Months ago, when I started my Etsy shop, several people suggested that I make photo notecards. I have spent the past few months trying to decide how I would want to go about doing that. The first avenue I looked into was having my photos professionally printed on notecards. However, I wasn’t very pleased with the options that I found, and ulimately realized that for me, unless I am involved in the making process, I wouldn’t get much satisfaction from selling something made entirely by someone else, with my only part being supplying the photograph. In addition, to get the quality I wanted, I would have to order large quantities of individual prints, which was a greater financial commitment than I was looking for. My other hope was to use high quality recycled materials for my cards and envelopes.
(Susan and Queen Anne notecard set)
After a bit of searching I found exactly what I was looking for. Lovely blank notecards and envelopes made from 25% hemp and 75% recycled paper (post consumer.) The outside has a very nice texure, the inside is smooth for writing on, and there are pretty little flecks of hemp throughout the paper.
I have my photos printed in a matte finish and then hand crop them, giving them rounded corners, before mounting them on the front of the cards. I use a custom stamp to print my copyright information on the back of the cards (which is really fun for some reason!)
I ordered a limited number of blank cards and created a big custominzed set for my dear Aunt Genie to get her approval first! She loves them and has been sending them to family and friends already. I love that I am able to create something that might show up in someone’s mailbox and make them smile!
I have had a bunch of my photos printed to see how they look on the notecards, and those that I am going to make available for custom orders are in a Flickr set that can be seen here:
In addition I have created two themed sets of four notecards each: Susan and Queen Anne which includes the four above photos,
And Barn Cats
which includes the four following photos:
For now I have four custom sets of notecards available, in addition to one Susan and Queen Anne set, and one Barn Cats set.
All inmy shop!
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What do you use to when giving/selling sets to put them in? Do you use a box? Plastic?
This has been my brick wall when doing this project.
Hi! I love your barn cats. Did you think about inserting your photos from a digital photo onto the paper and printing it? I’ve been thinking of doing cards for ages and had really not thought about just gluing them! Seems so simple.
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I really like your cards Do you use a sealer after you glue the picture on? Thanks much Kay
No, I didn’t. Thanks!
Hi Ginny-can you tell me where you got your cards? It’s a great idea! Your photos are lovely!
Hi Kathy! I”m sorry but I don’t remember, it’s been so long!
Hi Ginny-love your photos! Can you tell me where you got your blank cards? My website I listed is not too active-you actually have to put the name in the address bar to get it to come up. I have been wanting to make some cards to sell an an art show but the printing costs make it difficult. Thanks! Kathy
Hello Ginny!
I came upon your page when looking for a place to print notecards from photos. I LOVE your pictures and your vibe AND that you are a Catholic home schooler! My husband and I run a non-profit which supports orphaned children in south central Siberia. When we were there in June, I took many photos of artwork which was created by the children in the programs we support. I have had the feeling for a while that cards like these would be a good fundraising item for us. In order to keep costs down and quality up, I like your idea of doing them yourself – we have volunteers who may enjoy this kind of task too! Can you tell me where you get your recycled cards? (LOVE that too!!!)
Blessings!
Michele
Hi Michele,
I’m sorry but I made these over three years ago, and I don’t remember where I bought them, just that I ordered them online somewhere….
good luck!
Love your postcards could you give me an idea of what product you used to fix the photos to the cards
Many thanks Sally
Hi Sally, I just used a glue stick made specifically for attaching photos–purchased at the office supply store.