Hi, I had repaired the Marvy Mega punch using superglue, but it broke again. It's still usable by pushing down the lever by hand. I intend to fix it again using a metal strip to reinfoce the handle. Picture 1: All parts after opening it up (needs phillips screw driver, not too fat). Notice the broken handle (middle left). Picture 2 and 3: Close-up on springs that hold up top cutting piece. Picture 4: Close-up on broken handle. Picture 5: Handle after superglued repair. Picture 6: Handle reattached to the top of the punch unit. Picture 7: Reassembled and tested. The punch cut a perfect scallop circle 2.5" diameter.
Hi, I participated in a stamp camp with very talented ladies! Once a month, they meet to share ideas for demonstrating in a Stampin' Up! workshop. Since I only use Stampin' Up! as a hobby, I am happy they allow me to tag along with these more experienced ladies. Everyone brought wonderful food as well as fun projects to share.
Annette's card is simple and elegant. The blue box uses extra-long die from Stampin' Up! I also love Verenice's Quince Anos card & pillowbox. I may have to order the stampset on my next order! I am missing a few photos, which I will upload later.
I made two different sizes of pillow boxes without any template. The important point is to use a dinner plate about 11" in diameter to shape the petal edges. Scoring on the outside of the box makes folding much easier (fold away from score lines).
The rose red box uses 9.5"x12" cardstock (12"x12" cardstock cut on oneside). Finished size is 5.5"x8"x1.5" and holds about six A2 sized cards and envelopes. The pink box uses a letter-sized cardstock. Finished size is 5.2" x 7.25"x1.25" and holds three A2 sized cards and envelopes. You can also load them up with candy. They are quite sturdy because the center band reinforces its structure. Use pink extra sticky tape to hold the box seam.
For the rose red pillowbox, score 1" from one end and 5.5" from the opposite end. When you fold the card, it will meet at the 1" seam. Score two petal shapes on the sides as in photos below using a dinner plate. Remember to score on the outside of the box and fold away from the score lines. Cut the outside of each petal shape. You can click on the photos above to see a larger image. Use extra sticky tape to adhere the 1" center seam. For the pink pillowbox, start with a letter-size cardstock. Score at 0.5" from one end and 5.25" from opposite end. When you fold the card it will meet with a 1/2" seam. Use a dinner plate to score two petal shapes on each side. Cut the outside of each petal.
Hi, I made a bunch of poker game night cards for my stamping group. I really like the design. It seems to have been a success with my stamping group. It uses the new in-color cardstock (bermuda bay and soft suede), and Card Games stamp set from Stampin' Up! I made a lot more for Bill and friends back in Virginia who play Texas Hold'em.
Direct supply costs = 90.4 cents:
- So Saffron card base (23 cents/2) = 11 cents
- Burmuda Bay (23 cents/8) = 3 cents
- Soft Suede (23 cents/8) = 3 cents
- Vanilla (17 cents/4) = 4 cents
- Silver and Real Red, leftover scraps = 0 cents
- Jackpot designer paper ($1 per sheet/12) = 8 cents
- Curry ribbon, 5" ($10/15 yds/36" X 5") = 9 cents
- Dimensionals, 15 used (1.33 cent x 15) = 20 cents
- Snail tape, 50 inches ($2.10/472"X50") = 22 cents
- Glue stick, about 3 cents
- Envelope from ClearBags.com = 7.4 cents
Break-even Analysis: (Made 28 cards so far)
- I will value this card at $2.50.
- Total cost is 90 cents direct supplies + 60 cents indirect = $1.50 per card.
- Cost recovered for 28 cards is ($2.50 - $1.50) x 28 = $28.
- Since I paid $33.60 for the main stamp & die, I missed breaking even by $5.60. ($20 Card Games + $22 Top Note die, minus 20% discount.)
Additional Tools: "Game Night" stamp, red and black inkpads, 1/2" circle punch, 3/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, 3/8" corner rounder punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, bone folder, pencil, ruler, and scissors. Also Sizzix BigKick die cutting machine I bought used for $50 from Annette, my favorite person and upline ;-) Amazon.com sold new BigShot and Cuttlebug for $65 with free shipping a few months back. All three machines can use 6" wide Sizzix and Stampin' Up! dies. Cuttlebug is the most portable, and is my favorite of the three.
I bought 100 white tags for $3.63 from an office supply store (3.63 cents per tag). At such a low price, it's hard to justify buying a $16 punch. I love all of my punches, but I should limit my purchase to shapes that are not readily available. The white tag can be colored using inks to match my cardstock and decorated with stamps.
To achieve an equivalent per unit cost, I need to make 623 tags from the $16 Key Tag punch! (Cost of cardstock for 2"x3" piece is 1.06 cents. Remaining 2.57 cents is allocated to the punch. $16/$0.0257= 623.)
(Pictured: Avery Marking Tags, 2-3/4"x1-11/16", 100 for $3.63. Stampin' Up! Key Tag punch, $16, retired).
I bought clear gift boxes to present handmade cards as gifts to friends and family this Christmas Season. They are medium weight for a box (16 mil). I would have preferred a thicker material, but it does feel like it's good quality. I decorated one with a Christmas ornament design. It turned out so cute!
Supplies: Stampin' Up! Wings of Friendship hostess stamp set, Crushed Curry and Melon Mombo cardstock, Crushed Curry polka dot ribbon (37 cents, 20", $10/15 yards), silver cord, Marvy Mega punch 2.5" scallop, 2.25" circle template and scissors, Stampin' Up! small oval punch and Short & Sweet sentiment stamp set, scotch gold tape, pop-up dimensionals, Fine Cosmos pink glitter, heat & stick powder, embossing inkpad, and heat tool.
Box: FB30 4-1/2"x1-1/4"x5-7/8" from ClearBags.com, cost 54 cents/box with tax & shipping ($11.25/25). Fits ten cards about 1/8" thick and envelopes.
I also broke down and purchased cheaper envelopes from ClearBags.com. The E120 Premium Couger 5-3/4" x 4-3/8" (A2) envelopes felt meaty and nice. I think their quality is similar to Stampin' Up! ones. They have a bit of texture and are not silky smooth.
The E160 5.5" square enveloeps were a bit less nice than Stampin' Up ones, but still usable. The A2 size was 7.4 cents after tax & ship ($3.10/50 plus 19%) instead of 16 cents I pay for Stampin' Up! ones ($6.50/40). The 5.5" square was 12.4 cents versus 35 cents. Both types were much cheaper from ClearBags.com. They sell lots of clear bags for protecting your handmade cards. I like the premium protective closure bags, 2 mil. The PR54 A2 size bag is $6.00/100 bags. When ordering less than $40, goto ClearEnvelopes.com.
Left: Stampin' Up! Wings of Friendship hostess stamp card I used for a swap. Inked directly on the stamp in lovely lilac, old olive, and pumpkin pie. Three inch circles are cut from white and summer sun cardstock. Card base is lovely lilac and elegant eggplant. Ribbon is elegant eggplant.
Hi, I made some poker game cards for Bill, who likes to plays Texas Hold'em at Poker Stars.
Materials: Stampin' Up! Jackpot designer paper ($10/12 sheets), Kiwi Kiss designer paper ($10/12 sheets, retired), Very Vanilla cardstock, black gingham ribbon ($7.50/15 yards), Stampin' Up! Game Night stamp set ($21), Rose Red marker, silver leafing pen, black stamp pad, Dimensionals foam dots, and punches -- small oval, large oval, and corner rounder.
Each poker card is 2"x1-3/8" and cut from vanilla cardstock. One poker card is faced down. I glued a red pattern paper from Jackpot set onto a vanilla cardstock before cutting to size. Cards are edged with silver pen to define its edges when stacked together. In Texas Hold'em, a game begins with 2 private cards dealt face down to each player. After the initial betting round, 3 community cards are dealt face up. Next the 4th community card, then the 5th community card is dealt face up. Ooops, I noticed there are four Aces of Hearts in both cards, which is not possible unless playing with four decks!
Materials:
Cranes stencil, Dreamweaver Stencils ($7.50). Sentiment, Stampin' Up! Elegant Greetings (retired). Shiva Artist Paintstik ($6-$7), shimmering white, gray, brown, and teal. Papers, Stampin' Up! Ribbon, Stampin' Up! 5/8" brocade blue. Dry embossing tool and light box.
Blue card also uses Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Backgrounds and Label Classics (retired) stamp sets. And Pink card uses Ginger Blossoms retired designer paper fom Stampin' Up!
Hi, here is a card that combines both of my hobbies for sewing and handmade cards. I used Stampin' Up! company's Tulipe die ($22). Fabric has bright orange cherry blossoms with rich red background and gold outlines -- from Michael Miller fabrics pattern # CM-1713 Maui Bliss ($10 per yard, 44"x36"). Finished card is 5.5" square and uses light yellow textured cards I bought on sale. The rich red matting and light yellow card base bring out these colors from the fabric and seem to make the card shine.
I just glued this one down, but if you are making multiples, I suggest ironing Pellon Wonder Under medium or heavy weight ($2.75/yard, 18" wide) double-sided adhesive to the fabric before cutting. Position the pieces on white cardstocdk using a template, cover with ironing fabric, then bring the iron straight down. Do not drag the iron or you will move the pieces. You can use a spot of glue to keep the smaller pieces in place before ironing. Directions usually call for 15 seconds at wool to cotton setting. Additional cost per card is $2.75/yard/18 cuts = 15 cents.
Supply cost per card: $1.05
- Die Cuts with View, yellow-1 textured cards & evelopes, 30 cents on sale (originally $6.00/10 pack).
- Fabric, about 6" squre, 24 cents ($10/yard/42 cuts).
- Stampin' Up!, Ridinghood Red cardstock for matting, 5-1/8" square, 9 cents ($5.50/24 sheets/2 - 20% discount).
- Whisper White cardstock, 4-7/8" square, 7.5 cents ($7.50/40 sheets/2 - 20% discount).
- Tape, about 40 inches, 18 cents (Snail tape purchased at bulk $2.10/472" x 40"), and glue 1 cent.
- Pellon Wonder Under, 6" square, 15 cents.
- Hello stamp in orange, free.
I generally allocate a cost recovery of $1 per card for stamp sets or dies. So the $20 I paid (after 20% discount) for the Tulipe die will be recovered (break-even point) after I use it to make 20 cards. My cards generally cost 75-85 cents per card on direct consumables and $12/month on indirect overhead, such as inkpads, embossing powders, cutters, storage boxes, and plastic bags. If I make 20 cards/month, then the indirect overhead cost is 60 cents per card. I allocate a market value of $2.50 to $3.00 per card.
Break-even Analysis for the Tulipe Die Card:
- I will value this card at $3.00 since it uses a bit more expensive supplies.
- Total cost is $1.05 direct supplies + 60 cents indirect = $1.65 per card.
- Cost recovered for 20 cards is ($3.00 - $1.65) x 20 = $27.
- Since I paid $20 for the die, I recovered $7 beyond my break-even point.
The best way to save money while crafting is to spend less money up front.
If you are addicted to crafting, like I am, this is hard to do. So here are some thoughts:
(1) Buy only what you really love and will use often.
(2) Find at least 1 other craft friend or family to share tools and stamp sets with (so you don't have to buy everything).
(3) Find ways to get craft supplies for free or nearly free.
(4) Make use of federal consumer "Fair Use" laws. More on this below.*
(5) Keep track of every receipt and calculate how many items you need to produce to break even.
(6) Join a craft group.
A craft group is wonderful to join to share fresh ideas and get moral support for your addiction. You will probably spend more money in absolute terms, but that money will be better spent on items you will really enjoy. And you can buy items at bulk prices and in large quantities to get free shipping.
* Federal Fair Use law: The Fair Use law protects consumers from overly zealous prosecution of copyright claims by companies. Generally, users are allowed to make 5-10 photocopies (or hand traces) of copyrighted images from catalogues and books for your personal use. If you are an educator, you can make up to 25 photocopies of any item from a book to hand out in your class to be used as an instructional material.
I think the best way to make use of this is on a stamp that I am not sure about. I think hand tracing on a translucent art paper (used for drafting) is easier, but if you have a photocopier at home, that can be faster. You can then mount the hand traced item on white or cream cardstock. (Or print directly a photocopied image to cardstock.) I recommend Clearprint Paper Company's Design Vellum -- 100% cotton fiber for tracing and drawing. It accepts all coloring media. About 70% of the time you may end up buying the stamp set anyway, but this will save you money on the other 30%. Also, I really hate the feeling of having wasted money on a stamp set that I end up not using. This helps cut down the frequency of regrets.
