scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449 
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 20, 2023 13:20:43 GMT
I enjoy card making, but not on demand. I don’t sell my cards. I’m trying to get back to scrapbooking.
A neighbor, who has been the best of my neighbors, texted me to ask if I sell my cards. She wants me to make a card for her great grandson, who will be one year old at the start of May.
It’s pretty specific what she wants: a caterpillar themed card. I can probably find a cute cutting file of a caterpillar, but I have no caterpillar dies or stamps, and no interest in getting into making cards by request, especially since I am late on making cards for my own family members.
I am thinking about having her come over, and help her make a card, although I’d need to find a cute caterpillar cutting file first. The challenge is the timing. Her MIL is about to have hip surgery, so I’m not sure she will have time to come over and make her own card. I struggle with the time issue myself.
Any thoughts on how to accommodate her without it becoming a “card making on demand” kind of issue?
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Post by babylou on Mar 20, 2023 13:50:01 GMT
I'm not sure I'm going to have the answer you want to hear. LOL! If it was me, I would just make something for her and when you give it to her, just let her know, that while you enjoyed making this one, you don't want to continue doing so. Just kindly explain that you craft for you and your family and already don't have time to complete what you would like and don't wish to add more to your list of things to do. I assume she will understand that and also be thankful that you made her what she needed right now.
That being said, I don't sell my cards usually either. But, there are a couple of my husbands customers that do send me requests occasionally. It is fun to take the challenge of what they ask for and see what I can come up with! Sometimes I really have to put on my thinking cap! LOL!
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Post by grammadee on Mar 20, 2023 14:09:16 GMT
Making something for someone else's purposes is always stressful. And sometimes your biggest fans are the most difficult to create for--all those expectations! Did she give you any idea of what kind of card she had in mind? Maybe if she sends you an image of the card she is imagining you will actually have some cut files that would work. Or could use your Scan n Cut to make them. (Says the person who barely uses the cut files I DO own and can barely modify THEM  ) If you can fit it in to make the card or to help her make the card, can you explain that you are doing this as a favor to her, and that you don't intend to put out cards for sale? Maybe she can "pay" you in kind, like making a cake for you for someone's birthday? |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 20, 2023 14:19:52 GMT
I’ve been looking online. To be honest, I am having a hard time finding any cute caterpillar images. There were a couple, but I would have to turn one of them into a cutting file, and neither of them looked like it would be an easy job of making the cutting file. I’ve done enough cutting file creation that I know how much time it can take.
I may ask her if she has an invitation that I could use to make a cutting file, perhaps.
I’d like to have her come over to make the card herself. She’ll either love it or never want to do it again, LOL.
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Post by grammadee on Mar 20, 2023 14:43:45 GMT
Can something like this be modified to work? (I googled catterpillar colouring book images) But it really depends on what she has in mind...  |
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Shakti
Pearl Clutcher
Troubled, complicated, and constant
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Oct 30, 2022 23:42:30 GMT
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Post by Shakti on Mar 20, 2023 14:47:06 GMT
It sounds like the only reason you might want to do it is because she's been a good neighbor. What I might do at this point if I were is tell her that you don't really craft for anyone other than yourself and your family, that you don't really have anything to make this type of card, but because she's been so great, you did look into finding something that would work, but to no avail.
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GiantsFan
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Mar 20, 2023 14:47:33 GMT
Can something like this be modified to work? (I googled catterpillar colouring book images) But it really depends on what she has in mind... This little guy is adorable! |
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GiantsFan
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Posts: 8,503
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Mar 20, 2023 14:56:59 GMT
I make cards for one particular person all the time. I let them look through my already made cards first to see if something I already have will work. If they have specific idea then I try to accommodate. I like the challenge. In your case it sounds like you don't want to do it. Make the card. Next time she asks say I'm going to have to pass this time. I am thinking about having her come over, and help her make a card This is perfect. Then she can how much work and effort goes into a card. Heck, she might get the bug to start the hobby. |
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by lindas on Mar 20, 2023 15:00:09 GMT
 link
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Look on Pinterest for some cute, simple ideas. |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 20, 2023 16:03:54 GMT
I’m happy to do it for her, but I don’t want it to become an ongoing thing. I made a beautiful birthday card for her MIL (who is also in the same house) that set a pretty high bar. Non-crafters have NO idea how much time and energy goes into making a card (admittedly, I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so my cards aren’t quick to make). If I help her to make it, then she will see that card making takes time, and the card for her great grandbaby will be more personal that way, anyway. grammadee, thank you!!! That caterpillar is so much cuter than most clip art that I saw, and it will be pretty easy to turn into a cutting file. That is a huge help! |
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Post by don on Mar 20, 2023 23:28:14 GMT
For a 1 year old? I like the punched out papers and google eyes. I also think it would take less time to simply cut out grammadee picture than it would be to set up your machine and cut it out. |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 21, 2023 3:14:54 GMT
For a 1 year old? I like the punched out papers and google eyes. I also think it would take less time to simply cut out grammadee picture than it would be to set up your machine and cut it out. My machine is always set up, and it would take very little time to turn the clip art shared by grammadee into a cutting file. I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and suggestions about how to approach this. This morning I was definitely feeling stressed about this project, but now I am looking forward to helping her make the card. It should be fun. |
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Post by don on Mar 21, 2023 5:39:12 GMT
scrapnnana It's supposed to be fun, it's a hobby. I also have people impose on me to make cards. I have made cards for Womens Coffee, The Sunshine Committee, and a few of our members. I just do it because I know how and it's fun.
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Post by Embri on Mar 21, 2023 10:38:25 GMT
If it was me I'd do a rendition of the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar- basically a whole bunch of overlapping circles/ovals. Quite easy to cut and glue down on a card base. But that might not be what your neighbour had in mind. I only do bespoke cards, when each has a designated event and recipient in mind, and they do take a fair bit more thought and effort than when it's just "do whatever you feel like at the moment".
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