I actually found it a bit uplifting. good stuff, Dina. I've always sort of been an amateur cartoonist, and I have a (currently)sagging blue collar career, so I know the exhilaration it (being self-employed and enjoying a degree of success) can give you. a few years ago, my niece asked me to draw 'Garfield' for a homemade card on her brother's birthday. that started something, tho. I had done cards from scratch for fun before, but never realized that I can come up w/ my own ideas. it was all about drawing. now, after staying away from Peanuts (which I love)and Garfield, I'm drawing original cartoon cards from my own head. that very day, I created a card for him also, using Groucho Marx, as they share a birthday. I realized I can write jokes, and it's a revelation. I always say "ideas don't flow like water" .that's ironic, because I became a little pre-occupied w/ designing my own Christmas card, when, one day in the shower, it came to me! I threw caution to the wind(as far as giving away my intellectual property),and had STAPLES copy about 50 of 'em, and sent them to friends, relatives, and customers. anyway, Grandma Moses is my idol, more for her accomplishments than her work (I don't exactly love everything she did). getting a much later start than I, she started painting "in earnest" (wikipedia) at age 78. she is most certainly a role model. anyway, my first career is still going ,but going down fast. I live w/ only family, in a house we own. so my living situation is ideal (not having to sweat rent), for pursuing cartooning (mostly cards), tho I don't live here free. I've no illusions about being the next Grandma Moses, don't take me the wrong way. but if I could make (at greeting cards/ cartooning) equal to what I made last year in my current business (an embarrassing total), I would consider that a milestone. so one foot is in blue collar work, while the other is in greeting cards. Winter is slow in my work, so I look forward to sitting here at the drawing board over the Winter. I am intimidated by the business side of it, tho. that's why I intend to seek out more great videos like yours, Dina Lu. thank you so much. I love your cards!
I like how you just jumped into the topic and don't ramble on like some other creators 😆 A very professionally done tutorial with great information and tips. Thanks for sharing!
"Don't let perfectionism stop you" - that is a true takeaway! I launched my greeting card business this summer and find that my biggest hindrance is myself - second-guessing, overthinking, etc. I constantly have to tell myself that "it doesn't have to look my favorite professional company at this point". Do what you can with what you have and you'll grow from there. Thanks again for making this video!
Same with me… I have been Making Digital illustrated wedding cards All my friends are telling me to Start a business.But I am still overthinking about it!
I hope to start off a small greeting card business soon and I didn't know where to begin with. I found this really helpful. You explained exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much ❤
Thanks Dina, for your information ,but i have alot of hand made post cards, made by leaf, so how can i selse for our world ( I am from Ethiopia ) pls contant me,
Even if I had a wide circle of "friends", I don't pimp to my friends. Friends are friends, they are not my financial network. Pimping to friends is NOT a business plan.
I don't think we should rely on friends, but at the beginning of starting a business, a lot of friends will be supportive. And it's not like I'm messaging every single friend and pressuring them to buy from me. I'm just putting it out on my social media that I'm doing a new thing, and the people who want to support can support.
Deciding to get uncomfortable and working towards your dream is scary. A job income will always be there as a back up. Extremely proud of you and look forward to witnessing you achieve all your dreams! ❤
You won me with “ Don’t let perfectionism stop you” phrase. I’m an old woman and this is one of my biggest hindrance when is related to my artwork. Wonderful video! Thanks! You got a new subscriber!😊
Hello my dear our gift card printing services will be very affordable to you as 1 dollar is 270 rupees. And 1 pound is 350 rupees. Shipping rates are extra. Minimum quantity 1000 per design card
I have no friends..but I have made handmade greeting cards for nonprofit organizations..but I would like to ask for a small donation to a animal rescue in my area?
Nice. Tips. I've sold various handmade things over the years but still picked up good reminders and some new tips. I concur - sales are much brighter at the holidays!
Missing some context when touting your first month numbers here. First, how many social media followeres did you start out with, and how many were irl relationships? Second, $500 looks impressive but you don’t say what your cash outlay was, only that your final print price was $1 per. Third, saying $500 first month creates an expectation that it just gets better from there when the reality may well be that December for Christmas cards will be the only month revenue is that high. This may seem nit-picking, but context is important.
Clearly being proud of $500 when you're green to running a business was not impressive enough for you. She isn't obligated to give her books over to UA-cam. She even mentions she had cards printed, so she definitely has some unlisted expenses. Either way, my business will do much better, trust, best wishes ✌🏻😎
Thank you for sharing these tips! I’ve always wanted to make cards and even remember designing some in the 4th grade using regular copy paper and markers 😅 I totally want to add this to my arsenal of potential side hustles. Anything to feed my creativity and make a living off of it is a good idea 😊
I'm trying to make my own greeting cards but I noticed that if a drop of water falls on the card, the ink washes away and there's a horrible stain after that. Does anybody know if this is normal or if it's something to do with the paper or the printer? I can't find any information about it :/
$1 per card for professional printing? WOW, that's insane, You could do so much more just printing your own on InkJet or Laser on 80-100lb cardstock, cutting it to size. That way if you mess up on something you can just print another one for less vs $1 thrown away (like if you accidentally messed up the edge or got water on it before packing / mailing off)
The thing is if I were to always sell cards, maybe I'd get a printer. When I first started, I wasn't sure if I was committed to the idea, that's why I got it printed at a shop
One of the best inspiring videos I have watched till now❤️ I'm planning to start card business but there is lots of questions in my mind. You definitely have answered many of them 🤩 thanks for sharing your wisdom!!
When I printed it at the print shop, they let me look at a couple of different kinds of paper. I chose 130lb cardstock (it's pretty thick), matte finish.
Absolutely a great presentation. I wanted to start a card business for many years and just didn't. But watching your presentation put Me back in gear. Love your direct approach and your NO RAMBLING style. Pretty to the point and super encouraging! thank you!
Thank you ! I'm retiring soon and want to use my card talents to sell....I've been making cards since Sept. 2014 ....I attend a Stampin up class once a month...it's tons of fun and so much information!! I'll keep coming back and refreshing my memory on things you had to say...Thanks again!!
I am in my late 50s and work as a caregiver for seniors. I have been making one of a kind greeting cards for years. Not for a living. I would love a way to do a small little business selling my hand painted cards. Thank you for making this video ❤️😉
Hmm perhaps it went to junk? Or you entered the wrong email? If you still have issues, please email me at dina@dinacalligraphy dot com and I'll check the back end for you
I have thought about submitting my designs to greeting card companies, but I didn't really look into it. But it could be a viable income stream, perhaps
How did you send or give the print to the printers? If I take a picture there will be the backgroung color from the paper so do I have to photoshop it away or do they fo it?
Wow so informative!! And your energy is beautiful. I work full time but am always asked 'why don't you sell these cards?' You have really got me motivated 👍
Thank you for this information. I make handmade cards and have had several people ask to buy them as a set, but I haven’t known where to start. This video had ALL of the information I needed! Thank you again for your kindness.
It sounds like you have had very good success with your greeting card business. The type of greeting cards I make to sell at the local markets are very different to yours. Rather than Christmas or birthday cards, they are photographs of nature scenes / wildlife. They sell okay at the markets to tourists but I have no idea how well they would sell online. I think one of the main reasons why people buy my cards locally is because they want something that reminds them of a place they've visited (in my case Kangaroo Island in Australia.) By the way, I must say that you have some amazing wildlife / nature in Canada. I visited Canada a number of years ago (including Vancouver.)
Hi Anzaeria! Is it similar to postcards? It is a good move to offer them at local markets where tourists can easily access them. If you would offer them online, you can always list them individually or even in bulk. That's true! BC is filled with great nature too 😊
@@DinaLu Hey Dina. You are right in that they are similar to postcards. Technically, they are greeting cards in that they are folded over and come supplied with envelopes. Though they serve pretty much the same function as postcards in that they feature images of the places and the local wildlife that visitors have been to / observed. People likely buy them as souvenirs or send them to relatives / friends. Yea if I did make them available online, I would only have a small selection to begin with (my best sellers.)
I felt like you were talking directly to me! Especially about the fearful and perfectionism part! I really do appreciate you and the information in this video! VERY informative and well put together. Thank you so much. This was the push I needed.
This was very informative 😊I do have a question: I can't draw and I know I want my greeting cards to have some sort of art on theme. Do you have any suggestions on resources that can help me with this? Thanks
Excellent insights - I love it. Would you please share a few tips to keep the prices minimum - please find cheaper cards in Dollarrama/Walmart. Envelopes from Amazon make it more costly (~2CAD+). Would you please recommend any sites for buying a plane or colorful sheets and accessories at a lower cost (for making hand-made cards)? Thank you.
Hi Nadeem, for handmade cards, you can buy a pack of cardstock and make cards yourself. You can also check out craft stores to see what kind of accessories are on sale. For envelopes, you can try different craft stores. I found that usually craft store envelopes are cheaper than amazon. Good luck!
You explain so clearly and perfectly👏🏼 i want to sell greeting cards on etsy but I feel like I will first sell to my family and see how that goes 😁thank you soo much this video was super helpful i just subscribed 🤩
@DinaLu You absolutely KILLED it in this video. Bravo! I'm a pretty good writer (my family loves my card letters), and I'm getting ready to start my own card business.
Starting a new business is daunting. I’ve been entertaining the idea of being a girl boss for years!!! Your advices makes the idea of owning a small business not too scary 😬😱😥 ☺️💡
@@DinaLu Thank you. I will check it out. Btw, I viewed your Virtual Asst. Video. I am not in the market to hire, I am thinking of exploring the VA as a career.
@@kokomo23love oh that's awesome! Send me a DM on Instagram @dinacalligraphy if you want a few pointers on how to get started since I'm on the other side of the process.
Very good information. I am a wildlife photographer and have been looking for opportunities to expand my brand while make some money on the side. Very interested in greeting cards or small prints! Great video, Dina.
I did graphics before I retired but I was an amateur watercolor artist as well. From the start, I scanned my paintings both floral and landscape and I've had good luck printing them on my inject printer in various sizes. I knew about the envelopes and purchased about 250 of each size, but I've also had success designing for business size envelopes which are available at the dollar store. I haven't been selling them lately but your video gives me incentive. Thank you.
Hi Dina, I want to ask a question. Can i use Canva Pro elements in my design and sell it on Etsy ? If the buyer has free account, he can't edit or download the design , Right ? So should i use free elements only on my design ?!
I personally wouldn't buy an Etsy listing that required canva pro, and I think a lot of people are like that too. So to be safe, I would say you only use canva free elements
Dina, thank you for this video. You just popped up randomly in my recommended and what a gift….it’s 4am here in London, England and I couldn’t sleep and was gifted this information from you. ! Just subscribed, liked and feeling inspired😊
For selling physical products, I personally wouldn't use Etsy because you find the lowest priced items on Etsy for physical/handmade goods (in a lot of niches), so it's hard to compete because you'd be competing on price. Even though it might take more time, I would build my own way of reaching an audience/customer base and also do cold outreach to get clients. I'd recommend my new video on how to freelance for some more tips! ua-cam.com/video/meLZZXWxZlU/v-deo.htmlsi=tcc2Ao9B_8QUDLLG
Hey Paige, I wish I could squeeze more information into the video! With shipping, I am in Canada so I usually use Canada Post/Chit Chats. I do it all myself. Where are you based?
I started making greeting cards a few years ago and sold them in a cafe for a while. I think I have finally perfected them, but they some time to make as I use my photos from my photography.
Awe you are a awesome lady. You actually encouraged me to try at least. I felt kind of funny cause Im a seasoned lady and trying to start a business at my age. Ugh. But then again why not I love to create and I hope others with enjoy my creations too.. Thank you and many hugs to you
thank you!! nice to have someone who gets to the point straight away.. what would you recommend for getting cards prunted without having a store nearby, i live in the middle of nowhere..
Aw I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! There are a ton of places where you can print cards online (Canva for example) and then they ship it to your house
Hey Shanelle, pretty much. You'll need to bring them to the print shop in the right dimensions and file format. I think some print shops will have graphic design services too, but it really depends. I'd say get in contact with a couple print shops first with your idea and see what they say. Good luck!
Hi Dina, I just found your video, thanks for sharing! Question - do you also create your envelopes - this is the piece I'm confused about how to keep cost low but also add to the sale and not just add a boring white envelope for them?
Hi there! I am new in business and I have no clue what to do first. Is really imported to register your business before you sell something? I ve done some crafts (homemade) and I just want sell them, but where will be the best place? Shall I use a stamp ''handmade with love''? In store I don t think will be possible to sell the... I don t have a VAT, registration, nothing. Any idea will be helpful. Thanks.
Hey there! If you're thinking of setting up your business for the long run, I recommend my blog on "How to Start a Calligraphy Business from Scratch". It covers everything from how to start a business to what platforms you may sell on. Hope that will be helpful! Link: dinacalligraphy.com/blog/how-to-start-a-calligraphy-business
That is a valid point about pricing hand made greeting cards higher than cards that have been printed by a printing house. And that actually reminds me of a very silly and surprising moment that occurred when I was selling my hand made cards at a market stall on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. A young woman was approaching my stall. As she was walking over, I told her that my cards were $4 each. Straight away, she stopped in her tracks and said: "Too expensive. I can buy cards for $1 over there" and started walking off away from my stall. I don't know exactly where she meant by "over there" though she was pointing to the right. She may have been referring to another stall at the market or the local post office (which was in that general direction.) It's very likely that she was referring to postcards at the post office which sell for around $1. This is very silly comparing the prices of postcards to greeting cards. Although similar, they are two different products. And regardless if they're hand made or professionally printed, a greeting card will always be considerably more expensive than a postcard. And it's common knowledge. As she was walking away, I told her that my cards are hand made and a lot of work went in to them. She casually replied: "Oh" and kept on walking away. That was a bizarre incident!
Yeah totally! And there are even some stores that sell cards for $10-15 like Papyrus (a premium greeting card store), and those are PRINTED haha. Some people just don't appreciate handmade goods.
@@DinaLu Woah $10 - $15 for printed cards? That store must sell some super deluxe greeting cards! Gosh, that woman is now looking even more silly with her comments. I do recall some time ago, you were going to work on some hand made greeting cards yourself?
@@PatrickCooperPhotography-nw1pp yes $10-15 for greeting cards! Usually they have some pop out elements, or sparkles, or something like that. And the cards are really thick. I don't really make handmade cards right now! Focusing more on content creation.
Hi! If I draw home made cards, and sell them.. do I have to worry about copyright of someone else’s work (by accident). Like if I drew a rainbow and someone else already did? I hope my question made sense, and thank you for the video!
Hi Kathleen, that's a great question! For sure, I'd be careful of trademarks and established characters/brands (aka don't draw Mickey Mouse on your card), but with things like rainbows, it's a bit of a gray area. Because everyone can have their own interpretation of a rainbow, but if you're copying someone else's rainbow, I think it depends if that person's rainbow is a recognized brand/drawing, or if it's a generic rainbow. If you're still unsure, I'd consult a lawyer or see if you can ask the same question in some business Facebook groups? I don't do much illustration/drawing (I focus on calligraphy) so I haven't really run into this issue myself. Good luck!!
Hello, I really liked your video, much better explained than many out there, I have a question, what kind of paper or cardstock do you use for your cards? thank you so much in advance
You can definitely sell on etsy, and it's very easy to get started. You can ship the orders yourself, or use a print on demand service to do it for you. There are a lot of UA-cam videos about how to set up an Etsy and how to do the shipping, I would suggest you search up some of those first 😊
![[UA] NAVI проти G2 Esports | Blast Premier Fall Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QWlIm4FGESQ/mqdefault.jpg)
🎉Hope you found this video helpful! DOWNLOAD free business plan template for creatives, artists and calligraphers: 👉 bit.ly/2VbBi2M
I actually found it a bit uplifting. good stuff, Dina. I've always sort of been an amateur cartoonist, and I have a (currently)sagging blue collar career, so I know the exhilaration it (being self-employed and enjoying a degree of success) can give you. a few years ago, my niece asked me to draw 'Garfield' for a homemade card on her brother's birthday. that started something, tho. I had done cards from scratch for fun before, but never realized that I can come up w/ my own ideas. it was all about drawing. now, after staying away from Peanuts (which I love)and Garfield, I'm drawing original cartoon cards from my own head. that very day, I created a card for him also, using Groucho Marx, as they share a birthday. I realized I can write jokes, and it's a revelation. I always say "ideas don't flow like water" .that's ironic, because I became a little pre-occupied w/ designing my own Christmas card, when, one day in the shower, it came to me! I threw caution to the wind(as far as giving away my intellectual property),and had STAPLES copy about 50 of 'em, and sent them to friends, relatives, and customers. anyway, Grandma Moses is my idol, more for her accomplishments than her work (I don't exactly love everything she did). getting a much later start than I, she started painting "in earnest" (wikipedia) at age 78. she is most certainly a role model. anyway, my first career is still going ,but going down fast. I live w/ only family, in a house we own. so my living situation is ideal (not having to sweat rent), for pursuing cartooning (mostly cards), tho I don't live here free. I've no illusions about being the next Grandma Moses, don't take me the wrong way. but if I could make (at greeting cards/ cartooning) equal to what I made last year in my current business (an embarrassing total), I would consider that a milestone. so one foot is in blue collar work, while the other is in greeting cards. Winter is slow in my work, so I look forward to sitting here at the drawing board over the Winter. I am intimidated by the business side of it, tho. that's why I intend to seek out more great videos like yours, Dina Lu. thank you so much. I love your cards!
Thank you so much for sharing such helpful information.
Very Helpful 🌷 Thanks for sharing 🌷
I like how you just jumped into the topic and don't ramble on like some other creators 😆 A very professionally done tutorial with great information and tips. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it 🙌
Totally agree!
Completely agree!
"Don't let perfectionism stop you" - that is a true takeaway! I launched my greeting card business this summer and find that my biggest hindrance is myself - second-guessing, overthinking, etc. I constantly have to tell myself that "it doesn't have to look my favorite professional company at this point". Do what you can with what you have and you'll grow from there.
Thanks again for making this video!
YES, very well said Tori!! Congrats on your business 💪 And I'm glad you found this video helpful!
Hey Tori, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
Same with me… I have been Making Digital illustrated wedding cards All my friends are telling me to Start a business.But I am still overthinking about it!
Really ok Im doing it. Thank you
Agree! At some point you have to just do it. And in doing it, you'll figure out more than when just thinking about it.
I hope to start off a small greeting card business soon and I didn't know where to begin with. I found this really helpful. You explained exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much ❤
Thank you Dhilenka! I'm so glad it was helpful to you ❤️
This video is 3 years old. 2024 there are many changes. Slow sales. Increase in costs. Stale stock. Your change in the heading is misleading.
Thanks Dina,
for your information ,but i have alot of hand made post cards, made by leaf, so how can i selse for our world ( I am from Ethiopia ) pls contant me,
Great tip with the white poster board as a back drop for pictures!!! Stealing your tip! 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Even if I had a wide circle of "friends", I don't pimp to my friends. Friends are friends, they are not my financial network. Pimping to friends is NOT a business plan.
I don't think we should rely on friends, but at the beginning of starting a business, a lot of friends will be supportive. And it's not like I'm messaging every single friend and pressuring them to buy from me. I'm just putting it out on my social media that I'm doing a new thing, and the people who want to support can support.
Deciding to get uncomfortable and working towards your dream is scary. A job income will always be there as a back up. Extremely proud of you and look forward to witnessing you achieve all your dreams! ❤
Thank you so much!!
Yay yay yay just do it .. don’t let professional or big company scary you .. do it and make your dream coming true … JUST DO IT
Yes! Doing something is better than doing nothing 🙌
Hey Mum Journey, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
You won me with “ Don’t let perfectionism stop you” phrase. I’m an old woman and this is one of my biggest hindrance when is related to my artwork. Wonderful video! Thanks! You got a new subscriber!😊
Aww I'm so glad you resonated with that! Thank you for subscribing!
Normally how much does it cost for greeting card print?
I'd say around $1 to $5 depending on how many you print
Hello my dear our gift card printing services will be very affordable to you as 1 dollar is 270 rupees. And 1 pound is 350 rupees. Shipping rates are extra. Minimum quantity 1000 per design card
I have no friends..but I have made handmade greeting cards for nonprofit organizations..but I would like to ask for a small donation to a animal rescue in my area?
Nice. Tips. I've sold various handmade things over the years but still picked up good reminders and some new tips. I concur - sales are much brighter at the holidays!
Thanks!! 🥳
I need to birthday card buyers.
Missing some context when touting your first month numbers here. First, how many social media followeres did you start out with, and how many were irl relationships? Second, $500 looks impressive but you don’t say what your cash outlay was, only that your final print price was $1 per. Third, saying $500 first month creates an expectation that it just gets better from there when the reality may well be that December for Christmas cards will be the only month revenue is that high. This may seem nit-picking, but context is important.
Clearly being proud of $500 when you're green to running a business was not impressive enough for you. She isn't obligated to give her books over to UA-cam. She even mentions she had cards printed, so she definitely has some unlisted expenses. Either way, my business will do much better, trust, best wishes ✌🏻😎
Thank you for sharing these tips! I’ve always wanted to make cards and even remember designing some in the 4th grade using regular copy paper and markers 😅 I totally want to add this to my arsenal of potential side hustles. Anything to feed my creativity and make a living off of it is a good idea 😊
Glad it was helpful! That's awesome you already have some experience 😊 now keep doing it!
I'm trying to make my own greeting cards but I noticed that if a drop of water falls on the card, the ink washes away and there's a horrible stain after that. Does anybody know if this is normal or if it's something to do with the paper or the printer? I can't find any information about it :/
$1 per card for professional printing? WOW, that's insane, You could do so much more just printing your own on InkJet or Laser on 80-100lb cardstock, cutting it to size.
That way if you mess up on something you can just print another one for less vs $1 thrown away
(like if you accidentally messed up the edge or got water on it before packing / mailing off)
The thing is if I were to always sell cards, maybe I'd get a printer. When I first started, I wasn't sure if I was committed to the idea, that's why I got it printed at a shop
I am wondering about using pieces of paper that has print on it napkins my photos that I have edited craft items. do I run into any copyright issues
Great video! How do you mail customers your cards? I am afraid of them bending in the mail. Do you buy stiff envelopes? Thanks much!
I wrap them up in some tissue paper!
can i use canva to print out business cards and invitation cards with my designs and even use some of canvas elements?
Hello Dina, can you please tell me what equipment, softwares and print shops you used to create your greeting card business? Thank you
I used Adobe Illustrator mainly. I went to a local print shop in my area to print. What equipment/software are you curious about?
Are hand made cards possible to reprint with hand drawn designs? Would that be considered digital vs handmade? Thank you! Helpful and inspiring video!
You can totally do that! Whether or not it's considered "handmade" is a bit of a grey area.
🧠Thank You🌿Will Share😊
You're welcome!
One of the best inspiring videos I have watched till now❤️ I'm planning to start card business but there is lots of questions in my mind. You definitely have answered many of them 🤩 thanks for sharing your wisdom!!
So glad it was helpful to you! ❤️
I can buy 50 postcards to be printed of dark fantasy for $18.00 in Australia. Vista Print.
That's great!
What kind of paper u use for these cards?
When I printed it at the print shop, they let me look at a couple of different kinds of paper. I chose 130lb cardstock (it's pretty thick), matte finish.
@@DinaLu thank you so much ❤️
Absolutely a great presentation. I wanted to start a card business for many years and just didn't. But watching your presentation put Me back in gear. Love your direct approach and your NO RAMBLING style. Pretty to the point and super encouraging! thank you!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!!!
Hi, I want go into cards printing. I need someone to guide me. I would appreciate if you can assist. Thank you.
What specific questions do you have about it?
This was great! I am definitely starting my creative biz this year and this was very inspiring and helpful!
Glad it was helpful!😊
Thank you ! I'm retiring soon and want to use my card talents to sell....I've been making cards since Sept. 2014 ....I attend a Stampin up class once a month...it's tons of fun and so much information!! I'll keep coming back and refreshing my memory on things you had to say...Thanks again!!
Wow I'm glad you're having fun with your classes Dianne! I hope my videos are helpful to you. Good luck!! 🙌
I am in my late 50s and work as a caregiver for seniors. I have been making one of a kind greeting cards for years. Not for a living. I would love a way to do a small little business selling my hand painted cards. Thank you for making this video ❤️😉
Super informative, love the detailed suggestions :)
Thank you Carrie! Glad it was helpful 🙌
Hi! I tried to download your business plan but your link hasn’t come to my email.
Hmm perhaps it went to junk? Or you entered the wrong email? If you still have issues, please email me at dina@dinacalligraphy dot com and I'll check the back end for you
how to design cards in computer
Ever heard of submitting your designs to greeting card companies via an email attachment?
I have thought about submitting my designs to greeting card companies, but I didn't really look into it. But it could be a viable income stream, perhaps
Do I download it as PDF for printing?
This is great advice! Thank you so much for sharing your experience launching your creative business. It's super helpful!
Thank you for your support as well! Glad I could be helpful 🙌
How did you send or give the print to the printers? If I take a picture there will be the backgroung color from the paper so do I have to photoshop it away or do they fo it?
I give the print shop an illustrator file. So before that, I digitize the entire illustration / calligraphy
i’m thinking about quitting my FT corporate job and starting a greeting card business. gotta test it out first and see how it goes!
Ohh! I'm wishing you all the best 🙌
did you ever make the move?
Wow so informative!! And your energy is beautiful. I work full time but am always asked 'why don't you sell these cards?' You have really got me motivated 👍
Glad I could be of help, Elizabeth! 🙌
I'll take 'things people with money who have wealthy friends say' for $500, Alex.
This was super helpful! Most of these videos are a bunch of blah blah blah ha
Awwww hahahaha that makes me so happy to hear! I try not to blah blah blah in my videos 😂
Thank you so much for sharing! I feel really inspired, already thinking about my greeting card project! 👏🏽
That's awesome Izka! Wishing you all the best with your project! Thank you so much for the support as well 🙌
Hey Izka, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
Thank you for this information. I make handmade cards and have had several people ask to buy them as a set, but I haven’t known where to start. This video had ALL of the information I needed! Thank you again for your kindness.
Christine, I'm SO glad to hear that! Awesome people want to buy your cards as sets :) Best of luck!
Hey Christine, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
It sounds like you have had very good success with your greeting card business. The type of greeting cards I make to sell at the local markets are very different to yours. Rather than Christmas or birthday cards, they are photographs of nature scenes / wildlife. They sell okay at the markets to tourists but I have no idea how well they would sell online. I think one of the main reasons why people buy my cards locally is because they want something that reminds them of a place they've visited (in my case Kangaroo Island in Australia.) By the way, I must say that you have some amazing wildlife / nature in Canada. I visited Canada a number of years ago (including Vancouver.)
Hi Anzaeria! Is it similar to postcards? It is a good move to offer them at local markets where tourists can easily access them. If you would offer them online, you can always list them individually or even in bulk.
That's true! BC is filled with great nature too 😊
@@DinaLu Hey Dina. You are right in that they are similar to postcards. Technically, they are greeting cards in that they are folded over and come supplied with envelopes. Though they serve pretty much the same function as postcards in that they feature images of the places and the local wildlife that visitors have been to / observed. People likely buy them as souvenirs or send them to relatives / friends. Yea if I did make them available online, I would only have a small selection to begin with (my best sellers.)
I felt like you were talking directly to me! Especially about the fearful and perfectionism part! I really do appreciate you and the information in this video! VERY informative and well put together. Thank you so much. This was the push I needed.
Hey Kimberly, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
This was very informative 😊I do have a question: I can't draw and I know I want my greeting cards to have some sort of art on theme. Do you have any suggestions on resources that can help me with this? Thanks
Thank you for all your information
My pleasure!
Which Canadian print company did you end up using?
Just a local family-owned print shop!
Excellent insights - I love it. Would you please share a few tips to keep the prices minimum - please find cheaper cards in Dollarrama/Walmart. Envelopes from Amazon make it more costly (~2CAD+). Would you please recommend any sites for buying a plane or colorful sheets and accessories at a lower cost (for making hand-made cards)? Thank you.
Hi Nadeem, for handmade cards, you can buy a pack of cardstock and make cards yourself. You can also check out craft stores to see what kind of accessories are on sale. For envelopes, you can try different craft stores. I found that usually craft store envelopes are cheaper than amazon. Good luck!
Hey Nadeem, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
You explain so clearly and perfectly👏🏼 i want to sell greeting cards on etsy but I feel like I will first sell to my family and see how that goes 😁thank you soo much this video was super helpful i just subscribed 🤩
Thank you so much for your support, Sheily! I'm happy my video was useful to you 😊
@DinaLu You absolutely KILLED it in this video. Bravo! I'm a pretty good writer (my family loves my card letters), and I'm getting ready to start my own card business.
Aww thanks Joshua! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Starting a new business is daunting. I’ve been entertaining the idea of being a girl boss for years!!! Your advices makes the idea of owning a small business not too scary 😬😱😥
☺️💡
Thanks NL CT! You can totally do it!! You can start small first like a side business to get a feel for things. 🙌
I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
@@DinaLu Thank you. I will check it out. Btw, I viewed your Virtual Asst. Video. I am not in the market to hire, I am thinking of exploring the VA as a career.
@@kokomo23love oh that's awesome! Send me a DM on Instagram @dinacalligraphy if you want a few pointers on how to get started since I'm on the other side of the process.
Thank you
You're welcome
Very good information. I am a wildlife photographer and have been looking for opportunities to expand my brand while make some money on the side. Very interested in greeting cards or small prints! Great video, Dina.
Glad it was helpful!
This video was SO informative !! NEW SUBSCRIBER from me! Going to check out your other vids! 🎉🎉🎉
Yay! Thank you!
I did graphics before I retired but I was an amateur watercolor artist as well. From the start, I scanned my paintings both floral and landscape and I've had good luck printing them on my inject printer in various sizes. I knew about the envelopes and purchased about 250 of each size, but I've also had success designing for business size envelopes which are available at the dollar store. I haven't been selling them lately but your video gives me incentive. Thank you.
You're welcome!! Hope it goes well with your art/card business💕
Great information!
Glad it was helpful!
What weight is the cardstock?
130lbs!
Impressive,very nice
Thank you!
Thank you for the video!
My pleasure!
Im a local Ontario card business and I am on the same track as you. The 5$ mark is the best and you still get good margins :)
Nice!! Good luck on the card business!
Dina! What kind of card stock do you use for your cards? So appreciate all the helpful business tips!
Mine is matte, 130lb printed at print shop. (130lb was pretty thick, I would probably go lighter next time) glad you like the tips!
Hey Jamie, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
I am just start my greeting cards business and your video is so helpful. Thank you!
You're welcome, good luck on it!
Hi Dina, I want to ask a question. Can i use Canva Pro elements in my design and sell it on Etsy ? If the buyer has free account, he can't edit or download the design , Right ? So should i use free elements only on my design ?!
I personally wouldn't buy an Etsy listing that required canva pro, and I think a lot of people are like that too. So to be safe, I would say you only use canva free elements
Dina, thank you for this video. You just popped up randomly in my recommended and what a gift….it’s 4am here in London, England and I couldn’t sleep and was gifted this information from you. ! Just subscribed, liked and feeling inspired😊
Awww Kathy! I’m so happy to read this. Thank you for subscribing! I hope my videos can help you out even when you’re tired in bed lol
This is awesome advice Dina! Thank you :)
Glad you found it useful!!!
I bet you are super blessed, being a blessing to so many!!! Thank you!! 🙏🏽💛
Aww that's so sweet! Thank you ❤️ I'm happy I get to be helpful!
Hey Manna's Nature, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
What about Etsy as a platform?
Thank you for your straight up honest advice 😊
For selling physical products, I personally wouldn't use Etsy because you find the lowest priced items on Etsy for physical/handmade goods (in a lot of niches), so it's hard to compete because you'd be competing on price. Even though it might take more time, I would build my own way of reaching an audience/customer base and also do cold outreach to get clients. I'd recommend my new video on how to freelance for some more tips! ua-cam.com/video/meLZZXWxZlU/v-deo.htmlsi=tcc2Ao9B_8QUDLLG
I can't download the business plan even after signing up. Help!
Thanks for letting me know, Kay! You can DM me on Instagram @dinadlu about this
Thank you thank you so much!! This helped me with some questions I had! I need to learn the digitalis’s the art work!
Glad it was helpful!!
Amazing video but you didn’t mention shipping at all! Do you do all of your own shopping or have someone do it for you? Thanks!
Hey Paige, I wish I could squeeze more information into the video! With shipping, I am in Canada so I usually use Canada Post/Chit Chats. I do it all myself. Where are you based?
I started making greeting cards a few years ago and sold them in a cafe for a while. I think I have finally perfected them, but they some time to make as I use my photos from my photography.
That's great, Richard! I'm glad for your progress 🙌 Are you gonna start selling them again?
Fantastic!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Subscribed.
Aww, thank you so much!!! 💕
Awe you are a awesome lady. You actually encouraged me to try at least. I felt kind of funny cause Im a seasoned lady and trying to start a business at my age. Ugh. But then again why not I love to create and I hope others with enjoy my creations too.. Thank you and many hugs to you
Aww thank you! Keep going and do what you love Chantal ♥️✨
thank you!! nice to have someone who gets to the point straight away.. what would you recommend for getting cards prunted without having a store nearby, i live in the middle of nowhere..
Aw I'm so glad you enjoyed the video! There are a ton of places where you can print cards online (Canva for example) and then they ship it to your house
Thank you so much for your video! I am thinking of starting a business selling my homemade cards and this is great!
Good luck! Cheering you on ♥️🙌
Loving😍 your hair!
Thank you!! ❤️
So for printed cards, do we just take our designs/ pictures to the printing shop, choose the size of the card and they'll do the rest ?
Hey Shanelle, pretty much. You'll need to bring them to the print shop in the right dimensions and file format. I think some print shops will have graphic design services too, but it really depends. I'd say get in contact with a couple print shops first with your idea and see what they say. Good luck!
@@DinaLu Thanks for replying! Could I design a card on canva and get it printed ?
@Shanelle Lee I don't see why not? 😝
Hey Shanelle, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
Thank you so much for this video because im trying to start and a greeting card shop and this helped me a lot❤
Yayy! So Happy to hear this
Love your energy ❤ 🥰 Thank you so much for sharing the tips ☺️
Thank you!!
Hi Dina, I just found your video, thanks for sharing! Question - do you also create your envelopes - this is the piece I'm confused about how to keep cost low but also add to the sale and not just add a boring white envelope for them?
I don't make my own envelopes! I buy them in bulk for cheap and yes they are the boring kind 🤣 either white or kraft paper
Thank you for the answer! Where do you buy the envelopes?
Thank you so much for this video! I’m considering starting my own little business and you’ve inspired me 🥰🙏🏽
Yay so glad to hear this Brittney!
Thank you
You're welcome!
Hi there! I am new in business and I have no clue what to do first. Is really imported to register your business before you sell something? I ve done some crafts (homemade) and I just want sell them, but where will be the best place? Shall I use a stamp ''handmade with love''? In store I don t think will be possible to sell the... I don t have a VAT, registration, nothing. Any idea will be helpful. Thanks.
Hey there! If you're thinking of setting up your business for the long run, I recommend my blog on "How to Start a Calligraphy Business from Scratch". It covers everything from how to start a business to what platforms you may sell on. Hope that will be helpful!
Link: dinacalligraphy.com/blog/how-to-start-a-calligraphy-business
I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
Thank you!!!! I absolutely LOVE this information 😍
Glad this was helpful Annaya! Thank you 🙌
Annaya, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
That is a valid point about pricing hand made greeting cards higher than cards that have been printed by a printing house. And that actually reminds me of a very silly and surprising moment that occurred when I was selling my hand made cards at a market stall on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. A young woman was approaching my stall. As she was walking over, I told her that my cards were $4 each. Straight away, she stopped in her tracks and said: "Too expensive. I can buy cards for $1 over there" and started walking off away from my stall. I don't know exactly where she meant by "over there" though she was pointing to the right. She may have been referring to another stall at the market or the local post office (which was in that general direction.) It's very likely that she was referring to postcards at the post office which sell for around $1. This is very silly comparing the prices of postcards to greeting cards. Although similar, they are two different products. And regardless if they're hand made or professionally printed, a greeting card will always be considerably more expensive than a postcard. And it's common knowledge. As she was walking away, I told her that my cards are hand made and a lot of work went in to them. She casually replied: "Oh" and kept on walking away. That was a bizarre incident!
Yeah totally! And there are even some stores that sell cards for $10-15 like Papyrus (a premium greeting card store), and those are PRINTED haha. Some people just don't appreciate handmade goods.
@@DinaLu Woah $10 - $15 for printed cards? That store must sell some super deluxe greeting cards! Gosh, that woman is now looking even more silly with her comments. I do recall some time ago, you were going to work on some hand made greeting cards yourself?
@@PatrickCooperPhotography-nw1pp yes $10-15 for greeting cards! Usually they have some pop out elements, or sparkles, or something like that. And the cards are really thick.
I don't really make handmade cards right now! Focusing more on content creation.
This is a great video! I love that you went straight to the point!👍
Thanks, A! Glad you enjoyed the video 🙌
Thanks! Appreciate the tips. Your cards turned out beautifully!
Thank you PH! Glad it was helpful ♥
Hey PH, I made a PART 2 to this video in case you haven't seen it! ua-cam.com/video/uyWYEU5FK-4/v-deo.html
Hi! If I draw home made cards, and sell them.. do I have to worry about copyright of someone else’s work (by accident). Like if I drew a rainbow and someone else already did? I hope my question made sense, and thank you for the video!
Hi Kathleen, that's a great question! For sure, I'd be careful of trademarks and established characters/brands (aka don't draw Mickey Mouse on your card), but with things like rainbows, it's a bit of a gray area. Because everyone can have their own interpretation of a rainbow, but if you're copying someone else's rainbow, I think it depends if that person's rainbow is a recognized brand/drawing, or if it's a generic rainbow. If you're still unsure, I'd consult a lawyer or see if you can ask the same question in some business Facebook groups? I don't do much illustration/drawing (I focus on calligraphy) so I haven't really run into this issue myself. Good luck!!
You should be fine as long as you don't copy other peoples artwork or photographs. Draw from real life scenes instead.
Hello, I really liked your video, much better explained than many out there, I have a question, what kind of paper or cardstock do you use for your cards? thank you so much in advance
I just used matte cardstock that the print shop provided! Nothing special haha
Thanks for the great tips! Which print shop did you decide on?
Excellent information. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for the support Arizona! 🙌
Hi I was wondering how etsy work , do you get orders on it and then you ship it yourself and if so how does the shipping process go
You can definitely sell on etsy, and it's very easy to get started. You can ship the orders yourself, or use a print on demand service to do it for you. There are a lot of UA-cam videos about how to set up an Etsy and how to do the shipping, I would suggest you search up some of those first 😊
Thank you for sharing your expertise in such an understandable way and for making so many resources easily available. I am excited to get started!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you Dina. It was very informative and to the point.
Glad it was helpful!
hi there, did the printer that charged $1 per card include cutting it and folding it?
I think it cost a little extra to get them to fold it! But cutting it into the right dimension was included
Did you use your cellphone or a camera for the card photos?
Cellphone for all my product photos! And then Snapseed app (free) for editing
You look so nice in this video. I hope you're doing well.
Aww thank you so much! 🙌