply to join the Pheomix Cards design team

actually, I have an old friend who started out doing this and is apparently now doing very www.kissmekwik.co.uk/well, so it's not all doom and gloom!

I guess you just have to find something that is commercial enough to gather its own momentum.

Shit, Dingle, you are a really really good crafter!

Wow!

LOL expatinscotland....don't really know how to take that but I will say thank you!

Vintage..still no email?

just resent it dingle!

blimey Dingle your cards are AMAZING

Vintage got it, will email back a few details..hope to post out tomorrow!!!