Tips to Improve your Handmade Wedding Cards

Author: Geraldine Jozefiak

When you want a great card to delight the happy couple, sometimes only a handmade wedding card will do. Then it’s time to start tracking down and gathering any bits of suitable craft materials you can get your hands on.

If you’re a planner then you might just work out what you want to create before hand. But if you’d rather go with the flow then your card might come together organically – as it happens. Sometimes these kinds of creations work better than step-by-step ones.

You’ll need a central eye-catching design. This can be made from anything from doilies, mesh, fabric, ribbon or braid. There are no hard-and-fast rules on what to do and how to do it because handmade cards are truly individual.

Perhaps it would help to draft out some ideas on paper first, before you begin. Perhaps shading, or coloring in blocks of card will help you to balance your ideas before you move onto the fabric itself.

How could you use print, ink or transfer graphics to record personal details. It’s often the mix and positioning of your materials that makes all the difference.

Play around with layers of things before you stick them down, positioning them in different places. Look at the effect different colors and materials make as you build them up. You might like to position some materials ‘off-center’ for greater effect or add something a little unusual. Where and how you place your bits and bobs will depend on the size of the background card and what you’ve got to use.

Think about the size of your card too. If you’re personally delivering your card then you have absolute freedom in how you package it and you may opt for something shaped rather than traditional.

Remember that Mail services often restrict the overall size of your envelope and a deep box-like card will require a more robust covering. In some cases the weight or size of your card will be reflected in increased postage.

Try not to keep everything in neat ordered lines or layers, but spread things out, tear, rip, pink or splodge! The idea of a handmade card – is just that – that it looks handmade, but professional. So be neat but creative, flowing but focused.

You’ll soon know if it feels right. Just like the essential of Fung Shui – the art of placement, things will look and feel right when they are in the right place. So don’t be afraid to experiment and see what you can create. You may find yourself making more than one special card and you’ll then have the skills to know how to make a wedding card anytime you choose.

If you know the couple well then you may be able to link in with their chosen colors or styles. The bride may prefer bolder colors over muted ones, or go for a more traditional feel where you favor something more contemporary.

Think about the couple your card is for as you assemble and work on your card. Ideally, you’ll have the time to ‘play’ around before you embark on the finished article.

You can get some great ideas from looking online. There are special magazines that concentrate on greeting cards and weddings and you’re bound to find some inspiration inside one or two of these magazines.

If you’re fortunate to have the space, then make a few trial runs at your card, ask friends for their opinion – as opposed to their approval.

Remember that card making is very personal, but for this special occasion you’re trying hard to be objective. That is, to think of the bride and groom rather than your own preferences. Put yourself in their shoes and think about the type of card that they would like to keep with their memorabilia of the happy day.

There are a wealth of ideas out there and some exciting materials to use that don’t have to be expensive. You can easily get off-cuts of satin, ribbon or lace at your local market and with the right background card stock you can make a handmade wedding card both you, and the couple will be proud of.

About the Author:

Geraldine Jozefiak has written widely on how to craft a handmade card for someone special. Greeting Card Guide gives you the latest news, trends and products to make your greeting card selection as quick, fun and painless as possible. http://greetingcardguide.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/tips-to-improve-your-handmade-wedding-cards-253518.html

Fun & Quick Easter Craft

Author: Jennifer Stevens

Spring is one of the most anticipated times of year…especially if you live in a colder climate. The winter snow has melted away and cherry blossoms are blooming on that backyard tree. It’s time to brighten up your house with the signs of Easter! Whenever you’re in need for an instant craft, always look to the brown paper bag. These bags are dirt cheap and have several uses ranging from decorative lanterns to holiday centerpieces. Grab the kids and get ready for a fun and crafty afternoon.

With holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, decorating for Easter seems to get overlooked. If you want to spruce up your Easter collection, a good place to start is with Easter Bunny Sacks. Finding online instructions, the only things you will need to purchase are the sacks, tracing paper and whatever painting colors you desire. Having a good supply of some basic paint colors will allow you to mix and create a broad range of other colors.

Accessing an online crafting website, print off an Easter Bunny template designated for this particular project. Carefully place your tracing paper right on top and copy the full design. After you are completed with the tracing process, it’s time to mix up your paints. There should be instructions online for what paint colors would look best with the project, but ultimately the decision is yours! Use your favorite Easter colors and watch the Easter Bunny Sacks come to life.

After the bags have dried, stuff them with brightly colored Easter paper. You now have a beautiful and unique gift bag, or a household decoration. If you’d like, forget the tissue paper and use them as lantern bags to illuminate the front porch. You can even loan these fabulous little sacks to the Easter Bunny for his annual “delivery.” Whatever you decide, you now have a fun and quick Easter Bunny template to look forward to every spring!

About the Author:

The author Jennifer Stevens writes here about the most anticipated times of year, The Spring and it’s the signs of Easter. She is talking about how to make quick Easter craft. She gives some idea to make Easter bunny templates. Also she learnt how to make free crochet patterns. For more information on free knitting patterns, free crochet hat patterns visits www.favecrafts.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/fun-quick-easter-craft-815413.html

Start Scrapping! – 4 Quick Scrapbooking Tips

Author: Sharon Tulley

Scrapbooking can be a great way to share the memories of your family and friends by taking advantage of a creative medium and organizing them in a pleasing way. For many of us, the problem is getting organized in the first place!

A scrapbook is like a photo album on crack (or steroids, if you prefer to go with something less illegal. Or Red Bull, if less illicit). With a scrapbook, you’re not limited to photos; anything you have that you want to save and/or display, as long as it will fit reasonably, can be included. All of your favorite knicknacks, trinkets, and other memorabilia can make great additions to a scrapbook.

1. You Need Help (Or Could Use Some)
It might take hours to go through the items you want to include, but this can be one of the most fun parts of the process. You can make it even more fun if you manage to convince your significant other, spouse, parents or kids to help you.

2. Theme It!
The next step in scrapbooking (or “scrapping,” as some like to call it) is to design a theme or layout – there could be a recurring theme throughout the book with a different layout for each page, or you could theme every new page independently of the others – the beauty is that it’s completely up to you. Your theme can be as simple or as involved as you want it, but remember not to be overzealous; less is more in many cases.

3. Use Your Tools
Grab anything and everything you can think of that might be of help. Odd shapes make good stencils or borders, and trying several types of adhesives and writing implements will allow you to get the best results with your materials. You can never have too much colored paper, either!

4. Get A Second Opinion
This isn’t medical plan 101, I’m talking about actually asking for input from your friends on what they think. It’s hard sometimes to have tough skin and deal with any critiques or criticism someone might have, but I’m sorry to say that it’s part of being a designer! The visual appeal you are trying to create can always benefit from a second set of eyes, no matter what the application.

About the Author:

For many more easy tips and scrapbooking ideas, or to learn more about scrapbook layouts, head over to ScrapTown.com!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/crafts-articles/start-scrapping-4-quick-scrapbooking-tips-769454.html

Get a FREE CDROM containing Card Making Backing Papers/Teabag sheets

Welcome to GreetingCardMaker.co.uk. This site contains articles and resources to help you in your card making.

This site is preparing the way for a new card-making service. We’ll be giving free access to this service to everyone who registers here before we launch. And as if that wasn’t enough, sign up using the form below and we’ll give you the entire PhotoFlowers CDROM by designer Sharon Duncan FREE. This CDROM contains 45 high quality printable backing papers and 15 teabag sheets. And did I mention it’s FREE?

All you need to do is type your email address and name into the form below and we’ll send you a link straight away. You can, of course, unsubscribe at any time.

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Organizing Craft Supplies

Author: Paul Easton

Craft supplies organized in 3 simple steps.

Do you find yourself looking at a room with bits everywhere, let alone a house with knitting in one room, Painting gear in another, card making supplies in another? Does this sound like you? If so lets look at a 3 step plan to get you and your craft gear organized….

1. Start by collecting all your craft supplies into one room, I mean everything! If you have the space then at the same time, put like with like ie Paint brushes with your paints and canvases. Wool and needles together with patterns. Card, cutting pads, embellishment’s and the like for card making all together and like wise with scrap booking supplies and any other craft that you par take in. Whilst doing this, take time to get rid of things that you don’t use anymore. If you haven’t used it in six months, out it goes. If you have a lot of magazines on crafts that you enjoy, keep them together as well.

2. Now that you have all your craft supplies in one room and organized into piles, its time to look at what you have around the house to tidy them into. If you can afford it, then maybe its time to go and have a look at Target or Walmart for some storage containers. If your like me and have a lot of little embellishment’s then a lot of small plastic containers is perfect. What you can do is put all like small supplies into these containers and then keep them together in a larger container (this can be a shoe box). Keep all your scrap booking papers together (I have an open file that I keep all of mine it, makes it easy to see what you have too) The other option is if you have a filing cabinet, you can use one draw for papers, patterns, cutting pads, and even canvases and another for all the other more bulky supplies. The idea is to keep it simple, but all together and easy to access. You don’t need to spend a lot of money doing this, you can even cover a few boxes with pretty paper and keep supplies in these.

3. Lastly, make sure you keep your craft supplies where you can access it easily. After all, its really not worth it to put these things that you use at least once or twice a week on the top shelf of a storage cupboard. If you are lucky enough to have a room that has space then make the most of it. I have a desk in the spare room, and under it I have a plastic wheelie bin, with the things I use lest often, on top of that I have my canvases so they are easier to get hold of. Next to the desk I have a set of plastic coated baskets, which hold all my main craft supplies in shoe size boxes, and a few other containers I found around the house. It really does work, because you come to learn where everything is. It also means that if you run out of something its easy to see that its not there….you don’t find yourself running around looking for the particular item for days on end, swearing you had it the other day.

Good luck with sorting out your supplies.

About the Author:

Paul Easton is a home organizing professional and the owner of a Home Organizing Blog, which helps anyone looking to organize their home environment and get more out of life, by providing helpful free idea’s and ways of clearing the clutter from your home. You can instantly download a copy of the 7 lemon scented home organizing idea’s by visiting http://www.completehomeorganizing.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/organizing-craft-supplies-343994.html

Selling Your Crafts Through EBay

Author: Paul Duxbury

Selling on EBay has become a popular phenomenon. Many a time I’ve heard people mention that they bought their latest gadget from no other then EBay. For the craft lover who doesn’t know where to begin marketing their crafts, EBay would be a good start. It is the best way to get the broadest audience’s attention. EBay goes beyond your backyard and reaches people all over the world. With their advanced search engine, it allows someone who may be looking for a particular item to go straight to what their looking for.

For those who have heard of EBay but not actually gone searching, this is how it works. For a first time seller, you must create an EBay account which includes your name, address and credit card number (secure site). Once you’ve filled in the online forms, you will have your own seller account which will list your auctions. Each time you want to check your sales, you must log in with a screen name and password. When selling an item, you will go through a series of pages describing your item for sale. To top it off, you will upload a picture onto the auction site for others to view your craft. When listing a craft, you will be charged an initial fee which is a set amount for the listed price. For example: If you list a craft for .99 cent, your initial fee will be .25 cent. If you list an item from $1.00-9.99, your initial fee will be .35 cent and so on. Once your item has sold, you will also be charged a “final value fee.” This is calculated by a percentage of what your craft actually sold for. If someone likes your craft they will put a bid on it. If someone else comes along and wants the same craft, they will put a higher bid on it. At the end of the auction which is generally seven days, the highest bidder wins.

EBay also offers EBay stores, which allow you to sell many items in an online store. When listing an item, you usually list a BIN (Buy it Now) price. There is no auction involve. In your online store, you can list prices as well as pictures of the item. This is a good route to go if you plan on selling multiple items of different colors, shapes or use.

Be sure to list pictures. People love to see pictures of the items their bidding on. You even have the option of placing multiple pictures on your auction site. Try to get different angles when taking pictures. Get close-ups of any detailed work. When taking the picture, be sure to get it in the right lighting and best background. Appearance sells!

When listing a price at auction, it’s best to start low. This will attract more buyers to your item. If someone is interested in your craft and they want to watch it to see the bids being placed on it, they can put it in their “watch.” You will know how many people are taking interest in your item because the number of watches shows up beside the item in your account.

When listing your craft, be sure to give plenty of detail. If there is a default in the craft, make sure you explain that in the description. Also describe the color and the size of the item. If you sell it in various colors, explain this to the potential buyer. Some people are looking for a certain color and you want to be open to them. If they like your item, they might come back for more in the future.

EBay isn’t for everyone. Sales are made by pay pal, cashiers check or even person checks, whatever you’re willing to accept. And the only communication that generally transpires between the seller and buyers is through email.

The most important thing to remember when getting started is to be honest about the item, and explain the craft in detail. People want to know all there is about an item that they may purchase. Explain the texture if you’re selling something that is wearable. Let them know about the special detail you’ve put into a painting. And if you’re expertise is pottery, elaborate on the special colors used for the craft.

About the Author:
If you want to find out more about Starting a Home Based Craft Business you can at http://www.pkblogging.com/craft-and-home-business-ideas

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/selling-your-crafts-through-ebay-30082.html