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superdewa
11 days ago
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printing or making photo greeting cards
I was thinking I might make up several sets of four to six photo greeting cards each, each card in a set being a different photo, to give as holiday gifts. I was intending these as the token gifts I find myself having to give out -- gifts to neighbors, kids' teachers, a friend who surprises you with a batch of cookies, relatives whose kids are already getting something substantial from us so I just need a little something for them, etc. These are the people I often end up baking for.
I had assumed I'd do this with MOO, which allows you to print one batch with as many different photos as there are cards, but I discovered last night that they are more expensive, when I factor in shipping, than I hoped for. If I printed 25 cards, I'd have six sets of four cards (plus one left over), but they'd come to nearly $10 per set for only four cards. This feels like a lot for homemade token gifts, and I'd really rather have six per pack anyway, and I'd like to be able to afford more packs.
So, what I'm looking for is:
1) either some online alternatives to MOO -- places where I can get several different photos printed as greeting cards. Most places, when you order a pack of 25, will only print one photo on those 25, so this is hard to find.
or
2) some suggestions on making really nice cards myself. I don't have a great printer, so I would prefer to do this by ordering prints and attaching them somehow to cards. But I want them to look professional. I think there's a difference in creating your own card for someone and sticking it in the mail and creating cards you expect someone else to use. I don't want people to feel uncomfortable sending these cards because they feel like they look like someone else's not-great work. Any thoughts on the best paper, methods of attaching the photos, etc. to make really nice cards that people will either love sending or love so much they won't want to send?
I may still suck it up and order from MOO, but I want to explore my other options first.
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mm
11 days ago
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Have you signed up for their MOOsLETTER. They send special offers via email from time-to-time. I don't think they have anything going on now. But, in case you don't come up with an alternative....
I'll let you know if I think of anything.
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settermom
11 days ago
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Superdewa
It will be interesting to see what people come up with. I've thought of doing this myself and nearly fell over at the price of a box of cards that allow you to insert the photos in them.
I haven't experimented with it yet, but you could buy those pre-folded cards at michaels or joanns - catch them on sale and if you're handy with an exacto-knife or have a mat cutter available to you, make your frame cuts in the card stock and glue the photo in. A little cutting mat and the small rotary type cutter would work too.
With the pre-folded cards, you could also buy those lovely little photo triangles and affix the pic to the card and embelish it.
Also you might try cruising through some scrapbooking sites for inspiration. Some of those folks are quite gifted when it comes to things like this :-)
You could do some Photoshop magic and make the photo look like artwork and print it directly onto some nice linen or canvas type card stock.
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tufteach
11 days ago
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I make greeting cards to sell of my prints. I was also designing Christmas cards to sell when I got sick. May run out of time on that one, though! I order blank 5x7 cards and print my own. I could also take the blanks and a jump drive to Kinko's or Office Depo and print there. I haven't used Office Depot, but a friend has and they are nicely printed. I sell my 5x7 cards for $4 each or 5 for $15.
On the back of my cards I put my name and web site, similar to how commercial cards do. a little extra advertising!
Herre are a couple of examples--these would be on the front of the card. I leave the inside blank, but you could put messages in. Would be a great project for you and your daughters!
Best viewed large.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tufteach/
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superdewa
11 days ago
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Thanks, mm. I do get those e-mails, and I'm keeping my eye open for free shipping. With free shipping, it would be affordable. It's about $15 otherwise.
Settermom, it's kind of astonishing, isn't it? You sometimes see cards like this for sale, and I have to wonder how artists make any money off them? I guess you have to invest in larger amounts. If I were willing to spend close to $150, I could buy six packs of 25 each, I could order from someplace like MPIX and save a little money.
The photocorners are a good idea. I did a search on them and see that there's a whole variety of products intended to affix photos to backgrounds. I don't have a craft store near me, but I think this is worth a bit of a drive.
Wondering if I could figure out a way to use this justify the price of a better photo printer. I'd still have to pay for paper & ink though, so I don't think I'd come out ahead. Oh well.
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superdewa
11 days ago
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I keep crossposting with people today!
Tufteach -- I remember you were doing this. What are those prints like from Office Depot or Kinkos? Are they basically like color printed on cardstock? I might go check with my local copy place to see what they can do for me. My printer's just not good enough.
I already know which photos I want to print. I don't want to make Christmas cards. I want to make blank cards that could be used for a variety of occasions -- those times when you know you ought to send a card and would just like to have one handy.
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settermom
11 days ago
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I'm not sure how a colored laser would be for printing photos or cards, but I would think the toner cartridges would last longer than an ink jet and it might be more cost effective in the long run. Any thoughts on that from the forum?
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tufteach
11 days ago
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I use the blank cards that I order, take them and the jump drive to Kinkos and they print on my 5x7 cards. The do a really good job and it is very inexpensive. I also make cards the same way with my photos. My artist friend does the same thing with her drawings on her own blank cards only she goes to Office Depot.
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Karol A
11 days ago
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Googled a bit (trying to find notecard stock where you can slide in a picture, got totally sidetracked...)
Depending on what look you're after, you could get prints, then duplicate a look like this one: http://www.cardsdirect.com/CardDetailEx … Id=1310586
blank notecard stock is way cheap as are a few sheets of decorative paper and a bit of ribbon. It looks pretty easy to duplicate and the look is lovely. Just time and a little bit of fiddly work to make it all happen..
Hmmmmmm, I might just do this myself! THANKS FOR THE IDEAS!
EDIT: okay, I finished the search for photo holders. Here's one to show you what I'm talking about. http://www.studiostyle.com/pc7031.aspx My preference would be to get the photo printed directly on the cardstock; or the whole hog crafty idea above --- but this could work too.
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superdewa
11 days ago
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I may try that, TT. I don't have a Kinkos or Office Depot anywhere near me though. I have a very good local copy shop near me -- but they don't always have all the same things. Do they print with inkjet or laser? Do you know?
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superdewa
11 days ago
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Wow Karol, thanks for all that work! I think I like the insert card. I'd like something a little more modern looking , maybe, but I may go with it. Or I may use that term "photo insert card" or "photo frame card" to keep searching.
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mm
11 days ago
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Tufteach - The blank cards that you buy and take to the copy shop --- Are they glossy or matte? And are they folded (or scored where the fold should go?) I tried to find prices on the Kinko's (excuse me, FedEx Office) website, but they aren't easy to find exactly. I guess there are a lot of variables...
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tufteach
10 days ago
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Limeslushie, you're back! Where have you been? I get mine at DickBlick!
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belleariel
paris
10 days ago
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Superd: Jerrysartarama.com has a sale on Strathmore Photoframe Cards - 40 for $14.09; also Strathmore Inkjet Printable Cards (different textures) - 10 for $4.99 S&H is $7.95 (up to $29.99); free S&H for orders over $175. I've used the Photoframe Cards for photos I printed myself, but if you're doing bulk amounts, it's cheaper to have them printed. I've also printed photos onto Strathmore Blank Greeting Cards which are only $21.99 for 100. Although they don't say they can be used for inkjet printing, it works. I'll scan and post of couple of examples. I don't know if Kinkos or Office Depot can copy your photos onto the card stock and what they would charge.
Folks do like the Photoframed images because it's like a matted picture and they can just pop it into a Dollar Store frame and have a mini work of art.
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superdewa
10 days ago
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Thanks, Belle.
I've been thinking all night about printing them myself or having it done for me locally, but this morning I realized that one thing that really appeals to me about MOO and other press products, is that the photo can extend to the edge of the page. I really like the way that looks. To me the slide in frames are probably the next best best.
It looks like I can get a better deal, temporarily at least, through Shutterfly: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-station … sortType=1
I just wonder if their quality comes close to MOO's.
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tufteach
10 days ago
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You should be able to pprint right to the edge by changing printer settings.
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Joanie H
10 days ago
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Zazzle runs specials usually around holidays, making the cards somewhat affordable. The quality is lovely.
ExposureManager, though, still has the best cards I've ever created or received. They stay true to the quality of your image. Prices are pretty reasonable, too.
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mm
9 days ago
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Joanie - Have you used zazzle for anything other than cards? I was wondering about the quality of their products.
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