Why Buy Handmade Greeting Cards?

This card is hand: stamped, torn, inked, drawn (e.g. swirls & dots), coloured, cut, glued and embellished.

As I interact with customers, I am sometimes surprised by people's hesitancy to buy handmade greeting cards. What with the glut of commercial cards available in shops, there seems to be an inherent trust in overpriced factory-produced cards. I am trying to challenge this notion by providing affordable gifts and cards, handmade using quality materials, unusual techniques and unique designs.

Handmade cards are not mass-produced by a printing press. Each one is hand constructed and designed. Common cardmaking techniques used include hand: stamping, drawing, embossing, inking, painting, cutting, gluing, mounting and embellishing. If you have ever dabbled in cardmaking yourself, you start to realise just how much effort goes into one card and the number of steps needed to create the finished product. Each card is a miniature artwork which reflects the creator’s passion for originality, aesthetics and design.

When you buy handmade cards, you have the opportunity to communicate your personal style and message to the recipients, which will ultimately hold a deeper meaning for them. There is something different about the way a handmade card looks and feels. The hand-embellished, multi-dimensional and artistic elements of a handmade card provide the recipient with something to treasure for many years to come, so it is unlikely to be discarded. I have known people to paste a favourite quote over the “Happy Birthday” sentiment on the front, for example, and frame their card.

People will genuinely value the thought you have put into selecting a creative handmade card for their special occasion whether it be a birthday, the birth of a baby, marriage, or simply a little note of thanks.

Handmade cards are great value for money and are often cheaper than mass-produced cards. Unsold and damaged cards are factored into the price of commercial cards. Why not consider buying an individually constructed product, which has been locally made with limited waste or environmental impact, and which has been made with great care and passion!

Text by Melanie © 2011

Customised Scrapbook Albums

6" x 6" scrapbook layout

12" x 12" scrapbook layout

Recently, I was contacted through this website to create a customised Wedding Scrapbook Album for a couple whose photos have been sitting in a box for 25 years. What better way to revive these older-style photos than to bring them to life with scrapbooking tools and techniques! I have been a 'scrapbooker' for about 8 years now, and have probably completed more pages for others than myself in this time, but all the classes, layouts and completed albums have certainly helped in honing my design skills and visual techniques.

It is hard to define my scrapbooking style. I use an eclectic range of tools and materials to suit a variety of styles. I believe that the addition of text to most scrapbook layouts is important. A textual, as well as a visual story must be told, providing your photos with that unique edge.

If you have a story you would like to tell through photos, text and other visual elements, but lack the time, tools and techniques to complete the project yourself, please contact me via the 'Contact' tab above. I will do my uptmost to present and preserve your precious photos in a truly unique and visually-appealing way.

Below is a brief outline of the cost of customised scrapbooking projects. Copies of photos are generally provided by the customer, so these costs cover my time, tools and materials:

6" x 6" scrapbook layouts - $6.00 each

8" x 8" scrapbook layouts - $8.00 each

12" x 12" scrapbook layouts - $12.50 each
12" x 12" deluxe scrapbook layouts - $15.00 each

An album would generally contain around 20 layouts. The cost of the album and sleeves is in addition to the layout costs, and differs according to the size chosen. Only the actual cost price is passed onto the customer.

For the Wedding Album described at the beginning of this post, the customer is edging towards the 12" x 12" deluxe scrapbook layouts as he wants the best layouts I am capable of producing with the photos provided. To give you an idea of cost, the album would be approximately $50 (including sleeves) and the pages (around 16) would be $240. So, for $290 in total, this couple will finally have an aesthetic album of their wedding memories to share with family and friends. Great value for the amount of care and thought that goes into such a project!

New Photographic Cards

I'm always adding new photographic cards to the collection, and hope to have some fresh designs ready for Christmas (yes, people have already started thinking about it!) I took this picture at The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah earlier this year. It was a gorgeous day after a rainy week and I thoroughly enjoyed the cool climate atmosphere. It's well worth a visit if you love botanic diversity and aesthetic views.

Mounted photographic cards are $2.50 each (professionally printed card designs are $3.00 each) and come with a coordinating envelope. If you are interested in purchasing any, please email me and I can send you attachments of some of my most popular images (or check out images on this blog). These cards are perfect for sending to loved ones overseas as all of the photos have been taken in Australia and the South Pacific. I accept bank deposit and PayPal (the same options offered on the 'online markets' madeit and Etsy).

It's tough at times...

Image above: Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp by Stampin' Up!

Here are a few of my latest cards. I'm starting to realise that there really is no end to the diversity of cards that can be made! I've started to scratch the surface but so much more creativity is still waiting to emerge...

On another note, trying to grow a small business can be extemely tough and, at times, I wonder if I have spent more on materials, tools and stall costs than I have made. Nearly everything I sell is made by hand, so it is also a time-consuming venture. Lately, I have been challenging myself to make better cards at a faster rate. This has quite been tough because I don't wish to skimp on quality. I have also been approached by a couple of potential stockists, but actually haven't had time yet to make the stock!

Recently, I made the worst decision I have ever made for 'Green Gifts' since 2003 (in terms of lost money and time). I rented a stall space in a shop in Sydney for four days (which needed to be prepaid). Unfortunately, I tumbled for the positive blog posts and other reviews promoting this new initiative without first visiting the shop. The reality is that the shop is in a poor location with very limited foot traffic. The operators will receive the short-term benefit of rental income from people like me, but ultimately, the enterprise will leave frustration and disappointment in its wake.

I just wish the operators would be true to themselves and the craft community who are trusting them to do the right thing. The initiative will work for some, but only very few. I'm annoyed with myself because I am used to achieving a certain level of success for my hard work and feel completely duped this time round (due to non-disclosure of the likelihood of infrequent sales). I still have two days left and it is looking improbable that I will even recoup the cost of the materials for the items sold, let alone the stall costs! Live and learn people...

Business Products

Ateca's Travel Services, Lautoka Hotel Foyer, Lautoka, Fiji

Whilst staying in Lautoka, Fiji, we wanted to do a few adventurous things. However, it was difficult to find any Tourist Information in this town (actually, it's the second largest city in Fiji!) On the third last day, we thought we would approach the one person who seemed to know anything, a lady named Ateca, who rents a space in the Lautoka Hotel foyer. She was more than happy to organise a trekking tour for the next day and it turned out to be quite an adventure (expect the unexpected when visiting Fiji and you won't be disappointed).

The city of Lautoka has quite a bit to offer the tourist, but there is a lack of information available. Soon, I will be posting a review about the trek because I wish to promote this sustainable eco-tourism initiative. Ateca also gave us some helpful information about the best and cheapest way to get to the Port Denarau Marina, so I have offered to send her some business cards and a banner, designed and printed free-of-charge.

Green Gifts' design services include: all design needs for personal use and small business (business cards, banners, flyers, stationery, etc.), wedding and event stationery, and photo scanning/digital photo restoration services. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in using any of these services and I will be happy to help :) Don't forget to contact Ateca if you are planning to visit Fiji in the near future. Ask her questions and she will do her best to organise some interesting local activities for you to do during your stay in Lautoka.

Return from Paradise

 Poolside Flora, Lautoka Hotel, Lautoka, Fiji Islands

Sunset, Treasure Island, Mamanuca Group, Fiji Islands

Leaves in the Light, Nausori, Fiji Islands

I have recently returned home from a short trip to Fiji. My sister and her husband chose to be married over there and had the most quintessential beach wedding (and honeymoon!) possible. As I was a bridesmaid, I didn't have the chance to snap too many pics on the day :( but can't wait to see the professional photos when they emerge. Due to the overall schedule of the trip, there weren't copious opportunities to take photographs but I tried to keep an eye out for interesting subject matter and managed to take a few decent shots. I'm hoping that a couple of shots will make successful photographic cards for my market stall.

Fiji is a beautiful country. I love the way in which any form of travel forces you to reflect and, in some ways, creates a mindshift within you. It's because you're away from the humdrum and routine of everyday life (not that my life is particularly routinised since leaving teaching). I haven't quite returned to 'reality' yet. Having neglected 'Green Gifts' for the entire month of June, I'm dreadfully low in stock and in no position to visit potential stockists who, undoubtedly, will not wait for me forever! I'll just have to hope for the best. Fiji was worth it...