<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;">Did you say fire away Pat?? Well, OK. Who would be a recommended card carousel dealer. Maybe, while in Fl. it would be a good thing to order. Also, I've been spending more time experimenting with acrylics recently, & I need some advice on sealing the canvas, paper or board, when the piece is completed. Some say seal, others say it isn't necessary. All comments would be welcome. Thanks, June<BR><BR>--- On <B>Tue, 10/28/08, patchapin@mindspring.com <I><patchapin@mindspring.com></I></B> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From: patchapin@mindspring.com <patchapin@mindspring.com><BR>Subject: Re: [Aquanet] any news lately?<BR>To: "June Haynes" <junehaynes1@yahoo.ca><BR>Received: Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 11:34 AM<BR><BR>
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<DIV>Long-winded. June, what method do you use to attach the illustrations to the cards? This is one alternative I've never explored, but which might be useful for some people -- again, if you have a good printer but not a hugely expensive one, this might well work if you reduce your art to fit and print? Or if you really don't trust yourself to 'try' a design? </DIV>
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<DIV>By the way, those card racks that you see are not as expensive as one would think -- the floor rack runs about $35.00, or you can make a table-top one out of an old Lazy Susan and some acrylic (get the pieces and have them cut at a glass place). Just make sure you order the right size for your cards, and the right orientation (vertical or horizontal).</DIV>
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<DIV>patch (so Pat d'Art I don't get mixed up?)</DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.patchapin.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>www.patchapin.com</A></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A title=junehaynes1@yahoo.ca href="mailto:junehaynes1@yahoo.ca" target=_blank rel=nofollow>June Haynes</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=patchapin@mindspring.com href="mailto:patchapin@mindspring.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow>patchapin@mindspring.com</A> ; <A title=aquanet@thebyteboard.com href="mailto:aquanet@thebyteboard.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow>'aquanetart'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 27, 2008 7:55 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Aquanet] any news lately?</DIV>
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<TD vAlign=top>Thank you Pat, for taking the time to share your expertise with aquanetters. I, for one really appreciate this info on card production. At the present time, I've been photographing my art & having 4x6 photo prints made to fit on cards I buy from Cheap Joe. I would prefer to have the art printed on the card, as it would save so much time. Thanks, June<BR><BR>--- On <B>Mon, 10/27/08, <A href="mailto:patchapin@mindspring.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow>patchapin@mindspring.com</A> <I><<A href="mailto:patchapin@mindspring.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow>patchapin@mindspring.com</A>></I></B> wrote:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From: patchapin@mindspring.com <patchapin@mindspring.com><BR>Subject: Re: [Aquanet] any news lately?<BR>To: "Virginia Haines" <341vch@suddenlink.net>, , "Phyllis Mcdonough" <quilts@gis.net><BR>Received: Monday, October 27, 2008, 9:08 PM<BR><BR>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">It depends on whether or not you are interested in making money, or getting your name out as a card person. Fifty cards does not make any money. Assuming you'd like to make something on them, here is what I do:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">1. First, you need to have a couple of paintings that will fit your card size -- I print cards on 5x7, so a painting I do needs to be taken into a photo or art program; you crop as necessary, and then reduce until your design fits your card; it should be almost to the very edges, but not quite (so you avoid what is in printing called a 'bleed', which often costs more). Or, you can do it the other way, and make your paintings in multiples: for 5x7 cards, you can paint in 10x20, for instance, or larger in multiples of the 5x7 measure.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">2. The riskiest part of cards is picking a card design. Anyone can join this contest: go to the Cards section of my site at <A href="http://www.threemermaids.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>www.ThreeMermaids.com</A>, and pick which of the cards is the worst seller, which is the best seller, and which is the most consistent (people come back for more of the same design). Or, simply pick the worst seller. Maybe you will be better than I am, but this is a way to test!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">3. Black and white cards can be done at a printer's and are not too expensive. Colour sells better, of course, but is a lot more expensive (and what is watercolour in black and white?). Art printers will send you a packet (Color Q, Colson Printing, etc.) showing prices for different numbers of cards; if you are really good with a computer and have a quality printer, you should print them yourself I suspect, or check out a Kinko's. You will need to have at least two different designs to print up. Even on a try-out basis, never have fewer than 100 cards made. [I get my "good" designs done at 8,000 a printing, to get the price per card down, but you don't have to worry about that yet.] Don't forget to allow for your name, the name you make up for the card company, your address, etc., to be on the back outside cover of the card (Kinko's can help with this kind of stuff if
you get a good person).</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Now, to envelopes: m</FONT><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">y cards are 5x7, which take what is called a Lee envelope. The easiest way to price envelopes is on a computer -- put in "bright white envelope" to a search engine like Google, and your State, and look at their prices, or go to a printers and see what they need -- don't just say 'white' or you will be unhappy with what you get, say 'bright white', or pick a colour envelope that will go with both cards. Store them closed, as envelopes in colour or white get shopworn from light.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">For the packaging, you need bags. I put 6 cards/6 envelopes in a resealable gusseted bag; I get mine from Clear Bags because they are cheapest, but you have to purchase a heckuvalot of bags. Again, put 'clear bags' into your search engine and see what you come up with closest to you. Also, if you live near a city that has a company that makes boxes or bags, call and ask. You'd be surprised at the deals you can sometimes make.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Now, find a victim (mine was once my 4-year-old son). Someone has to fold all the cards, count them out in sixes, and count six envelopes to go with them. You yourself will do the bagging (if not all of it) because it is trickier. To bag the cards properly, you need to have the front (picture) facing out the front, and the back of another card showing at the rear of the package (the part with your name and stuff). You might trick your husband into doing it once, but very few husbands will do it more than that. It is not hard labour, just tiresome, I guess, kind of like ironing.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">You only put one design in each package, not two. If someone cannot make up their minds, they then can purchase a package of each, because they won't be that expensive. You keep all your bagged packages in clean, paperlined boxes (cardboard eats things), in the dark when you are not filling orders.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">I wish I could finish this with somehting like "then sit back and wait for the big bucks", but of course, it trickles back instead of floods unless you get really lucky -- I have one company that buys a particular card of mine in bulk every year because it has a product relation for them, but mostly what you do then is go around to boutiques and gift shops, and see if they will buy your cards wholesale (half of retail value). If you have a 'theme' (mermaids, cats, local scenes, etc.) then you widen your market -- local scenes might interest any local museum shops, sometimes the municipality itself. Cat stores will look at cat cards, etc.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS">pat chapin</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><A href="http://www.patchapin.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>www.patchapin.com</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"><A href="http://www.threemermaids.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>www.ThreeMermaids.com</A></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>--- Original Message ----- </DIV>
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<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A title=341vch@suddenlink.net href="mailto:341vch@suddenlink.net" target=_blank rel=nofollow>Virginia Haines</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=patchapin@mindspring.com href="mailto:patchapin@mindspring.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow>patchapin@mindspring.com</A> ; <A title=quilts@gis.net href="mailto:quilts@gis.net" target=_blank rel=nofollow>Phyllis Mcdonough</A> ; <A title=aquanet@thebyteboard.com href="mailto:aquanet@thebyteboard.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow>'aquanetart'</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 27, 2008 5:11 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Aquanet] any news lately?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=4>I know one of my artist friends did several versions of line drawings of several basic ideas of Christmas Card scenes..she had 50 printed at a local 'print shop'. She then painted each in watercolors to finish the cards. envelopes for 3"x5" cards are available at Wal Mart stores, or order the watercolor card box sets from art supply catalogs. the envelopes are included with these 4"x6" w/c paper folded cards. <FONT color=#000000 size=3> </FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>---- Message ----- </DIV>
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<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><B>From:</B> <A title=patchapin@mindspring.com href="mailto:patchapin@mindspring.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow>patchapin@mindspring.com</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=quilts@gis.net href="mailto:quilts@gis.net" target=_blank rel=nofollow>Phyllis Mcdonough</A> ; <A title=341vch@suddenlink.net href="mailto:341vch@suddenlink.net" target=_blank rel=nofollow>'Virginia Haines'</A> ; <A title=aquanet@thebyteboard.com href="mailto:aquanet@thebyteboard.com" target=_blank rel=nofollow>'aquanetart'</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 27, 2008 4:12 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: [Aquanet] any news lately?</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Bev, how many do you want to print? Or are you asking which way is the best <BR>profit?<BR>pat chapin<BR><A href="http://www.patchapin.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>www.patchapin.com</A><BR><A href="http://www.threemermaids.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>www.ThreeMermaids.com</A><BR><BR><BR>----- Original Message ----- <BR>From: Phyllis Mcdonough<BR>To: 'Virginia Haines' ; 'aquanetart'<BR>Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 1:56 PM<BR>Subject: Re: [Aquanet] any news lately?<BR><BR><BR><BR>Just busy Virginia. I have just cleared my calendar for the next 10 weeks <BR>and I feel great, I get to choose what I do each day. Happy Holidays <BR>everyone.<BR> Bye the way does anyone have a suggestion as to the best and simplest <BR>manner in which to print homemade cards?<BR>Go to staples, use a computer or hire a photographer /printer to come in and <BR>“sell” to the clients? Or….<BR><BR><A
href="http://geocities.com/pollyanna_18" target=_blank rel=nofollow>http://geocities.com/pollyanna_18</A><BR><BR><BR><BR>From: <A href="mailto:aquanet-bounces@thedigitalbraintrust.net" target=_blank rel=nofollow>aquanet-bounces@thedigitalbraintrust.net</A> <BR>[mailto:aquanet-bounces@thedigitalbraintrust.net] On Behalf Of Virginia <BR>Haines<BR>Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 12:45 PM<BR>To: aquanetart<BR>Subject: [Aquanet] any news lately?<BR><BR>Just checking to see if there has been any watercolor news and why it is <BR>quiet at this end? Hope I am not disconnected again from aquanetters.<BR>Virginia H.<BR>visit my site at:<BR><A href="http://www.arkansasdirectories.com/vhaines.asp" target=_blank rel=nofollow>www.arkansasdirectories.com/vhaines.asp</A><BR><A href="http://www.hometownartgallery.com/art/vhaines" target=_blank rel=nofollow>http://www.hometownartgallery.com/art/vhaines</A><BR><BR><BR><BR>No virus found in this incoming
message.<BR>Checked by AVG.<BR>Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.8.4/1749 - Release Date: 10/27/2008 <BR>7:57 AM<BR><BR><BR><BR>No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR>Checked by AVG.<BR>Version: 7.5.549 / Virus Database: 270.8.4/1749 - Release Date: 10/27/2008 <BR>7:57 AM<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>Aquanet mailing list<BR><A href="mailto:Aquanet@thedigitalbraintrust.net" target=_blank rel=nofollow>Aquanet@thedigitalbraintrust.net</A><BR><A href="http://lists.thedigitalbraintrust.net/mailman/listinfo/aquanet" target=_blank rel=nofollow>http://lists.thedigitalbraintrust.net/mailman/listinfo/aquanet</A><BR><BR>Check out the Aquanet web site:<BR><A href="http://www.aquanetart.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>http://www.aquanetart.com</A> <BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><PRE>Aquanet mailing list
Aquanet@thedigitalbraintrust.net
http://lists.thedigitalbraintrust.net/mailman/listinfo/aquanet
Check out the Aquanet web site:
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