May 21, 2007

The production line...

Ladies! Thank you for all your wonderful responses to my blog. I really appreciate all your comments and just love to share with you all! I would like to give a special shout out to my friend Pam and all my West Virginia followers!! Hi girls!!!!!

Now let's get right to the stamping! This week we're talking about mass production and getting those cards stockpiled for the month and mailed out. Today I'm going to walk you through my process of how I mass produce. I thought this might be kind of silly because you all do this, but in reading some of your comments I realize that maybe it's not so silly after all...that maybe you don't have a system in place yet. Well here goes!



This photo shows another one sheet wonder that I created using a jumbo SU! wheel. Then I added stamped images to create my own sheet of patterned paper. Again, do several sheets of these if you need to make lots of cards or label a file folder and stick them in there for future use.



Now I'm moving on to how I usually stamp. I almost always mass produce cards when I have a stamping session. I realize that some of you, a lot you actually, probably only stamp one card at a time as you need it and it's probably late at that, right? Well we need to get past that and think more efficiently girls! I always produce in two's since you can get two cards out of every sheet of solid cardstock.

Tip: Score your solid sheet of cardstock first then cut it in half. I score my cardstock using a bone folder and the groove in my Fiskars paper trimmer. You've saved time because you scored once but got two card bases! That is grand!

Then I move on to my card design. I usually design one card first to get it just right, then I move on to the production line. I get out all of the supplies I need so that I'm not going back and forth to my supplies. I cut all the cardstock I need for the card bases. Then I cut up my patterned paper, all mats, ribbon, etc and lay out my embellishments like brads, eyelets and more. Stamp all the main focal images and stack them up too. I do not make one card at a time. I create all the little pieces and parts and lay them all out. For this stamping session, I knew I could get 8 pieces out of the patterned paper. So I cut out 8 of everything.

Then I start the assembling of my cards. I adhere all the pieces together with adhesive, starting with the patterned paper that goes on the base card. Then the main image to the mats. Then I tie on the ribbon, layer the pieces and add the embellishments.

Tip: When adding embellishments like brads and eyelets, I secure them before the card is all assembled. This hides the back of the metal and it does not show through on the inside of the card.



So here's my finished products. Eight finished cards that are ready to go into my personal card basket (see yesterday's post if you missed it). And I put any extras into my sale basket to start stock piling. I tell ya, I'm like my own little Hallmark warehouse! Ha! Throw in a visual of Lucy standing at the chocolate assembly line and there ya have it! Now some days I don't have time to stamp in mass production. Some days I don't want to stamp in mass production, I just wanna mess around and have fun. Do what works for you but try this method when you need lots of cards or want to get a stash going. It works and it will save you time.

Tip: If you create cards that are *generic* in nature like flowers, etc you can change out the sentiments. For these cards, I used 3 different Papertrey sentiments.

Tip: You may not want to hear this one, but DO IT! Clean up your crafting area after EACH stamping session. You will thank yourself time and again. I know you just got your new Papertrey ladybug set and you're dying to try it out.....but you know that other mess is still there from all the graduation cards you were scurrying to make. Clean it up, Missy!

Okay, now I've totally inspired myself to go stamp again! It's the last day of school for the girls which means I get to quit my job for 3 months! Woohoo, school's out for summer!!!!! Happy Stampin' everyone!!!!

Note: This design was cased from Val who cased Vitality from a SCS challenge. Awesome layout that will go straight to my sketchbook!

29 comments:

Alhambra Club said...

Thanks for sharing your tips, great idea about the generic cards, I have LOTS of Birthday type stamps as I make those cards the most, so I must broaden my horizons.

Anonymous said...

THANKYOU michelle fo rall your inspiration!!
I have a question--
When you mass-produce,
do you keep a pic of
the card for reference
and do you keep a list
of who you send one too,
so you dont "double-send"
that same card to someone??
Thanks!!
Tandra

Adelina said...

WOW! Thank you so much for those great tips and sharing your process. I try really hard to clean up after myself, but it's so hard! Sometimes my mess is my inspiration.

Susie said...

I read every one of your blog conversations and learn a "Golden Nugget" each time. Today, several Nuggets. You are inspirational. My desk is currently clean - I have difficulty stampin when it's in chaos. Thanks for all of the VERY useful information. Sue

Anonymous said...

THANK YOU MICHELLE: Love (love love LOVE!) your blog. Such great advice and techniques, and such beautiful creations. You are the kind of stamper I "picture" my self as being....and with your tips, will actually try to become!
THANKS!

snarflemarfle said...

I am loving this current "series!" It makes me look at some of my stamps in a whole different light! I will definitely be putting some of your suggestions to use (I really gotta get better at cleaning up after I'm done!)

Thanks for the inspiration

Unknown said...

OK, Michelle. I had to stop and comment after your first tip. BRILLIANT!! Thank you!! Now off to finish your latest installment!

Anonymous said...

Michelle----Thanks for sharing all those tips you had today. You pack a punch in each of your blog posts! i've not tried one sheet wonders and I've been inspired to start some. Question, I noticed your white sheets are 12x12. Are they SU! whisper white in that size or do you a different companies paper? Thanks so much!

Coach Prentice said...

I'm so glad you got over thinking it was silly to share mass production with us. LOVED your post today and will so give it a try! I am loving your blog soo much. I get all excited when my Google Reader says "Mish Mash" :)

Lisa said...

bowing up and down..... You are my hero... you are my hero...

Why do I feel like an idiot right now.. My mass production is 1 lonely card at a time.. Thank so so much for all of your time saving tips. I've learned so much from you. :)

Sherrie said...

Way to go Mish! Fantastic post! It seems great minds think alike lol! We do things a lot the same way. I love making that first card to see if I like it before I knock out a dozen of them! You explain things so well!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for posting this! Most of this I have heard before....but you know how it is...in one ear and out the other. Thanks goodness we have wonderful people like you to remind those of us that have no memory. I think mass production is a great idea. The cleanup "thing" I am sure it's a great plan....it just never seems to happen over here. I will try though. Thanks again for sharing. I love your site. I stalk it daily. =) Great idea stamping over the wheel! Never woulda thoughta that. =) TFS!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday and Happy 3 months off!
Thank you for sharing all of the tips, ideas and all of your beautiful creatons. You are an inspiration! Wishing you lazy diet coke with lime mornings!

Dottie K. said...

Wow! What great information and thanks for sharing with us. Do you use 12 X 12 paper for your one sheet wonder? Your work is always beautiful and I've learned so much from your tips. What's next?????? A little hint......

Anonymous said...

You are SUCH an inspiration!! Such great ideas, thanks for sharing with us!!
Jennie mocjen on SCS

Hey Hey Paula said...

Great tip about cleaning up your stamping space. I find that if I don't clean up it just gets messier and messier. Then when I want to stamp it's too much trouble to clean up before I can stamp! Thanks for all your tips and inspiration.

Anonymous said...

Hi there!
I am loving all your tips ~ I have been browsing your SCS gallery for a long time, so am THRILLED that you now have a blog! Love your stuff - thanks for sharing!!
Kerry

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all of your creative inspiration. Now, however, you've inspired me to go clean up my table, because I'm wasting time looking for things. Congrats, BTW, on your Honorable Mention over at Papertrey - beautiful card!

Anonymous said...

Hi Michelle! Thanks so much for the "shout out". We absolutely love your blog. Lots of great ideas and tips. Keep them coming!
Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

I thought I was the only assembly line gal! I use the floor in front of the entertainment center. My husband's soldiers come over for supper once a week since they got back from Iraq and enjoy looking at the monthly creations I make/line up to dry on the floor. They eat and socialize around my rabbits, pots of gold, snowmen, scarecrows, etc! They freak out if one pile's missing a ribbon in it's pile for final assembly! "It's missing a ribbon...this card's missing it's chicken, where's the brad for this one...why do I know what a brad is?" It's quite comical! Oh, and it's nice to hear that I'm not the only one that mounts card fronts when brads are used....I hate seeing stuff inside the card!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your ideas. I just love your blog!! It is always filled with great information and your creativity is awesome. I just mass produced 15 birthday invitations using the new Papertrey Little lady set and did it just the way that you described. It was so easy and I had them done in about an hour and a half. Hope on over to my site and take a peek if you would like. ckr42.typepad.com is the address.

Rose Ann said...

Your card is beautiful! Thanks for the tips on "Mass Production"! You always give such great tips.

Anonymous said...

I am so tired this morning and you are the reason...LOL! I found your blog last night just after I put my boys to bed and I had to read every post you have ever written. Thankfull it was only three months or I would have never gone to sleep! You are amazing and I will come back each day to check your blog! Thank you for all of the inspiration not only for cards but organization and actually sending cards! What a concept! :)

Staci
www.stacilynch.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

Michelle, you are awesome and I love your blog! I'm one of your many stalkers, hahaha!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your process with us, love your creations! I do the same thing, only i call it "Cookie Cutter", i find this very relaxing and love to have a big pile of cards in the end. It is definetly time for another card-a-thon.
Dawm Thomas

Anonymous said...

Brilliant! (I'm a woman of few words)

Hope Conerly said...

Michelle... quick question. R U from W. Va.? Plus I love, love your work and your blog! I am from WV, so I was curious about your little note about your followers.

Debbi (no 'e' on the end) said...

Love all your cards & especially like the bright colors you use. Thanks for sharing

Anonymous said...

Hi Michelle, I just found your blog through Amy at Heartfelt Greetings. Your blog is wonderful. I am reading back through all of the older posts and I found this on mass producing. I do exactly this!!! And I totally agree...cleaning up when you are done is a MUST!

Thanks for sharing your blog...I will be stopping back often.

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