(
warning:
whining ahead)
How hard can it be to make little cards - right? Well I'll tell you ~
First you get that cool idea. "Oooh, I know - I'll make little tiny cards!!"
Then you start the actual process of figuring out how to make them.
Lay them out in Photoshop so you can print several on one page. Not hard.
Test (aka 'waste') different papers, determining just the right combo of the image looking good plus foldability. Settle on something after printing way too many on paper that will now be used to line the bird cage.
Trim them all. Start with a trusty utility knife and straight edge and cutting board. Think "this is crazy" and go buy a 'cutter' at the crafts store. Decide the cutter is a cheap piece of crap, and go back to the utility knife. Think "this is 10 cent an hour slave labor - is this really what I went to art school for?".
Ruin several cards, and realize the knife could probably use a new (aka 'sharp') blade. Change the blade and be momentarily amazed at just how sharp a new utility blade actually is, and realize this is a job that needs to be done while very WIDE AWAKE with no distractions. Do quite a few, until attention starts to wane, and pack it up for the night.
Think it might be cute to have rounded corners, so use the cute little 'corner rounder thingie' that was also purchased at the craft store. Practice diligently on 'bad paper' until confident to move on to the real cards. Make several 'just slightly off' cuts which produce a notched effect rather than a perfect rounded corner (usually on the 4th corner of a card, which looked like it was going to be successful).
Throw bad card into basket. Try not to calculate just how much this is costing, what with paper, ink, printing and cutting and folding time (oh we haven't even gotten into folding yet!). Go pour a drink. Ponder what made us think this was a good idea to begin with. Wonder how all those people on etsy just whip this stuff out like its nothing. Question our very existence. Eat something.
This is the evil, EVIL, corner rounder thingie. This is the little orange machine-like punch thing that not only doesn't work perfectly every time, but also can give you carpal-tunnel in the punching arm after about 10 minutes of use.
I'm still waiting for the envelopes I ordered to arrive. And figured out after the fact that they are 'ungummed', meaning you can't lick them to make them stick shut. Will anyone care? There isn't a 'gummed' option in this size. A lesson in "read the fine print". I knew it was too good to be true when I found them. If I don't use them, I will have a box of 1000 wee tiny envelopes taking up space in my closet. What to do, what to do ...
So that's what's been going on at my place. And now you'll know why I'll be charging $25 a card when they finally get up in the shop. Oh I'm kidding but not by much. Lets add in the 'joy' of experiencing the craft store with its 3 different awful songs playing simultaneously over the loudspeaker in different parts of the store to get all of us shoppers 'in the mood' (one was Christmas, the others were just everyday annoying - and if you stood in the right place you could hear all three of them at the same time!).
But let's see if I can end this on a positive note. The amazing genius computer guy came and fixed my Photoshop issue. YAY. And did some other fiddly stuff while he was here.
I'm working on some art I can't show, so that's a drag, but the way it is.
And I just bought some new candy to draw - some new taffys and other goodies, so that will be fun.
So hopefully the next time I post I will have something to show for my trouble, and there will be less whining.
Pumpkin ice cream awaits!