You might want to add Toni Sikes’ blog on your RSS feeds. She is the founder of The Guild and just started a blog, which I hope takes off. She has so much insight that we could all learn from.
In any event, she recently posted about a new book, Making a Living in Crafts. Check it out.
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Hello Alyson, Update: I attended last Oct. in Golden CO. I paint colorful animals. About notecards: I have been selling a continually growing business of notecards for about 5 years. I have researched getting them printed, papers, how to get the best images available to take to printers, etc. Free hard won knowledge is yours for the asking because I feel it is good to share with others because I have been on the receiving end from generous artists. My specialty is commissioned pet portraits. I have two photographers that I work with. One guy will shoot small format digital and burn me a cd with the image in 3 different saturations. He charges me according to the size of the image. I use him when I know I will use the image for cards and prints but not for giclee reproduction. I use the second photographer when I make cards. prints and giclee’s. He shoots in a large high resolution format. I could have the piece almost billboard size and the resolution is great. He burns me a cd and keeps the image on file. Getting cards printed. I had to go from a small independent printer to a larger independent printer because the small one could not promise me continuity in color. I believe it was because her employee could not stand by the machine and make sure the color toner wasn’t running out and the cards would become lighter in color. They use chromecoat paper with a paper backside so you can write on it. It is about 80 lb paper and I can not use my inkjet printed on it. It smears because this paper uses color toner that is “baked” into the paper. I continue to use this company for small batches. For larger orders I have moved to a company with better equipment and can print 6 cards per sheet instead of 2 or 3. The problem with moving my business is that they use different inks and each image had to be manipulated for hue, saturation, etc and I have had to pay for that! Both places charged for scanning, scoring and folding. I won’t pay for folding ( 3 cents per card) My husband and I fold, add an envelope and slip into clear bags that have a fold over sealed flap, while we watch a movie. Bags of all sizes can be gotten at http://www.clearbags.com < http://www.clearbags.com> Prices to printing have a sliding scale. Examples: 100 cards cost .34 250 cards cost .31 500 cards .27 1000 cards .21 1500 cards .19 2500 cards .17 I have not been happy with Kinkos work and their prices have gone up to $1.50 per color copy for a 8.5 x 11 which would give you two cards. You also have a hard time finding someone who has an artistic eye and actually cares about quality. When I only want 10-20 cards I create the card with PrintShop and take it to the smaller printer company and they run off the amount I want, with small corrections made if the saturation isn’t correct. I avoid the scanning cost and the card comes out nicely. When it is camera ready it is less costly. I score by hand and use my paper cutter. I have always offered my clients notecards of their portraits at wholesale price and they love it. Of course, there is more to notecard making and it has been a nice source of income. I joined http://www.Wholesalecrafts.com < http://www.Wholesalecrafts.com> in January, 2006 which is a site retailers can shop American artisans that offer their work at wholesale prices. There are about 12,000 retailers and 900 artists. I have been on it 4 months and I am happy to say my work is now represented in parts of the country that I would never have been able to reach. With my email address and website on the back of every card it is a great way to advertise cheaply! I am thinking about changing the backside of the card to mention my pet portrait business. If I can be of any more help about notecards don’t hesitate to contact me via email or phone. Pat Saunders-White Convertible Art Studio/Gallery Loveland CO 970-278-1755