I was recently browsing one of my favourite sites - the auction site
www.specialistauctions.com. (It's a breath of fresh air compared to ebay!) As I was looking for something in the CRAFTS CATEGORY for my Mum. There are quite a few different things in the handmade items category but on that day, I ended up in the handmade greetings cards category.
I have bought from Cobweb-cards before and I can't recommend their cards enough.. something really different available there, a great line of fairies, spiritual, pre-raphaelite, gothic and fantasy 'out there' cards for sure... but then I espied a new seller called paintinglemonjane who was offering made to order cards from £2.99 and I couldn't resist giving them their first sale and trying out what they had on offer. I picked up the listing that was advertised as an A5 card with a wedding image, but it was possible to have whatever image I wanted.
I have been so delighted that it prompted a blog! :D
As the advert said:
Personalised Greeting Cards made by Helen Jane© This auction is for a personalised commissioned hand made card, lovingly created for you to your specific requirements. Card shown is a decoupaged bride. Embellished with gold borders and a specially created tag . Card shown is just a sample. Your card can be embellished with whatever you wish and to whom you wish. A matching tag and insert is designed to suit your card. No two cards are ever identical. Birthday, Engagement, Wedding, Anniversary, New Home, Graduation, Christmas . The list is endless. You just let me know who your card is for,what sort of things they like and leave the rest to me. I will come up with ideas for your card and let you see a prototype for approval before sending it off to you. Your card can include a verse in your insert or left blank. Your card will be sent in a card backed envelope for safe arrival to you.
However, once we started communicating it became clear to me that the service being provided was something extra special. For starters, the service includes a novel 'virtual card' service.. so that the buyer can see the card, have changes made and really get the card that they want, without the card even having been made in reality first. I have to say it was a stand out service and I will buy from this seller again. They say that a picture paints a million words so here is the card and the process of it being built.
I sent three images that I rather liked for the card and the cardmaker let me know what she thought would work best. In this case, we went for the Reindeer and aurora image, which was on an old postcard I own.
I am however - (unfortunately for paintinglemonjane) - a fussy old moo! So, we tried a few variants and had several emails between us discussing elements etc. She dealt with all my requests with patience and dignity - a true professional. The end result can be seen in the slideshow and above. I was delighted with the card and my Mum was totally delighted with it too! Paintinglemonjane even posted it to my Mum for me.
I highly recommend paintinglemonjane, with her shop entitled 'Sweet Smell of Success'. She is also a talented portrait artist and offers graphite pencil and pastel portraits from £20-£40. Click here to view her listings! http://www.specialistauctions.com/shops/paintinglemonjane
Click both items on Auction and in her shop to see ALL the items available.
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