Ildi Work

Wow, oh wow! I'm having such a fun time with my Ildi DT work. Apparently this project didn't post yesterday, so I'm reposting it.

Ildi stamp, colored with markers
American Crafts patterned paper
Bazzil Jetstream Cardstock
Letters cut out of Cricut Plantin Schoolbook
Stitched accents (on letters) drawn in with Signo White Pigment Pen
Small pieces of glitter are miscellaneous
Also used foam squares and Transparency paper to make my window. When it moves, the glittery stars really do move. I tried to make sure they went up top so everyone could see them.

This is the result:

I was inspired by all of the cards I've been seeing lately with techniques, so I decided I HAD to do a technique card. I really like how it turned out, and I think it's perfect for a more masculine feel that I was hoping to achieve. Be sure to stay tuned, we're having a blog hop for Ildi on Saturday... Woo HOO!

492

I just got done with my first 'Craft for Hire' project.

The number in the title of this post is how many pieces I had to provide. 492 diecuts.

Luckily, my Cricut made short work of the whole process. And I'm making 4 more pieces for her.

I didn't know what to charge. There were 3 sizes of diecuts, in 4 colors and the breakdown is as follows:
96 small diecuts x 4 different colors == 384

18 medium diecuts x 4 different colors ==72

9 large diecuts x 4 different colors ==36

--------------------------------------------------

492 total pieces.

Now, they provided some of their own paper for the project, and I used my Cricut. But I used a mat to nearly pieces and popped in a new blade. I spent maybe $2 total on cardstock that they needed, most other I used was from my stash. The person did provide a big thing of leftover cardstock from a pack they purchased, but I just used a few of the colors and plan on giving them back the rest of the colors. If they need future stuff.

I mean, I set prices at work for items, and I can usually look at something in the store and tell you how much it probably costs from the vendor. On my own stuff, I'm always trying to make sure the person is happy with the price. When I did scarves, they were really cheap. I probably lose money this way, but I like thinking that people get a good deal and walk away happy.

How do you deal with pricing goods? Do you have an online system or in your head system that works? Do you not deal with it because there is an online site you use that handles things? I was thinking of pricing the small ones at $0.02, the medium at $0.03 and the large for $0.05 and multiply that by 2. That's around the $22-$24 mark. I told the woman $15 or $20, whatever she thought was fair. And I'm cool with that. I think once I get a little more confident with what I'm making, prices shouldn't be a big deal.

Pros
Got to use my Cricut and learn how to work the software

Went through some stash

Got to go shopping for extra cardstock

Changed my Cricut blade (it DEFINITELY needed it)

Cons

Broke a mat (down to 8 now, darn, LOL)

Lots of cardstock scraps (need to get a trash can in the room where I scrap/craft)

Bought a few 'extras' at the shop when searching for cardstock

And to think of it, my cons aren't even that bad, so really, it's cool. Just watching my budget for the next couple of weeks. I've bought way too much lately, and I need to have a massive cleaning and inventory before I can conceiveably buy more stuff. After all, if I don't know I have it, I can't use it, right?

I'm really happy I took on the project. I learned what my Cricut E can do. I learned how I can work with the computer and the Cricut, so I got to use my design work. I also got to use some of the tricks I've learned on the Pink Stamper, through watching her videos.

Overall, it's a WIN!

Whoa!

17 August 2007, that's when I started this blog. It wasn't updated as much, as I'd originally hoped, I just had an idea, a drive and some free time.

The ideas still come in, but the drive and free time seem hard pressed lately. But it's okay because I have been doing a few things differently. Started a notebook with ideas. Made a calendar with deadlines. These are two tools that go really well with my favorite thing in the world--lists. Between the notebook and the calendar, I can conquer the world. Woo HOO!

My craft room isn't going as well as I'd hoped. Partially it's because I'm going out to sing karaoke 10000 times a week. Okay, sometimes I sing and sometimes I don't. There are places I will sing, and places I won't. HOWEVER, I need to work on some new material. I need to record myself and listen to myself to see what I'm doing right or wrong. LOL.

I've got a pretty free weekend this weekend, and I hope to get some time squared away. Tonight I'm working on my first real scrap for hire project--stuff for someone's family reunion. I'm brushing off the Cricut and digging into that paper. LOL. Making confetti, centerpieces, hanging elements and more.

I'm excited. Woo HOO!

Episode 4 of Scrap N' Tell

Episode 4 of Scrap N'Tell is now available. I just *know* you were waiting, LOL.

CPS Sketch 103

Card Positioning systems has a sketch contest this week, using the following image:

I keep telling myself that I'm going to do more sketch based things and not rely so much on my own layouts. So, without further ado, this is MY take on the sketch:

I used an a2 card base from DCWV's glitter card (Got it from Archiver's--a set of 5 is in their $1.99 spot), the ribbon at the sides is green and it's from making memories (it said friendship on the side, so I flipped it over and, voila, green ribbon that matches the basic grey paper I used as a base--it's from their porcelain line and the name of the paper is Windermere--I REALLY like it). The button is basic gray, the buttons are from the urban prairie line. Then I used some cardstock (random stuff bought at Archiver's for the pink and green elements that I had in the stash) and cut out the flower (it's the shift key and the letter a), Thank you and the green piece behind the Thank you (again, it's a shift and the accent blackout key) all from the Storybook Cartridge on my Expression.

Hilariously enough, this is the FIRST time I've used the Cricut Expression to make a card, and it was awesomely easy. I think it only took me five minutes to cut out everything after I found the paper. Yay!

Anyway, be sure to check out Card Positioning systems and submit your own card. It's a LOT of fun!