[starchild]

NOt sure if this is the right topic, and maybe should be office programs or software, but it's also graphics...

I'd like to make cards. With the idea of putting them together with envelopes on ebay, or in some of our local tourist shops (I live in Northern Vermont, which is a scenic, touristy area)

At first I looked into having them printed, but this is very expensive. I HAD dismissed the idea of printing them myself because my printer is 5 1/2 years old (Canon BJC-250, I've used it a lot, and it's still going strong). Of course, who knows how many cards I would end up selling. Now I'm thinking I could be learning about setting them up, even if I only do it with black ink on printer paper (for now).

What I'm wondering is... what is a good program to set up and print cards (like greeting cards) with? One that puts the picture on one side and a little logo on the back bottom. Probably on paper that would be folded over once (in various directions, up and down, or open like a book). Maybe with a saying of some kind on the inside.

I have Office 2000 and seems like I saw a program in one of these for making cards. Publisher? (I only have a few of the programs from it installed right now). I know there is Adobe Pagemaker, and other programs. I also have Canon Creative which came with my printer, and I don't have in at the time. I'm not sure if it sets up cards from MY graphics or you have to use there's.

I also have Paint Shop Pro and PhotoShop. Maybe there is something to download (preferably free) that's just for setting up greeting cards?

I know I can look over the programs I have and try them out and "find all the ways it doesn't work" but thought I'd ask first and see if anyone has any ideas for the BEST way.

Thanks....

~ Carrie

[MustBNuts]

You don't really need any particular software if your math skills are any good. I've used Paint Shop Pro and Word to create just such a card (folder over, picture on front, invitation/words inside, trademark on back).

You just have to work out size, top margin, left margin in order to center the pic, then print. It took me some practice on scrap paper but eventually came up with templates I'd use.

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays.

MBN

[Rockn]

With all the time and effort you would put into designing and printing the cards you would spend far more money printing them yourself then sending them out and having them printed. the cost of paper and ink alon would put you out of business. And the time it would take to print quantity on an ink jet printer would put you in the grave before they were done. Design and send out for printing and you may break even.

[warmheart52]

Hi Starchild
I also feel that sending them out to get printed. the ink on the paper will smear, and unless it's laminated they won't stay nice
the whole process would be quite expensive to start and keep going.

good luck with all you do
warrmheart

[starchild]

Thanks for the help... the problem with sending them to have printed (from what I've seen) you have to do a batch of ONE design. For example, if I wanted to put 6 different cards in a pack, I'd have to have 6 different batches done and then put them together.

Right now, since I can't afford to have 600 cards printed, (and still looking into the various options), I thought I could get started by figuring out what I can do. Even if I use my printing paper and black ink (for practice).

Maybe when I get that figured out, and some designs/sayings saved (good idea about the template on WORD) I'll have the actual printing figured out.

Was thinking maybe there are grants of some kind for this. I've been told I'm a "displaced homemaker" trying to find a way to work at home. Seems like that might fit in somewhere

But, I have to start somewhere and figred even if I have to set it up and print in b&w it's "somewhere".

I did once look into Kinko's (we don't have one nearby, but they seem to do business by email and mail) and had them send me a CD that shows how they want print jobs set up.

It's just the idea of starting and getting it together.

~ Carrie

[Rhettman5.1]

I designed a line card for advertising for my wifes company, single sheet-tri-fold-printing and graphics on both sides...Kinko's wanted $1.29 per sheet to print them out,and it cost more to do it yourself,figure your printer wear,ink cost and paper cost.

As you can tell, unless you are a large Company, or just doing it for family and friends, there is not much profit in doing this from home.

The Company did find a outfit in California that would do it for 1/4 that price but they had to order a minimum of 1000 and they are all the same...good luck ...rhett

[buck52]

Howdy ~ Carrie

just a thought... You might consider trying something like Hallmark card studio... you can use there templates or design your stuff from scratch including the logo on the back of the card...

I have had Card Studio3 for about 3 years now and it is tons of fun to fool with...whether you can make any money that way or not didn't, and still doesn't, make any matter to me...I have a good time making custom cards for myself and friends for about any occasion you can think of

buck

[starchild]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I have a cd from Kinkos to help me set it up if I use them.

I just started thinking that I could be playing around with it, making designs, learning how to do it NOW, while waiting to find out about printing them- instead of being immobilized by what seems like lack of money (and needing to have all the same one printed- thus if I wanted 10 different ones in a pack, I'd need to do 10 batches).

I have to start somewhere.

I was also thinking, if I did it myself, using some sort of rustic looking paper, (giving it an overlal rustic look, like it was planned to look "homemade"?)

I live in Vermont, which is rural and scenic and have been taking digital pictures for about 1 1/2 years. My original idea was to change them in Photoshop, like make them look like oil paintings or posters. I got the idea about this from a picture I took of my black and white cat, looking out the window, and changed it to look like a POSTER and thoght "that looks like a card!"

So, maybe I could tie in the "rustic" (homemade) look idea with the cards, like it's supposed to look like that.

I've also started a notebook of "sayings" to put in the cards. My first thought had been not to put anything (let people write their own) but now I'd like something "uplifting" but not mushy. Not too specific (for an occasion) but something that fits all.

I'm thinking of having some in (someday) in packs, with enveloples and sell them on ebay. I've heard you can sell anything on ebay (LOL) Even if I make the designs and save them, and end up printing them myself (rustically...) I woudln't have to print them UNTIL I put one up for auction.

Since I live in the country, and don't have a car (so have to be creative with my surroundings, I take pictures of- light, seasons, angles, effects, etc) it seems like something I could be doing.

Even if I never start an empire....

Thanks for the name of the card creator, I will look for that.

~ Carrie

[buck52]

Good luck whatever you choose...

If your looking for the rustic look maybe your 5 year old printer will be fine..you could atleast experiment with it...you certainly don't want to print a whole bunch of duds thru Kinkies

here's the one I have... great little program to get started... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...04665?v=glance

buck

[starchild]

Yes, that's what I mean... I need to get started, even if I have to print them on printer paper in black/white. Maybe I can make them look like ink drawings!

As for the "rustic" look, I only decided on that to go with my rustic printer.

Like do the best you can with what you have.

Maybe by the time I learn more about it I could get a grant of some kind to have all I wanted printed to start.

I must fit in to grant guidelines somehow. I'm a woman, just turned 60 and low income.

There must be something I can use this for (LOL)

If nothing else it helps me feel positive and productive to be doing something, and learning new things.

~ Carrie

[Cookiegal]

Hi Carrie,

I've been creating my own greeting cards and business cards for a few years now and I use Printmaster Gold. I will be upgrading to Printmaster Platinum now since it has more options. There's also a Printmaster program especially for card making only. They are very user friendly and have templates for cards.

You can make your own cards and import photos you've scanned or taken off the Internet. The programs are all very affordable, ranging in price from $20.00 to $40.00 US.

Like you, I started out thinking I could turn this into a home based job but I quickly learned that it's impossible to compete with printers who can spit out hundreds of cards in very little time. Sometimes it could take me an hour or more to create a card. If I charged for my time I would have to sell the card for at least $10.00. Who's going to pay $10.00 for a single card?

I really enjoy making them though so I do it as a hobby. I make business cards for friends and return address labels and the like. If I get some money for it, then that's fine and it helps with the cost of ink, etc.

I'm also into retouching photographs, something I've just started dabbing into. It's so much fun and it's amazing what you can create.

No matter what you decide to do, I wish you luck with it. Maybe you could consider typing projects for others in Word, like C.V.'s or projects. That could be turned into a home type business if you're so inclined.

Good luck.....Cookie

[starchild]

Thanks, Cookie,

I have also figured out, at least going by the printing costs, that I would have to charge more per card than most people would want to pay At least, going by my budget.

But, I also enjoy the creative side of this. I have thousands of photos I've taken, and I live in a scenic area of northern New England. I first got this idea, because of learning about the effect filters in PhotoShop, and turning pictures into "art".

My original idea was to make the cards and offer them as auctions on ebay. Which would mean only making them AS I offered them for sale, and not having thousands printed up and packed up to sell, in that way. Same with local tourist gift shops.

I once talked to a small "general store" owner who said his biggest seller was a plain white plate, somene painted small trees, mountains, etc. on and wrote "Vermont- The Green Mountain State" or something on. People would buy these as fast as the creator brought them to the store. As souvineers to take home from their vacation or ski trip, etc.

So, I was thinking more of "original" type cards, rather than mass-produced like card companies. (of course there is also the idea of selling my art/ ideas TO card companies? I've heard of doing this, but never learned the details of it)

Another idea I had was making screensavers. Maybe with a company logo (to order) on them. I couldn't believe people actually buy screensavers, seems like there are so many free, and we really don't even need them. But, they are for sale on ebay and Amazon (for two). I got a program and made some, but then the program stopped working (ACez) It was saying it had created them, but the pictures weren't showing up. I wrote to the company and only answer I got was "maybe your images are too big and crashing" Right now, I'm using a crappy old monitor (the sides are squished in and can't be adjusted) so I'm thinking maybe it has something to do with that and can't blame the program at this point. (I have another monitor, (a spare) I let someone borrow once- and now waiting for HER to get one so she will give me mine back...)

I really do enjoy the creative programs. Retouching photos, is another one. I mainly learn on my own, by trial and error as I go along. I've heard one can get work retouching photos, BUT I don't think I know that much about it yet, to actually claim to be able to do it in a professional way.

Right now, I think just doing what I enjoy and learning helps me to feel better, and more productive. I don't know what else TO do. I keep thinking "I should be doing something (to make more money to live on) but I don't know what- and most things need money to start".

Being open to ideas and what comes along.

~ Carrie