Buttons and Daisies Card Series

A is For Always

Check out my blog site for card ideas and techniques.  This site also provides information on the creative process of the cards I sell on Ebay! 

Card Inspired by Maria:   http://www.cardinspired.blogspot.com

***Note for those who shopped with me before****

My goal is to always create quality cards and sell them to you at the lowest price possible.  Sometimes the price of my cards increase a little to compensate for the additional materials or time needed to create the cards.  Lately, I've been adding more embellishments, using more complicated techniques to my cards and that is reflected by the price.  I will make both simpler and more enhanced cards and the price will be reflected accordingly.  Thank you to all my repeat customers.  Selling on Ebay and making cards are fun because of you.     

***For those who don't know me***

Aloha!!!

I currently reside in Temecula California but I'm originally from beautiful Hawaii.  I've been rubber stamping for several years and enjoy making handmade cards and other creative things with rubber stamps. 

Professionally, I'm an RN - specializing in OB/GYN - high risk pregnancy, postpartum, and various OB/GYN issues (i.e., cancer, infertility, etc.).  It's a fulfilling profession but I prefer being an artist, albeit a starving one. . .

I sell my handmade cards and other art/craft item on Ebay as a side job. . .just for fun!  If I could make rubber stamping my primary job. . .well, I probably would but right now, it's primarily a hobby.   

If any of you are interested in rubber stamping and would like to share ideas or if you're new and want to learn more about it. . .feel free to email me at lbmcd66@hotmail.com.  I would be glad to hear from you.

Some of you may wonder how I determine the cost of my cards.  There are several factors but I do try to keep the cost as low as possible. 

• The cost of my cards are based primarily on the cost of materials.  Sometimes, unfortunately, the cost of the material may be a bit more expensive than others, therefore, the cost of the card may be more expensive as well.  For example, a small copper brad  may cost me 4 cents a brad (believe it or not, brads are expensive for such a tiny thing) but a large bright colored brad may cost 2 cents a brad. . .well, you may look at the card and think. . .hmmmm why is that card more expensive than that other card. . .well, that's one of the reason.
• Another factor is time but this factor has less of an impact on the cost of the card.  I may spend 10 minutes coloring in an image with fine detail and another may take me only 3 minutes.  I sometimes but not all the time factor this into the cost but rarely do I do this.
• Packaging is expensive, especially envelopes, poly bags, envelopes to package the cards, ink to print the invoice, packaging tape. . .unfortunately, the cost is passed on to the cost of the card.
• Ebay and Paypal fees. . .hmmmm. . .that's the one that cost the most.  For each card I make, Ebay and Paypal charges add up to close to 40 to 50 cents a card.  Can you believe it??  I hate it but it's a necessary evil.
• My personal view of the appeal of the card.  Some cards may take me less time to make but then it came out more appealing (in my eyes) than a card that took me longer to make.  Well, in this case, I may charge a little bit more for the card.
• I usually charge less for cards that were made with primarily rubber stamping with very few embellishments because it cost less to make but many times, these cards took longer to make than ones that have pre-made images such as scrapbook pieces (scrapbook pieces are expensive).
• Sometimes I make the embellishments myself such as embellishments using wire works and beads, buttons, cut out rubber stamped letters and images, etc.  It sometimes takes me a long time to curl those wires, add the beads, cut out the rubber stamped images etc. . .if it took me longer than I expected, well I will charge a bit extra for those cards.
• I rarely account for my time in the cost of my cards.  I basically don't get paid anything for my time. . .I make the cards because I love making them and that is all that matters.  Until I get tired of making the cards, I will continue to make them and sell them on Ebay.  The money I do make basically fund the materials to make the cards so I can continue making them.
• The most important thing is that you like the cards that I make.  Thank you for purchasing my cards and especially to my repeat customers.  I really, really appreciate your business. . .special thanks to Teri and Kristen. . .they are both such wonderful customers. . .
• Well if you have any questions. . .feel free to email me.