9 Reasons It Still Makes Sense to Mail (or Give) Greeting Cards

During this modern age of SMS, email, Viber, WhatsApp, and Zoom meetings, you might think that giving away or mailing greeting cards (or any form of correspondence) is taking a backseat. 

And yet, according to the website Grand View Research, the global greeting cards market size was valued at USD19.25 billion in 2022. 

And it's still expected to expand at a CAGR of 0.9% from 2023 to 2030.

(1.) Greeting cards have an archival quality. 

Greeting cards are made of paper that's archival; which means they can be stored inside a box or any type of container for a long time. 

Image by
Biljana Jovanovic
from Pixabay

You can also mount a greeting cards onto an album or scrapbook.

(2.) You don't need to write anything long and chatty on a greeting card.

Mailing or giving away a greeting card is less time-consuming than writing a letter. 

And yet, replacing a letter with a greeting card doesn't take away the thoughtfulness and personal touch of written messages. 

Rather, a carefully chosen card penned with a brief, well-meaning message on the blank side of the card adds to how special the occasion or sentiments are.

(3.) Greeting cards can be recycled and upcycled.

You may have stored a stash or a bundle of greeting cards, and you're thinking of ways they can be turned into 

You can get a pair of scissors or a paper cutter and recycle your greeting cards into bookmarks and gift tags. 

For a more complex project, you can take a small wooden box and apply techniques in decoupage to turn it into a whimsical jewelry box, or a container for your trinkets.

(4.) You can include something extra inside a greeting card.

It could be a postcard or bookmark, photos from your latest trip or vacation, an art print, or your kids' drawings.

(5.) Modern greeting cards are more inclusive when it comes to themes and sentiments. 

Gone are the days when bookstores, stationery or gift shops sold only greeting cards with religious or sentimental messages.

Along with greeting cards for various occasions, there are card companies and publishers that have realized the sale-ability of informal messages, and even injecting fun and humor in their greeting cards. 

Greeting card designs and illustrations have also diversified widely over the years.

(6.) You can hone your kids' communication skills through greeting cards.

Would you like to develop your kids' written communication skills? 

Part of building the habit of being able to convey ideas clearly through writing is the ability to pause, sit back, and gather their thoughts. 

But when it comes to writing letters to relatives or friends, children might feel intimidated in filling up an entire page of stationery at once. 

You can train your kids by making them write on blank cards first. 

You can get them to share a family tradition during holidays to their friends through greeting cards. 

Also, imagine their grandparents getting a colorful greeting card from the mail. 

(7.) You can come up with creative ways to decorate greeting cards.

Sometimes, you'll look through racks and racks of greeting cards and end up frustrated because none of them seems suitable to the occasion or the person you have in mind. 

Photo by Eric Prouzet
on Unsplash

When this happens, you can purchase a box of blank cards and decorate them on your own. 

You can put a strip of washi tape on the greeting card's edges, add stickers, or even use glue dots to attach die cuts.

(8.) You can support independent artists and creators.

As stated in item no. 5, modern greeting cards have become more and more inclusive with regards to themes, designs, sentiments, and verses. 

And greeting cards aren't limited to the ones published by giant or well-known greeting cards companies, or those sold at major bookstores. 

There are vibrant communities of independent artists, creators, and illustrators out there trying to get their greeting card designs bought by the public; or at least, the niche/s they're targeting. 

They might be selling online to save on costs, or participating in crafts fairs and bazaars once or twice a year.

Consider buying the greeting cards designed by these independent artists, even just occasionally. There's no telling how even a little bit of support can go. 

(9.) You can help the underprivileged by buying greeting cards offered by charitable organizations.

Getting involved in outreach and ministry may be the last thing on your mind when you buy any of those annual editions of boxed sets of greeting cards offered by charitable institutions. 

And yet, if you purchase a boxed set, a portion of that amount will go straight to the funds supporting underprivileged groups, like orphans.

The Benefits of Crafts for People With Disabilities

Engaging in the creative process through crafts have been proven to have positive, long-term benefits. 

Image from freepik

Not only does crafting provide an outlet to enhance one's creativity; people can also improve various skill sets. 

And having an improved set of skills and reaping benefits from crafts can be crucial for people with disabilities.

Classifications of Disabilities 

A disability can fall into 1-2, or more, of the following:

• Orthopedic disability 
• Psychosocial disability
• Disability due to a chronic illness 
• Mental disability
• Visual disability
• Learning disability

How Do You Define A Person With Disability?

A person's disability can range from mild to moderate to severe. 

Regardless of which category or categories into which a person's disability or disabilities fall, a disability affects a person in certain ways. 

A disability might limit or hinder how a person functions physically, mentally, or socially. 

And yet, having considered all of the above, how can engaging in the creative process through crafts benefit people with disabilities?  

The Accessibility of Crafts: How Can This Benefit People With Disabilities?

People with disabilities won't need to spend much to get started on crafts.

While attractive but inexpensive craft kits abound online and in brick-and-mortar stores, people with disabilities can recycle or upcycle junk like old issues of magazines, newspapers, comic books, graphic novels, and even catalogues.

What if there are people with disabilities who bemoan, "I'm not talented/creative/skilled enough to try crafts"?

There's no reason for people with disabilities not to get started on crafts, as there are various types of crafts for all levels of creativity and skill -- newbie or beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert.

The Physical Benefits of Crafts for People With Disabilities 

A person with disability may wish to train his hands and wrists to regain his fine motor skills. 

He can do this by working with a pair of scissors, tying or knotting ribbons, weaving, sewing, or painting ceramics, among others.

Also, if a person with disability is dealing with physical pain, crafting may not be able to cure or even help relieve it. Rather, working on a craft project can temporarily divert a person with disability's focus away from his ailments. 

Crafts for People With Disabilities: The Mental and Psychosocial Benefits 

Some types of crafts require following a pattern or doing certain tasks over and over again. The repetitive motions can be soothing and calming to a person with disability's emotions.

Enhanced Self-Esteem and Body Image for People With Disabilities As A Result of Engaging in Crafts

Sometimes, having a chronic health condition or getting into an accident can leave someone partially or totally disabled, turning the disability into a life-altering condition.

People with disabilities can be prone to harboring feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth, especially if they had once led an active and productive lifestyle. 

Engaging in crafts can be a good way for people with disabilities to enhance their body image and boost their self-esteem. 

They'll be reminded that they can remain productive, functional, and even creative. They can also take pride in their finished projects.

With regards to cultivating and maintaining a healthy body image, people with disabilities will stop limiting their views as "someone who's undergoing therapy after suffering from a stroke," "a person who's now chronically underemployed due to a mental health condition," or "someone who lost function on both legs." 

Rather, they'll widen and diversify their self-perception and be able to describe themselves as "a mixed-media artist who's learning techniques in textile arts," "a cardmaker focused on whimsical designs," or "a rehab outpatient who developed an interest in paper flowers." 

Crafts for People With Disabilities: The Social Benefits  

Crafters, due to the solitary nature of the creative process, are often viewed as "lone wolves."

Image from freepik

But countless hobbyists have stumbled upon and integrated themselves into groups and communities of crafters. 

You can start a group with like-minded peers (e.g. quilters, paper crafts, or scrapbooking enthusiasts) and resolve to meet once a week, or a couple of times a month. 

For people with disabilities with mobility-related issues, try lurking around online communities of crafters or Facebook groups and assess which ones seem like a good fit before joining.

Relief From Boredom and A More Structure Schedule As Benefits of Crafts for People With Disabilities

Due to the variety of crafts and materials available, crafting can provide a relief from boredom for people with disabilities, albeit temporarily. 

To illustrate, a person with disability will be more likely to endure an hour or 2 of physical therapy several mornings a week if they're aware that they can look forward to cardmaking or knitting in the afternoon. 

If a person with disability has kept some of her hobbies, like reading, gardening, or solving puzzles, incorporating a craft project once or twice a week will provide structure to her schedule and can even relieve feelings of restlessness. 

Reduced Screen Time As A By-Product of People With Disabilities Engaging in Crafts 

Sometimes, mobility-related issues can leave people with disabilities to the confines of their own home. 

This can lead people with disabilities to excessive screen usage, like binge-watching TV shows or movies, or scrolling on their phones and other mobile devices. 

Getting motivated to work on a craft project, even if it's just for a few hours a week, can potentially reduce prolonged screen time for people with disabilities.

Additional Benefits of Crafts for People With Disabilities

People with disabilities may have lost some of their competence and skills. 

Image from freepik

And yet, tackling craft projects may lead people with disabilities to acquire or hone a whole new range of skills. 

Some of these skills include hand-eye coordination, manual dexterity, and being mindful of constraints regarding one's resources. 

Being mindful of one's constraints can lead to better time management and thinking outside the box.

Crafts As A Gateway Towards Financial Stability for People With Disabilities 

People with disabilities may sustain their interest in a certain craft, that over time, it turns into a regular hobby. 

And it's not exactly unheard-of for hobbyists to turn their avocation into a business. 

Making sale-able craft items or products can be a gateway for people with disabilities to achieve financial stability. 

Even if the business is operated or managed part-time first, a small taste of success or a string of small successes can pave the way towards bigger gains. 

DIY Gifts: 17 Mason Jar Crafts for (Nearly) Everyone On Your Gift-Giving List (Part 2)

In the 1st part of my blog post, I cited several reasons mason jar crafts make ideal DIY gifts.

Aside from versatility and endless ways to customize and personalize, the uniqueness of mason jars as containers for presents adds to the fun and festivity of the occasion.

(**DISCLAIMER** This post contains affiliate links. Whenever you click on those links and end up making a purchase, I'll get a commission from that purchase.)

Here's the remaining list of suggestions for mason jar crafts: 

Photo from
Mason Jar Crafts
Click here for
complete procedure

(8.) Snow globe mason jar

Snow globes are inexpensive gift items known for their decorative effect. Your recipient can place one on a shelf, a dresser, a bedside or coffee table.

For this mason jar craft you can recycle old children's toys and look into your existing craft stash for the remaining supplies. 

Photo from
Mason Jar Crafts
Click here for
complete procedure

(9.) Football season mason jar 

This is especially good for your male buddies who are into football.

They may be into the habit of having people over and entertaining during the Superbowl weekend. 

These football-inspired DIY table centerpieces would look good when placed next to boxes of pizza, platters of potato wedges, crisps, sandwiches, cold cuts, and other food sports-minded guys are into.

These mason jar crafts are also highly customizable. If football isn't the recipient's cup of tea but is fond of other sports like basketball or baseball, you can adjust the decorations according to the recipient's tastes.

Photo from
Crafts by Amanda
Click here for
complete procedure

(10.) Sugar scrub mason jar 

You may have a few individuals on your gift giving list who enjoy the occasional self-pampering.

Help them reduce costs by making your own scented body scrub placed inside mason jars. This is proof that they don't need to check into a high-end spa. 

Photo from
Crafts by Amanda
Click here for
complete procedure

(11.) Beach terrarium mason jar 

You can always find a beach bum (or 2, or several) among a group of friends. 

You can give this beach terrarium mason jar to those friends to remind them of how refreshing a beach getaway can be.

Photo from Neat Little Nest
Click here for complete procedure

(12.) Halloween mason jars

If you have people on your gift giving list who are into hosting parties or events, like an annual costume party for Halloween, why not make it easier for them to come up with a spooky ambience by crafting these Halloween-themed mason jars?

Photo from
Crafts by Amanda
Click here for
complete procedure

(13.) Zombie mason jars 

Does your recipient enjoy giving away candies and chocolates for Halloween? 

Maybe you're thinking about being generous to trick-or-treaters yourself?

Why not gather several mason jars and decorate them to make them look like zombies, and then fill them up with all sorts of sweets?

Photo from
The 36th Avenue
Click here for
complete procedure

(14.) Shabby chic mason jars

A dear old grandmother or elderly aunt will appreciate this DIY gift. 

You can use any excess floral-printed fabric or scrapbook paper you may have for this shabby chic-themed mason jar craft. 

Photo from Town and Country Living
Click here for complete procedure

(15.) Quick caffeine fix mason jar

Your colleagues in the office may want this, since one can never get enough of a cup of good coffee.

Photo from The Scrap Shoppe Blog
Click here for complete procedure

(16.) Scrapbookers mason jar

You probably have friends who are enthusiastic about scrapbooking. 

Instead of giving them a scrapbook kit or a huge box filled with scrapbook supplies, why not look for a large mason jar and fill it with items like craft buttons, stickers, manufactured ephemera, etc.? 

Lace doily
decoupage paper
by lachain.ph

You can then personalize the outside of your mason jar with paper doilies, a strip of colorful ribbon, paper or jute twine, and construction paper or cardstock.

Photo from
Crafts by Amanda
Click here for
complete procedure

(17.) Ladybug jar

For this DIY gift you won't even need a new mason jar. You just have to recycle a coffee jar.

Fill this ladybug jar with --  

Ladybug design push pins
from National Book Store

DIY Gifts: 17 Mason Jar Crafts for (Nearly) Everyone On Your Gift Giving List

If you're trying to cut back on your budget for one reason or another, shopping for gifts might be taking a backseat. 

You may still be coping with the aftermath of COVID-19, or just intentionally cutting down.

And yet, you don't need to be all stingy and Scrooge-like. The key is to look for highly affordable items that would make good gifts.

Mason Jar Crafts: What Makes Them Ideal as DIY Gifts?

Mason jars are unique. 

Mason jars come in different sizes and make presentable containers. 

When we think about containers for presents, we usually resort to boxes wrapped in gift wrapper, or paper bags. 

Putting your presents inside mason jars provide a mix of uniqueness to the thoughtfulness of the gift and the fun of the occasion. 

Mason jar crafts are frugal. 

Store-bought items can be pricey. While buying a couple of them may not take much away from your budget, you can rack up serious expenses if you need a dozen or more gifts. 

Add to that, you must consider the costs of gift wrapper or paper bags, gift tags, and ribbons. 

Mason jar crafts are versatile.

Need a bunch of stocking stuffers? Presents for your colleagues or your group of lady knitters? 

Thinking about something nice for an upcoming Secret Santa? No need to worry! Just make a bunch of these mason jar crafts.

Mason jar crafts can be customized and personalized.

No 2 recipients on your gift giving list are alike. Just by using excess items in your craft stash, you can customize your mason jar crafts according to your recipients' tastes and preferences.

One way to personalize a mason jar is sealing the cover with a pretty piece of leftover fabric or tissue paper before finally putting on the lid. 

You can also create your own gift tag with a paper puncher, write a note on it, and attach it by tying jute or paper twine, colorful yarn, or a piece of ribbon around the lid.

Having said all of the above, here are 17 mason jar crafts that would suit different kinds of recipients on your gift giving list:

Photo from
Polkadot Chair
Click here for
complete procedure.

(1.) Sewing kit mason jar 

You may be friends with a few ladies who are fond of cross stitch, needlework, or quilting. Or, they may be into the habit of mending, deconstructing, or restoring clothes.

It's a unique idea to place a thimble, spools of thread, a pin cushion, needles, and pins into a mason jar instead of a sewing box. 

You may even want to give a separate mason jar containing craft buttons or fabric quarters.

Photo from B & B Build A Life
Click here for complete procedure.

(2.) Date night ideas mason jar 

You can make several of these if you have couples -- dating, engaged, married -- in your gift giving list.

Photo from Mason Jar
Breakfast & More
Click here for a
complete procedure.

(3.) Mani-pedi in a mason jar 

You may belong to a tightly knit group of young ladies who are conscious about grooming, and keeping their nails well-maintained. Why not give them this mani-pedi in a jar? 

This mason jar craft can also be an excellent giveaway for a hen do or bachelorette party.

Photo from
The Home Cook Kitchen.
Click here for a
complete procedure.

(4.) Hot chocolate lovers mason jar 

Nearly everyone enjoys a mug of hot chocolate every now and then. 

Get a pack of instant chocolate, marshmallows, and chocolate sprinkles, and place them inside a few mason jars.   

Photo from Chica Circle
Click here for
complete procedure.

(5.) Sweet treats mason jar 

Know someone with an incurable sweet tooth? Get several huge bags of candies and chocolates and repack them into mason jars.

These mason jars containing sweet treats also make ideal stocking stuffers. You can also give a couple of them to your host during a potluck dinner or party.

Photo from
Design Improvised
Click here for
complete procedure.

(6.) Valentine's Day mason jars

These beautiful, artificial blooms made from paper doilies remind us of shabby chic designs, and will make an eye-catching centerpiece on a dinner, bedside, or coffee table. 

Photo from Adventures of Frugal Mom
Click here for a complete procedure.

(7.) Journalers mason jar

Journaling is a good habit to start or maintain. 

If you already have some journalers on your list of recipients, you can craft this DIY gift containing journaling prompts and give it along with a personalized composition notebook and pen.  

Quick Crafts: Recycling Old Greeting Cards

If you happen to have a bunch or even a stash of old greeting cards at home, have you ever thought that you can recycle them and turn them into "brand new" items, with enough time and a lot of creativity on your part?

Greeting Cards: What Make Them Ideal Craft Materials

Greeting cards have different sizes and textures. 

Old greeting cards can be turned into different items, depending on their size. 

Just think: there are rectangular cards that would approximately be the size of A5 paper, as well as smaller ones. 

There are also square greeting cards and pop-up ones. There are even greeting cards that rival the size of broadsheets! 

If you have craft punchers in shapes like circle, star, heart, pine tree, etc., you can isolate a specific part of a greeting card and cut it with a craft puncher.

Greeting cards have festive colors.  

You're in luck if you've received greeting cards for Christmas for many years. 

Holiday greeting cards vary in artwork and designs -- from religious themes to winter scenes, to fancy decorations and humorous references to holiday traditions.

Using old greeting cards can be frugal.

In some craft projects, you may not need anything but a pair of scissors or paper cutter and a stash of old greeting cards.

Old greeting cards with glitter can be decorative.

If you want that "oomph!" to your DIY projects, look for greeting cards with glitter among your stash. 

You can incorporate 3D elements into old greeting cards. 

If you buy manufactured ephemera and die cuts, they can be incorporated into old greeting cards to create 3D effects by using glue dots. 

Having said all of the above, here are 5 ways to recycle old greeting cards:

Turning Old Greeting Cards Into New Ones 

If you have cardstock, patterned paper, die cuts, ephemera, scrapbook scissors, craft buttons, and stickers, you can make new greeting cards out of old ones.

Making Boxes Out of Old Greeting Cards

You can create a charming jewelry box with the whimsical theme of an old greeting card. 

If you can apply techniques like decoupage, you can take a plain cardboard box and use old greeting cards to decorate it.

Making Christmas Tree Ornaments Out of Old Greeting Cards

This project can help you cut costs for Christmas decorations. 

Incorporating 3D effects to old greeting cards will brighten up a Christmas tree.

Turning Old Greeting Cards Into Bookmarks 

This DIY project is relatively easy, and will delight children and adults alike who enjoy reading.

Making Gift Tags Out of Old Greeting Cards 

This DIY project is one of those "hacks" that can be used to reduce your gift giving budget. 

Just think of all those huge greeting cards in your stash that can potentially be turned into gift tags with paper cutter or scissors.

And attaching a gift tag recycled from an old greeting card works for a variety of packaging -- gifts placed inside a box, a paper bag, or even a jar.

13 Types of Craft-Related Content A Blogger Must Publish (Part 2)

In the 1st part of my article, I have cited several reasons bloggers must publish different types of craft-related content. 

I have also written 7 kinds of content that would help raise a craft blog's value and increase traffic and engagement.

Here are the remaining 8 types of content:  

(8.) Reviews

You can write comprehensive reviews of craft books or magazines you've bought and read over the years. 

You can also share blogs and websites that help ignite your creativity and imagination, and fuel you with inspiration.

(9.) Ways to incorporate crafts into social activities 

Since working on a craft project requires blocking out huge amounts of time, crafters are usually left alone while they try to finish their works in progress. 

For this reason, crafters are often perceived as lone wolves.

And yet, there are various social settings, situations, and occasions into which crafts can be incorporated. 

You can showcase how these crafts can be shared by different demographics. 

To illustrate, students in high school and college can organize extracurricular clubs focused on crafting that can meet up once or twice a week.

For occasions like birthday parties, sleepovers, or pajama parties, pre-teen or teenage girls may want to make accessories like bracelets, earrings, and necklaces out of beads.

Ladies attending hen dos or bachelorette parties can try making bag charms, no-sew purses, or bouquets of flowers from pipe cleaners.

There are also crafts that guys can do during a Friday night in, or church ladies on a Sunday gathering.  

(10.) Promoting the DIY lifestyle

Excessive, mindless consumption and a mindset that promotes consumerism, not innovation, are 2 of the problems that plague modern-day society.

Resorting to DIY crafts instead of constantly buying from stores and boutiques has its share of benefits.

You can share photos of the jewelry box you made by applying techniques in decoupage, or how you recycled your books' browned pages by turning them into shabby chic bookmarks.  

(11.) Promoting the benefits of crafts 

Image from freepik

Exploring the creative process through crafts can bring a world of benefits to different demographics -- children (including those with special needs and an advanced aptitude), the disabled, people undergoing stress, anxiety, and mental health issues, and the elderly.

(12.) Case studies 

You can do research on case studies and rewrite them in a conversational tone that the average layman would understand.

For example, a blog article about the advantages of substituting at least an hour or 2 of screen time a week with crafty activities will be highly appreciated by parents and guardians of kids. 

(13.) Ways to monetize one's passion for crafts

This is one type of blog content that's perpetually in high demand. 

People would always want to learn additional ways to make money in order to augment their income from their day jobs. 

If you have been fortunate enough to turn your hobby of crafting into a small enterprise from the comfort of your own home, or even just a sideline, why not share your inspiring story with your readers? 

You can dispense advice and give tips on keeping overhead costs low, like buying craft materials in bulk at discounted rates.

13 Types of Craft-Related Content A Blogger Must Publish

You may have been a crafter for 5, 6, 8, 10, or 15 or more years. You may now wish to venture into blogging and had been thinking about what types of content to create or produce in order to grow your blog's traffic organically.

When it comes to increasing a craft blog's traffic, incorporating techniques in search engine optimization (SEO) takes only a piece of the entire pie. 

Nothing beats publishing content that's informative, engaging, of good quality, and offers variety.  

Why Should Bloggers Publish Different Types of Craft-Related Content?

Different types of content raise a craft blog's value and improve traffic. 

The belief that quality beats quantity hardly applies to blogging. 

While craft bloggers must publish well-written and thoughtfully crafted content, they must also follow the equivalent of an editorial calendar in order to gain a steady readership.  

If a craft blogger publishes content only occasionally (less than once a week), or articles that seem too scarce with information or images, readers may feel deprived or cheated of the value of spending time on a blog. 

Various keywords can be incorporated into different types of content, optimizing a craft blog's ranking in search engines. 

Blog content of high quality is crucial to the growth of traffic, but so is incorporating keywords that are often entered into search engines.

Different types of craft-related content help serve the needs of a specific niche.

Crafting is a huge industry, and craft blogs serve different niches and even sub-niches. 

In order to satisfy the needs of the niche/s to which it hopes to cater, a craft blog must be a good mix of evergreen as well as seasonal articles and other types of content. 

Evergreen content remains relevant to a craft blog even when they're way past their publication date. 

A blog's evergreen content help sustain readers' interests. A list-icle of tips and case studies are examples of evergreen content.

Seasonal content, on the other hand, might help spike a blog's traffic from time to time. Examples of seasonal content are pumpkin pin cushion tutorials for Halloween, or cost-effective materials for Christmas wreaths.

Different types of content help improve a craft blog's aesthetics. 

You must be mindful of your blog's layout as a craft blogger. While bursts of colors aren't absolutely essential to a craft blog, your aesthetics must come across as pleasing and easy on the eyes.

You may already be aware of the advantages of writing short sentences and paragraphs instead of large blocks of text. 

Putting up clear photos also enhances a blog's text, while videos help prove important points you want to convey.

Readers would like to be informed, educated, and entertained with different types of craft-related content.

As you publish content in your craft blog more frequently, you'll realize that not only are you attracting fellow crafters from diverse backgrounds; you'll also entice those who only read for pleasure.

Having said all of the above, here are 13 different types of content on which crafters and freelance writers can build the foundation for their blogs:  

(1.) Craft tutorials 

Sharing step-by-step craft tutorials with instructions and corresponding images is equivalent to giving your readers front-row seats on all the action, down to the nitty-gritty details of your craft projects.

(2.) Coverage or participation in craft-related events

You can document your attendance or participation in a pottery or ceramics class, calligraphy workshop, or paint-and-sip cafes.

Supporting a community of
independent artists and
creators at Patron of
the Arts at Elements at
Eton Centris, Quezon City

(3.) Coverage of themed conventions

Themed conventions are usually held in large venues and are populated by a vibrant community of local, independent artists, illustrators, and designers.  

(4.) Product recommendations and brand endorsements

If you hope to monetize your blog after about a year or 2 into publishing, you may want to get into affiliate marketing.

As a crafter, consider making a list of products you've personally used from brands with which you've partnered. 

To illustrate, if you're an avid scrapbooker, you may want to recommend good brands of scrapbook albums, patterned paper, and manufactured ephemera. 

You can showcase your scrapbooks to entice your fellow crafters to buy some of the products you've been using.

(5.) Tips and hacks 

You may have spent years recycling and upcycling excess craft materials and even junk. Or, you may have developed expertise in looking for craft materials online at discounted rates. 

No matter what tips, hacks, and advice you have to offer, your readers and fellow crafters may want to be privy to inside information.

(6.) Videos 

While you can shoot videos of yourself demonstrating techniques in crafting, tutorials aren't the only ones that would make for excellent material for video content. 

Think about the following: 

Hauls of craft products 

You may wish to upload videos of yourself and a friend arriving early at a craft store, or looking for the hobbies section of a general merchandise store in order to get 1st dibs at different craft products.

Unboxing of craft products

Unboxing videos of a huge supply of products have become popular among content creators. 

You can shoot a video of yourself showing different diamond painting kits or knitting equipment after taking advantage of a clearance sale.

Tours of craft rooms

If you have your own craft room at home, consider giving a peek of your own comfortable nook to your readers and viewers. 

It would be even more interesting if you were able to renovate or redecorate your craft room at a modest price. What did you use as a substitute for pricey storage bins? How were you able to organize stuff like washi tapes, beads, cardstock, stickers, etc.?

Store-inspired DIYs

If you can recreate products or items you've seen at a display at popular stores or boutiques, like gingerbread houses, snowmen, snow globes, or gnomes, you can share your tips about your DIY projects.

(7.) Collaborations

You can write about teaming up with another crafter, artist, or creator. 

You may be into crocheting animals or sewing plushies using felt cloth and fiber fill, and you hired a fellow crafter to create patterns for you. 

Crafty in the City: Our Blog's Advocacy

I've been crafting since 2006. I have also lived in a huge, bustling city since 1994. Hence, the reason for using Crafty in the City for my blog's title. 

I started out with paper crafts like cardmaking and scrapbooking as my gateway to the world of crafts. 

And then, what was formerly an avocation became a vocation when I began selling handmade greeting cards. 

Over a period of 18 years, my interests in crafting branched out to diamond painting, accessory making, and creating other paper products like gift tags and bookmarks. 

Here are just a few of the key points on which our blog's advocacy was built:

Crafty in the City: Emphasizing Self-Expression and Creativity Through DIY 

The majority of families are trying to operate within a modest budget. Therefore, you can only afford to buy generic-looking school supplies, clothes, and shoes for your kids. 

The solution is to infuse their tastes and preferences through crafting and DIY. They can use leftover wrapping paper or scrapbook paper, washi tapes, or stickers to cover their plain composition notebooks. 

Your kids can make their own phone straps with beads, and crochet bag charms for their school backpacks.

You can help upgrade your kids' wardrobe by sewing or ironing on cloth patches on an old pair of jeans or jacket to make them look new. 

Crafty in the City: Proof That Crafts Can Be a Frugal Way for Adults to Have Fun and Socialize

Rather than bonding over drinks and just "shooting the bull," different demographics can work on a craft project. 

Women can crochet, knit, sew, or quilt, while men can learn to whittle, or carve objects from wood. 

Nearly anyone can take an interest in macrame, paper mache, making shadow boxes, and string art. 

Crafty in the City: A Way of Showing How Different Individuals are Reaping the Benefits of Engaging in Crafts

While children in various stages of development, people with disabilities, and senior citizens have different needs, they all benefit from crafts in ways that are quite similar.

Some of these benefits are: 

• Improving creativity and imagination 
• Improving fine and gross motor skills 
• Improving hand-eye coordination
• Reducing time spent in front of a screen 
• Encouraging active engagement 
• A boost in self-esteem

Crafty in the City: Encouraging Generosity While Staying On a Budget

Now that we're living during the aftermath of the pandemic, the majority of us has found it necessary to hold a tight rein over our purses.

The price of craft materials that could be turned into a dozen or so gift items is relatively inexpensive, compared to the equivalent of the price of a couple of store-bought presents.

To illustrate, I have been creating keychains, phone straps, and refrigerator magnets for the past years. 

I have given some of them away as presents, and the sum I have spent on craft materials to create a few dozen of them was quite negligible compared to the total I could have accumulated after buying gifts from a store.  

Crafty in the City: Integrating the Value of Recycling, Refurbishing, Upcycling, and Repurposing

Crafting can also be an eco-friendly activity, since you won't always need to buy new craft materials. 

With plenty of creativity and imagination, and knowledge of different techniques in crafting, almost anything can be made out of junk like old magazines and catalogues, clothes, cardboard boxes, and leftover paper.

How to Make and Sell Greeting Cards From Home

As a crafter, have you ever thought that starting a handmade greeting card business at the comfort of your own home can be a good option for you to be productive and self-supporting? 

Photo from Unsplash

Calling most of the shots as a result of being your own boss can also pave the way for financial freedom.

Starting A Handmade Greeting Card Business From Home: The Advantages

Low Overhead Costs

Starting a handmade greeting card business at the comfort of your own home means you don't need to maintain a brick-and-mortar store filled with racks and racks of greeting cards. 

In order to carve out time for your business, you can do meal preps one week in advance and assign days for laundry and cleaning.

The Option to Work on the Business Part-Time First

Lest you think that starting a business can be scary, you can work on your enterprise part-time first. 

In fact, giving up just 1-2 hours of screen time a day will accumulate to a substantial amount of time over a week that you can devote to making greeting cards.

The Option to Market Your Business Online 

Marketing a handmade greeting card business online can be cost-effective because you're not competing against giant greeting card companies. 

While you do need to develop and continuously refine your line of handmade greeting cards, this has more to do with product development and staying consistent to your brand.

The Option to Delegate Other Aspects of the Business

Over a period of time, your handmade greeting card business doesn't need to remain a one-man enterprise. 

You can hire professional freelancers to design your brand's logo and marketing materials, like business cards and packaging. 

You can also delegate tasks like order-taking and invoicing to a virtual assistant.

Having Multiple Methods to Get Paid

If you have a savings account, you can receive payment through a bank or wire transfer. 

For convenience and faster transactions, you can also download a couple of payment apps on your phone. 

Handmade Greeting Card Business: The Fundamentals

Know your niche.

Cultivating your own niche is crucial to the success of your home-based enterprise. 

A fun Christmas card with
pigs in Santa Claus hats

To give you a few ideas, you may wish to deviate from the traditional tone of messages found in greeting cards from major card companies. 

Or, you may want to create a line of greeting cards for themes other than grief, loss, or sympathy, or occasions other than birthdays, anniversaries Christmas, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's, and Easter.

A good exercise to determine your niche is to brainstorm possible names for your handmade greeting card brand or enterprise. 

Here are a few examples: 

Kathy Creates -- We Sell Handcrafted Cards for All Occasions

Dylan's Greetings -- Masculine Cards for Woke Dudes 

Snail Mail Revival 

Card Couture 

Heartfelt Sentiments 

Life, Love, and Laugh Lines

The Joker and the Jester Cards 

Here are other ways to develop your niche: 

Incorporate humor, puns, and witty one-liners in your greeting cards. 

Specializing in humor is a good way to appeal to the funny side of greeting card buyers. 

Just remember that not everyone appreciates all kinds of jokes or humor. 

Add 3D elements to your greeting cards. 

Consider adding materials like washi tapes, lace, die cuts, corrugated board, or using glue dots to give your greeting cards a 3D effect. 

Try pop-up greeting cards. 

Pop-up greeting cards can fetch a much higher price than ordinary, "flat-looking" cards, and may end up delighting children and adults alike.

Showcase your art through your greeting cards.

If you've painted with watercolors or acrylics in the past, see if you can incorporate your artworks into your greeting cards.

Cater to specific groups.

You may wish to draw caricatures of cats and dogs in order to get pet lovers to buy your greeting cards. 

You can make your greeting card graphics and text appeal to bookworms, gamers, fashionistas, travelers, musicians, or foodies.

Add something extra to your greeting cards.

Adding an extra item that corresponds to the theme of your greeting card is one of the best ways to raise the value of your handmade cards. 

You can do this by designing and inserting a gift tag or bookmark. I have also seen greeting cards with accessories like beaded bracelets.

Offer limited-edition greeting cards.

You can release greeting cards with designs in limited quantities during occasions like Easter, Halloween, or Christmas. 

To command higher prices, arrange a set of 10-12 handmade cards with corresponding envelopes in attractive boxes. 

Consider investing in plain boxes exclusively made for packaging, and decorate them by applying techniques in decoupage.

Handmade Greeting Cards: Craft Materials

Here are some of the craft materials you must buy: cardstock (plain and with patterns), felt-tip pens, glue, scissors (regular and scrapbook scissors), cutter, and craft punchers. 

Handmade Greeting Cards: Creative Ways to Advertise Your Business on A Tight Budget

Harness the Power of Social Media 

Using your phone's camera, take photos and upload them onto your Facebook Page and accounts on Instagram and TikTok.

Have Your Business Listed on Facebook Marketplace

You'll be asked to upload photos of your handmade greeting cards and give a detailed description of your products. 

You must also provide your preferred mode/s of payment and delivery.

Ask for Referrals From Satisfied Customers

Some of the best and most cost-effective forms of marketing are word-of-mouth and glowing testimonials.