Anyone make and sell cards?

[fisil]

I want to make and sell cards to make a little bit of cash and do something a bit creative. Anyone any experience of this? Any tips?

I've got a friend who makes gorgeous ones. I'll probably see her tomorrow so I'll ask her. I know that Lakeland does a lot of craft stuff but I think she goes somewhere cheaper.

Ooh good. I have suppliers - there are loads on the internet, and I have design ideas (already made the prototypes).

What I want to know is ... where and how is the best way to sell them, what is the going price (I reckon £2 a card), whether I have to set up a company etc., what kind of accounts and records to keep, what stock levels I need to build up, and whether internet selling works.

Not much to ask ...

Someone does on here, let me think, was it Chinchilla? Carla? Have a search in the last month, you'll definitely find it.

Fisil - I have no experience myself, but thought this might be a good tip. I was walking through our town centre last summer and there were stalls set up for a craft fair in the street. I spotted a stall selling handmade cards and liked them so much I asked the woman there and then if she would do my wedding invitations! She made 75 for in a week and I did the inserts myself. They were only little (3" x 3" and she charged me £100 for 75. She sold them at £2 individually. So I felt like I had a real bargain and something a little bit special and unique too....

Just thought I'd share that with you.

Good luck with it.

How did that winky face sneak in there!??

Chinchilla does them.

ks, I've just been to a few websites (typed in card making materials onto google). I like madaboutcards and kered - lots of good stuff and seem to be the cheapest. I find an excellent website for ds's naming ceremony order of service cards, but can't find it again - they would fold any card of any colour or size for you. You're not too far from me (the next street to me is in Surrey ...) if you want to do this, what about trying out a craft fair together (not that I'm scared...)

Finbar dsells Phoenix cards - rea;;y nice little earner when she really gets going

think susanmt makes cards, too- expect she's got her hands full at the moment, though

thanks for all the contacts and advice ladies. Have had a good morning surfing, and have found out lots of stuff - although no craft fairs that I can locate. Will have to find someone who actually gets our local paper!

I make and sell cards when my sister and I do our craft stalls. Most of mine are cross-stitch designs, but I'll probably make some different ones soon.

If you want to find out where to get cheap card blanks in bulk, buy a craft magazine and look at the ads in the back.

I'm alright for supplies - I love internet searching for craft supplies!

Wow ks - yours sound really original. Mine have no pen work/drawing on them, as that is not my strength. My faves at the moment are birth congrats cards, long and thin with little footprints cut out from comics going across them. But that's as original as I get - mostly hand made paper or cut out felt/wood/foam. Some very cute nappy ones too. Am experimenting with embroidered flowers, but my flowers tend to be of the non-dainty variety, and I'm not happy with results yet!

that's a good question ks - and I suppose the reason why my embroidered cards are not happening.

Sounds really good - and I wouldn't have to do any artwork myself? It's really frustrating - I feel like I'm a creative person, but my hands tend not to do what I tell them!

It is most certainly NOT worth my while money-wise. But I have to sit a certain amount because I have an ankle injury. I can either sit and watch rubbish on TV or surf the net - or sew. I make money but if you worked it out per hour it wouldn't be worth it. The same is true of a lot of the craft projects my sister and I undertake for sale. But if you enjoy doing it, and you are at home with a small child anyway, it's extra money you wouldn't otherwise have.

DD and did this to raise funds for her to go on the World Challenge to Peru. We really enjoyed making them got lots of stuff from Hobbycraft. We mad about 200 between us and then she got the girls at school on a production line!

They were very good and looked very professional in cellophane packets sealed with a printed label done on the computer. We reckon they cost between 30p and 60 p to make and we sold them for £1-£2.50. We made several hundred pounds. I now make handamde cards for any occasion for someone special, some only take minute to make, get ideas by looking in shops at the ones you see for £3.50 as in paperchase etc.

It is good fun and very relaxing.

I make cards. I buy stuff from three local shops. I have taken over £100 in less than two weeks, although you have to be a bit pushy, and go into craft shops etc to get your name known. I have also sold them at my diet club and Mother/Toddler sessions. They go really well there. I am just starting out, and am thinking of doing a small business course run by the Council, as I don't know what to do about the money and the taxman. I am currently trying to keep all the receipts for purchases, and have kept all the money seperate.

The craft shops seem to like fairly simple designs, but they have to be different from the other local makers' designs. I would go round craft shops in the area to see what is being made, and the standard expected. Also, buy magazines on card-making. They give you lots of ideas and ways of doing things. Also, buy bags to present them in when you sell them. It looks more professional.

There is no way that I am anywhere near in profit yet, as it is a very addictive and expensive hobby! Fisil - if you want to contact me direct, feel free to do so. I'd love to chat, and maybe swap ideas.

Chinchilla, I will contact you direct, once tomorrow is out of the way - but thanks for you advice so far. £100 in 2 weeks sounds good - is that total amount or profit?