Want to make my own Christmas cards cheaply - would you...

[Bozza]

buy a card kit from Lakeland or possibly off Ebay, or assemble your own bits and pieces individually. I only want to make about 8 maximum for immediate family instead of feeling compelled to fork out for individual cards with "Mum and Dad" etc on for a couple of quid a go. I am nto really a very crafty person.

If it goes well I would like to continue to make more cards. It is a money saving exercise though as much as a hobby so don't want to mad on buying things.

How much are the Lakeland ones?

Cheapest is £7.50 for an 8 pack. But then I need to factor in P&P which is £3.95 for orders under £45.

It's still cheaper though than buying individual cards like you say.

They're roughly £3 each to start!

Also, if you get them done early enough, you can use ScoutPost for only 16p a card.

If you want to Bozza, let me know what sort of thing you were thinking about and I would be happy to send you some goodies to have a play with. A few cards, envelopes and perhaps some die-cut shapes. If you wouldn't mind paying me for the P&P. It would work out much cheaper than Lakeland.

If however, you became addicted, like many of us on here, you could go shopping to Lakeland with more of an idea what you needed.

Let me know!

Thats very generous Dingle. I have looked on the Gallery and am very impressed with your creations. I was thinking along the lines of something very simple basically and also don't know the terminology. Maybe a cut out square stuck on the card with something Christmassy stuck on this kind of thing.

How would you want paying the p&p? By cheque? If so could you e-mail me at richard-liz at talk21 dot com with details of where to send it?

Do people actually save money by making their own cards or do they just enjoy it and come out with a nicer/more personal card at the end of it?

have a look in hobbycraft for bits n bobs to make cards with. we do this each year for close family, altho since having the boys its seems to have become a footprint thig

Bozza...I dont mind cutting you some of the sizzix dies I have to go with the bits and pieces Dingle is sending you....have a look at the snowman card I made thats in the gallery...I have the shape for a santas head too. Just shout if you want some....be warned though its addictive

TBH Bozza, it's abit of all those really.

yes, you can save money by making your own cards, if you are the sort of person who goes out, want's something "special" and pays £2,3,4..per card. Let's face it, that can be easily done. So in 1 way you can save money...but....

ask any of the crafters here and they will tell you it is a bit like an addiction when you are caught by the crafter's bug!! Loads of lovely goodies to spend your money on and it's very easy to get carried away!

But then again, it is an enjoyable hobby, and a hobby that you can make a little bit of money on by selling the occasional card, so you can spend that money on more goodies!

Yes, you will come out with more personalised cards. It is great to have a person in mind and sit down to create a card especially for them! It is just as goood to give as it would be to recieve, I love seeing peoples reactions. Several of my baby/christening cards have been framed, and others are put into memory boxes.

My work is certainly nothing special, I think it is the time and effort that goes into it, that makes a hand made card so special.

I'll email you, and we can exchange details. I'll send you some blank cards, envelopes, some different cards, and a few bits and bobs to get you going. That way all you'll need is some glue and inspiration to get going!

I think it's a craft day on QVC on Saturday. Might be worth you tuning in to get some ideas. Don't be too tempted with the credit card though, bargains aren't always as good as they seem once P&P has been added on. Have a note book or you video player going though.

Expat - Scoutpost???

Don't forget places like woolies, wilkinsons, poundland, early learning centre etc, you can often pick up bargains in there. Also, lakeland have a good bargain section-can't remember if there's anything Christmassy though. You could also use nice wrapping paper, cutting out the designs or I have even used tree decorations from matalan.

If it goes well, a tip for next year would be to stock up in the sales, lakeland are especially good, got some star shaped cards, star gems and Christmassy fabric last year.

But...you will get addicted!

There was some Xmas stuff in Lakeland sale as i bought the red/green/blue blank cards - may be all gone though (I dare not look for fear of buying !)

I only peeped !

Scoutpost. Dunno, maybe it's just a Scotland thing. But up here, the Scouts have a deal w/Royal Mail at Xmas. They set up tables in supermarkets and if you get your cards to them by a certain date, they post them for you at reduced cost - 16p each.

Thanks - I thought I'd heard of it as that, but haven't seen any evidence of it here in London. Must be quite a complex operation, interesting idea.

bozza -- i would go for gettin bits and pieces seperately, that way you can get a design you like.
As dingle points out you can save money but it's more the buzz, or fun you have that keeps you crafting.

Jayzmummy - sorry only just got back to this. If you could send me some of the sizzix thingies that would be great. If you get in touch with me at richard-liz at talk21 dot com and let me know about p&p I could send you my address.

Also thanks everyone for the advice - it all makes interesting reading. I want to start in a small way because at the moment I haven't got much time or money.

Bozza....email me at my mumsnet user name at yahoo dot co dot uk....my internet connection is playing up a bit and I cant seem to send emails ATM.

Have just e-mailed you jayzmummy.

Argos are doing some card kits at the moment (Whispers, do-crafts) but they are only through Argos Extra. They don't seem too badly priced either.

There's also Studio .

They've got quite a few card kits in their winter catalogue.

Lets see if this link works...

Studio