Where do you get your note cards?

Help! I'm writing an article and am interested to hear where you get your note cards? Of course, you use them all the time because you're writing so many thank-you notes, right? And they have images of your work on the front, right?

Do you print them yourself?

If you sell note cards, are those printed in larger quantities by someone else?

Where do you get your paper and what should we look out for when selecting stock?

Any guidance is appreciated.

Comments

[Beth Stafford]

I print my own cards using Microsoft Publisher and Avery Matte White Note Cards. You get 60 cards and envelopes for about $25.00. Drawbacks: edges need to be trimmed, envelopes aren't high quality, paper is coated on all sides so you need to use a ballpoint (I prefer markers). There are much better papers on the market, I'm sure, but these are affordable and still look good.
I was planning to print some to sell, but it wasn't cost-effective, so I just print enough for personal use. About the card: painting on front, title, size, medium, and URL on back, and collection if applicable.

[Paula Manning-Lewis]

I print my own notecards on my Epson 2000P printer using Adobe Pagemaker software. I use Strathmore blank art notecards. I find them online for around $14 for 50 cards with envelopes. I like to make my own because I can print them as I need them so I don't have boxes and boxes of cards to store. This way I can also use all of my images on cards instead of having to pick out only a few to have printed for me. I sell them and use them for thank you notes or even gifts for people who buy my originals. This way, they can send out cards with the image of the painting they just purchased, and help me spread some word of mouth. All of my cards have my name, address and email printed on the back.

[Pam Tremble]

Being a custom scrapbook designer - I just MAKE my own. Not only does it put my artwork into the hands of potential clients, but handmade items are normally "kept" because they are too pretty to throw away. And of coure, my contact information is printed on the back, just like Hallmark does. And notecards can be designed with any style or theme.... even with photographs of your artwork "scrapbooked" onto the front of those cards. It might take a bit more time, and a bit more money - but I think it's worth to give my customers (or potential customers) a little piece of my art. I've had people call me several months after receiving their inital card and say they still had it. Just something to consider...
~Pam

[Kristi Johnston]

I print my own like Paula for all the same reasons, but I use notecards from Staples. Matte White, photo quality, 2 per page. The image comes out clean and crisp and I have a template that I downloaded for free from Avery ( it is a Word doc.), and put my contact info on the back as well in a text box. If the Avery brand is on sale, I get those, but the quality is comparable to Staples' brand. They cost about $24 for 100 cards/envelopes at regular price.

Kristi L. Johnston
www.KristiJohnstonArtworks.com
For a peek at my newest paintings and the most up to date class info, go to:
www.kjartworks.blogspot.com

[Tracy Helgeson]

I actually do not use images of my work on thank you notes. I try to find funky, well designed cards by other artists or cards that have a recycled look, on brown paper or something like that. My feeling is that I am truly just thanking the person and hoping that they will enjoy the piece that they have purchased. Just another way to look at it!

[jaycoffelt]

Shutterfly.com. Love 'em.

http://www.shutterfly.com/shop/product_c10009-p2011/Cards_Note_Cards

Or if you want to pre-pay for a quantity discount:

http://www.shutterfly.com/order/biz_ppp_products.jsp

[Colleen Lambert]

I print my notecards on Staples Supreme satin finish photo paper, 4 up and mount them on Paper Zone Baronial finish A-6 size plain folders. I use Avery clear labels printed with my contact info adhered to the back. On the front, under the photo and in the margin, I hand-write the title, size and media. The cards cost me less than 35 cents a copy, so I feel it is quite cost efective.

I send them out to former and new clients. I also use them in a small variety pack for birthdays, anniversaries etc. for my clients as a remembrance and also as a way to garner new clients. So, far they seem to love them and I have garnered a few new clients who have received a card and looked me up. So, it must be working.
Colleen Lambert
http://www.colleenlambert.com

[leon hollins iii]

I just had 500 printed by a printer in Carlsbad California. I was 82% satisfied . . . I blame myself and my trusty internet service provider for the 18% dissatisfaction. My 'note cards' are really post cards 4x6".

[Karen Thumm]

I print my own cards on my Epson 2200 and use Folajet paper that I get from a paper distributor in town. I print them two to an 8.5 x 11 sheet and cut the sheet in half. I also buy envelopes from the paper distributor, and the notecards and envelopes cost me about $.32 each.

[David Castle Art]

I started out printing my own notecards on my Epson inkjet printer exclusively for client coorespondence. I printed A-2 sizes on Classic Laid cover (which has a textured surface - just like my old busines cards, Alyson). Once I decided to sell notecards at festivals, through my website and a few local retail stores, I had a large quantity (1200 x 20 designs = 24,000 notecards) at Sprint Press/Denver, which is a commercial offset printing company. They printed on two press sheet sizes - one "16 up" and one "4 up" on the same Classic Laid Cover. Of course, they cut, scored and boxed them all up for me, so I just had to do my final packaging.

I still print special occasion notecards and limited quantities of new art on my inkjet, but unless you have an inkjet that accepts the permament, lightfast inks (and spend the $$ for them), their life is limited as they will fade from light exposure (unlike the inks used by offset printers).

I'd be happy to pass on my Sprint Press contact to anyone interested - she does lots of work for artists and was good to work with. Plus, I got to tour their press facility and was facinated at seeing the huge presses in action!

[Marie Merritt]

David, How much does it cost per card for the way you had your's done?

[Charmaine Thaner]

I buy a box of 90 notecards with envelopes at Hobby Lobby. They are $14.99. I usually buy them when I have a 40% off coupon. I print my own on my EPSON printer.

[Casey Klahn]

Quickly, from memory:
a. ADG Printing in Lynnwood, WA. They also do my biz cards.
b. I have a publisher in Berkeley that juries artists into a collection in printed form. Anyway, he offers 1K postcards with the deal, for a fee.
c. For in between mailings, I discovered that the US Postal Service has a postcard service, where you send a jpeg and a mailing list and text, and viola! Last year, I sent a candid B&W of me in the studio, as these people had already gotten an image postacard earlier.

[Jackson]

I was wanting to know how you print things like monogramming on notecards. What program would you use? I see such cute notecards in stores that are personalized with names on them and are all colorful and am wondering how to do this myself. Any help?

[Artistic Acolyte]

I'm new to this blog, but I've been reading for a few days.

If it is permissible to ask, how much do you (a collective "you" that addresses all the artists here) charge for your notecards?

Is printing them the usual method? Does anyone sell original work in the form of notecards? (I am still a little inexperienced to be having things printed, in my opinion)