Card in Progress

Hey folks! See how I make a card from beginning to end. Enjoy!

March Update

2012 has been whizzing by. Here's a look at what I've been creating lately. Enjoy.

Share the love

In about a month, it will be the national day of love aka Valentine's Day.

Sometimes the holiday gets a bad rap - people say it was created for the sole purpose for card stores and other retailers to make an extra buck. That may be somewhat true. 

Regardless of its original intent, Valentine's Day can be a day you set aside to give more love. Send your spouse or significant other a card to say I love you. Let your children know that you are proud of them. Drop friends and relatives a note to let them know they are in your thoughts. 

Receiving a hand made card is sure to brighten anyone's day. Order your cards today. I will be accepting custom orders by Feb. 1. Cards can be sent to directly to the recipient.

New Cards at Coffee Grounds

These past couple of weeks have been overwhelming. My job as an Resident Advisor has intensified and I am at the point of the semester where it’s time to dig in my heels and step it up an notch. However, it’s also the time folks start their holiday shopping. This weekend was quiet - finally! I made a few new cards to take to Coffee Grounds, a St. Paul coffee shop where my cards are sold. 

Coffee Grounds is a neighborhood coffee shop near Como Park and Falcon Heights. A variety of artwork from local artists is featured like mittens and jewelry so stop by and do a some shopping and grab a cup of joe. Their address is 1579 Hamline Ave. in St. Paul. 

 I stocked several holiday cards for the approaching season. 

I have 24 types of cards from birthday to baby to holiday and I changed many of them out to give fresh inventory.

Stop by and pick up a couple cards. Support a local business. Get an early start on your holiday card shopping. 

Thanks for stopping by. Have a splendid day. 

Yours Sincerely

Chasity

Etsy: What's that?

A couple of years ago when I told my journalist buddy Kalen Ponche that I wanted to sell my handmade cards, she asked me if I had heard of Etsy.

I hadn't. As I browsed the site and learned more, I found it be an ideal place for me to share my creativity with the rest of the world without hopping on a place. Many times when I tell folks I have an Etsy shop, most are unfamiliar. Here's some information on what Etsy is.

According to their site, Etsy is "the world's most vibrant handmade marketplace." It features millions of items made by the hands of crafters all across the world. Etsy is the perfect place to find one of a kind gift items and every day needs. From custom wedding dresses to wall art to hoodies to feather earrings to makeup to baked chocolate chip cookies. The possibilities are endless.

What I appreciate about Etsy is the vastness of its offerings and it has created an accessible bridge between those who love to create and those who love to buy handmade items made with a purpose and with care behind them. Thousands of shops exist on Etsy. You can support local handmade artists in your area by checking out this link: http://www.etsy.com/local?ref=fp_nav_local

If you have a few minutes, take some time and explore Etsy. You're bound to find something special, unique and heartfelt.

Have a great day.

Yours Sincerely
Chasity

The Process: Card making

Sympathy cards probably are the hardest to make. I think sympathy cards should be simple in design and in warm colors appropriate for the occasion. I tend to avoid bows and buttons in my sympathy cards. 

Although they are difficult to make, sympathy cards are very much needed for a person who is mourning. 

Here’s a step by step process for how I made this card. 

I started with a blank pre-folded white card and stamped a pattern along the edge. I used Close to my Heart Creme Brulee. I like Close to My Heart inks pads because the colors are vibrant and don’t fade easily. 

I cut out a patterned piece of paper and adhered it to purple card stock. 

I stamped ‘With Sympathy’ in embossing ink and covered with brown embossing powder. 

The paper I stamped the sentiment on is the back side of the patterned paper. I love double sided papers. They take a lot of the guess work out. Finding coordinating papers can be tricky. It also reduces how much paper I have to buy and waste because I have fewer papers. It also helps with organization. 

I adhered the sentiment on purple card stock and adhered to the front of the card. 

I stamped a sentiment on the inside of the card.

Now I’m done. 

Thanks for reading. Take care.

Yours Sincerely

Chasity 

Something for you. Something for me.

Hey, guys

I have almost reached a milestone - 100 items sold on Etsy!!! It's still pretty crazy that I have taken a hobby and an activity I did to de-stress and is now a small business. It's been a road filled with bumps and bruises but also smiles and wonderful compliments. So far I have sold 98 items in my Etsy store, and I am hoping to reach 100 items this week.

To help me reach my goal, I want to help you. Pick any item, as many as you want, and save 15% off. This is a great time to buy those card sets you have been eyeing. Card sets are already cheaper than the single card rate, but with this coupon you save even more. Buy your Christmas cards early.

This wonderful celebration lasts until Wed. It can be used on any items in my store, except custom orders.

Let me know if you have questions. Have a great day.

Yours Sincerely

Chasity

All Occasion Card Sets released!

Ever been in a rush and had no time to buy a card?

Got the card but forgot the stamp?

I have created something to solve both of those problems for you. I am so excited to announce the release of FOUR brand spanking new all occasion card sets. These babies are handmade, unique and one of a kind. 

The first set is basic. It's called Notes and includes 8 cards - 4 birthday, 1 wedding, 1 baby and 1 congrats. 

The second set is designed for folks who send cards more frequently. Letters features 16 cards - 5 birthday, 1 get well, 2 wedding, 2 sympathy, 2 baby, 2 congrats and 2 thank you. 

The third set Pages has 25 cards - 7 birthday, 2 Mother’s Day, 2 Father’s Day, 1 get well, 2 wedding, 2 sympathy, 2 baby, 1 graduation, 3 congrats/blank cards, 3 thank you. 

The final set is Novel is my favorite. It is designed for someone who gives cards frequently. The set comes with 40 cards - 7 birthday, 2 Mother’s Day, 2 Father’s Day, 1 get well, 2 wedding, 2 sympathy, 2 baby, 1 graduation, 3 congrats/blank cards, 6 thank you and 12 Christmas/holiday cards

Now that you know what comes in each set, let’s talk money. How much is it gonna cost ya???

Typically my single cards cost $4.50 but I'm shaving down that price for the card set. The more cards in the set the cheaper price per card. 

The Notes set of 8 cards is $32 making each card $4. Now if you want to add 8 Forever stamps to your set, no problem. The Notes set with stamps is only $35.99.

Next is the Letters set of 16 cards. It only costs $60.75 making each card $3.75. Want stamps? Your total is only $67.99.

For Pages, a whole dollar is shaved off the regular price. For the 25-card set, you only pay $87.50. Throw in some stamps, it’s only $98.99.

Last but definitely not least is the Novel. This 40 card set is $125 and with stamps, it’s $142.99. Buying this set saves your a whooping $55 off the single card price. 

Maybe you are loving the all occasion card set but would like to customize it to fit your needs even more? I like to give people choices so from Aug. 1 through Aug. 9 you can customize ANY of these to your likening without an additional charge. 

Let’s say 8 cards is all you need but you have a lot of weddings and baby showers coming up - you can get a set of all wedding and baby cards. Or maybe you want to get a head start on your Christmas cards this year. No problem. I can would love to do a set just for you. 

Visit my online store and purchase your set today at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/yourssincerelygifts?section_id=7147456

If you’re scratching your head because you have questions, just shoot me an email at yourssincerelygifts@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have. 

Oh Baby!

I have several friends who are having babies this summer. One friend is due any minute and another is due at the end of August. I wanted to start working on some cards for them.

Designing cards usually takes me the longest so I surfed some YouTube videos to get my creative juices flowing and came up with an original design.

I wanted this card to be simple and versatile. I took one design and did different twists to each card making it like an entirely new card. If you ever have to make multiple cards, it's a good idea to find one design that you like and use in different ways.

This card can work for other occasions as well. Change the footprints to a cupcake and you have a birthday card. The baby to a flower and you have a sympathy card. The possibilities are endless.

These cards will be listed this week in my Etsy shop, which you can find here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/yourssincerelygifts

Happy Crafting!

Yours Sincerely
Chasity