Filtering Coffee, Not People



Is Card Making For You?If you think it isn’t because:-1) I’m not artistic.Well neither am I! I can’t paint or draw, and neither can I colour - tell me to add light and shade and I’ll run a mile. I’ve always enjoyed crafts where there is a pattern to follow, like knitting, tapestry, and cross stitch. The amazing thing about card making is that there are so many resources and tools, and so much inspiration available, that it’s easy to make a beautiful card, without having an artistic bone in your body.2) It’s too expensive.It is certainly addictive, which can make it expensive because there are so many fabulous stamps, dies, stencils, and toppers available, and often they are not cheap. However many people make cards by recycling old cards. I’ve recently dropped off a bag full of offcuts for a lady who makes and sells cards made by recycling used greeting cards; she has raised over ?35,000 for the Christie.3) I wouldn’t know where to start.Start simple with a pair of scissors, some PVA glue, blanks cards, colouring pencils, and a craft magazine which comes with a cover “gift” - perhaps some pretty patterned papers or some stamps - and take it from there.4) Where would I get inspiration from?As well as Pinterest, Youtube, and Facebook:-Magazines - My favourite card making magazines are the range from Practical Publishing (based in Stockport). I buy one occasionally, looking at the cover “gifts” and see which I like the look of best. Simply Cards and Papercraft, Papercraft Essentials, Die Cutting Essentials, and Creative Stamping.Craftword - also part of Practical Publishing - is a website which is a bit like a Facebook page, craft forum, Youtube and Pinterest, all rolled into one. It’s free, doesn’t try to sell you anything, is very easygoing, and crammed full of card making inspiration. (I do some freelance work for them, so am probably a bit biased!)Facebook - loads of craft experts have their own Facebook pages. A few of the craft experts I follow are Sheena Douglass, Phill Martin, John Next Door, Sara Davies, and Chloe Endean (Chloe’s Creative Cards)Classes - we are incredibly fortunate in Stockport and surrounding area to have so many talented crafters who run workshops. Glynis Bakewell (Facebook page - Glynis’s Crafty Workshops), Jo Rice (Facebook page - Jo’s Workshops), Crafty Ladies (run workshops in Marple, great for beginners), Sally Ross runs workshops at Brookside in Poynton (also great for beginners, but not run by Brookside, so ask me for details), Jen’s Craft and Natter (in Glossop), and I know at least three u3a groups who have card making interest groups (Marple, Bramhall, High Lane - I run the High Lane one)Where would I buy craft products from?The Range, B&M, Pound shops, Home Bargains - often stock things like glitter, glue, scissors, card blanks, coloured card and paper, white and black card, gems, double sided tape and foam tape.The Works (especially Craft Works - the nearest is in Buxton) - usually have card blanks, cello bags, embellishments, gems, tapes, glues, books of patterned paper and toppers. They also sometimes have Crafter’s Companion products. Aldi and Lidl - several times a year (normally just before school holidays) they have craft events. I usually buy pads of coloured card from there, but they also occasionally have a small die cutting machine - usually around ?16 - really great and good value.Hobbycraft - usually have quite a wide choice of card, glues, stamps, dies, die cutting machine, electronic cutting machines, guillotines, trimmers, punches, etc.Shopping Channels - Create and Craft, and Hochanda. Some good demonstrations of techniques, but always accompanied by a hard sell, and most products can be bought much cheaper on line.On- line - so many companies, so little time! Once you know what you want it really is worth shopping around! If in doubt, try Craftstash and Crafter’s Companion, both large companies who stock a wide range of products, with loyalty points which can save you money if you buy regularly.Unbranded - only read this if you are prepared to deal with controversial issues! Most craft products are made in China. Some factories just copy the things they are making for the “big brands” and sell them much more cheaply through sites like AliExpress and Wish. Dies that might be eg ?12.99 rrp can be purchased from AliExpress at ?2-3. Some things also find their way onto eBay and Amazon. Of course there is a big moral issue that by buying from such sellers, the original design companies are losing lots of money, and some of the smaller companies are struggling to stay afloat. There are also issues about items ordered taking 3/4 months to arrive, getting lost in the post, or being incomplete or too small or just not working, when they do arrive. So, things can be really cheap, butjust be aware of the risks if you decide to buy items direct from China. ................
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