My homemade business cards

I've been contemplating for the last couple of weeks about business cards. I looked at several different sites that do them, and they are all cute and reasonably priced, and I almost ordered them a couple times. Plus, there are etsians who will custom design cards for you to print at home. Can't beat that!

But I had this idea that since what I do is paper crafting, it would make a better impression if my cards were also crafted by me. After all, what would be better than handing someone a business card that is just a teeny tiny example of what they will get from my store.

So here is what I did:

I got bookmarks from the craft store, which are already the same width as business cards. I cut them down a bit and scored them for the fold, making them the same length as a business card.

Then, I took out my scraps of paper that are left over from other projects and cut them to size. I just *knew* those things would come in handy for something!

Stapled it on with pretty colored staples to give it another little bit of colorful fun. Lastly, I wrote the website at the top. This is the only part I'm not sure about, because I'm not sure how the handwriting will be received by potential customers. So I am looking into a stamp that can be used instead. Plus, the writing is the part that by far took the longest, so it woud help greatly when I need to make a bunch of cards at once.

Happy weekend everyone!

My new project- cards with flower seeds

The first time I discovered plantable cards was when I was planning my wedding, and I *loved* the idea. Long ago I even had my dearest husband make a screen so I could practice making paper. I couldn't get the hang of it and moved on to other paper crafts.

Then I came across gracegraphic's cards on etsy (the frog, of course, caught my eye with his phrase, "Save the planet... Plant a card." They are adorable cards with flower seeds embedded into the paper. You can find them at http://gracegraphics.etsy.com/.

However, the idea of making paper is still a little too much for me right now. I don't have the materials or the workspace, or to be very frank, the time to learn such a technique right now. Plus, I really wanted to take this intriguing idea and put my own spin on it.

So here's what I've come up with. This is my test project, and we'll see in the next few days if my seeds grow. If they do, then I have my newest line of cards!

I took wildflower seeds and wrapped them carefully in two layers of regular tissue paper. (If this works, I will look for more earth-friendly recycled paper to use.) The tissue paper square with the seeds inside was embellished with one simple flower sticker and taped onto the front of a card. I think if this works, I will "stick" with the tape (get it?) because I want it to be easily detached from the card for the recipient to plant.

Then I took the whole tissue paper square and planted it in the cup. Gave it some nice clean water, and put it in the window sill. So by the end of this week I will have an update. I think it will work just fine, but I wanted to test it for myself to be sure before I make any of these cards
for listing.

I have an update. It worked! After about three days of seeing no sprouts, I figured the tissue was too thick for the seeds to push through. But the seeds have grown and look awesome.

Talent

This is for all who love to create, and especially to all of my fellow etsians. I never knew a single website could possible contain so much talent!

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." -Erma Bombeck

Let's talk packaging

First, let's talk about mailing your own greeting cards. Some of them have the most adorable embellishments, and you don't want them to be squashed by the time they get to their destination. A simple way to help this greatly, is to write "Hand Cancel" on the front bottom of your envelope. This lets the post office know not to run the card through a machine, but to process it manually.

Now, a little bit about how I get my cards safely to you. I have read about plastic, and the baggies that many sellers use to send out their cards to protect them. Plastic can last in a landfill for up to 1,000 years. Yikes!

So I wrap my cards alternatively using my old magazines. I have found that magazine paper is extremely sturdy and protective. When I ship my cards out, I tear a page out of a magazine and carefully wrap the card in it. Then, I do it again just to be sure. Voila! A very protective wrapper for your greeting card, and green to boot.

Inspiration

What gives me my inspiration? Honestly, it doesn't take much. Sometimes just a bright and whimsical design on scrapbooking paper or a cute diecut is all it takes. Of course, happy little phrases are always fun, and I love to browse through books to find them.

Here are favorites of mine that I have written in my journal and love to read over and over:

A woman who is loved always has success. -Vicki Baum

Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones come daily. -Ivy Baker Priest

It was only a sunny smile,

But it scattered the night

And little did it cost in the giving;

Like morning light,

And made the day worth living.

-Anonymous

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say 'thank you'? -William A. Ward

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. -Mark Twain

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. -Mark Twain

My brand new blog

I have finally taken the step to create a blog especially for Celebrate Life, and I am excited and a little overwhelmed! (But mostly excited.)

Trust me, I won't be using this space to vent about my lack of sleep.... Hopefully because one of these days I'll actually get some, lol.

Look for upcoming etsy minis, other etsians that I love, and hopefully soon I will start sharing my favorite cardmaking techniques. Oh, and of course, you can always look forward to my favorite inspirational quotes.

So welcome, and have fun!

For tonight:

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people, and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics, and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best of others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know that even one life has breathed easier because you lived.
This is to have succeeded.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson