How to make creative business cards: My Process

I went to a conference this last weekend.  It had great classes, fun activities and … and business card competition!  When SNAP announced it’s creatvie business cards competition I confess I was excited.  I had been kicking around a couple of ideas for a different way to present my card.  After bouncing a few ideas off my husband, he suggested that maybe I include a pattern with my card – since that’s a big part of my blog.  From that suggestion I spring-boarded onto this idea – why not just have it all ready to go?  The only trouble was finding a place that printed on fleece.

The majority of “print on demand” fabric places only printed on cotton – not really what “Fleece Fun” is about.  Then I found these guys – Fabric on Demand and they print on fleece!  Being able to print to scale was crucial  for my card.  I briefly talked with them to make sure I could get it to scale and asked for tips on minimum font size etc.  Then it was time to design.

Once I knew I could have it printed and the parameters I needed to follow it was time to design.  Since I didn’t want to start from square one I took one of my old no-sew patterns and began to tweak it.  I made the pattern smaller and then simplified the design.  Since I didn’t want to add ribbon to each package, I changed the design to only need a strip of fleece to bring it all together.  Once I had that figured out I printed it up on paper and cut out samples to make sure that it looked good and would work.  Realizing there would be unused “white space” I put my logo in there figuring I might be able to use it later. Then I crossed my fingers and sent Fabric on Demand my design.  Ordering 3 yards of fabric!

After waiting for a couple of week I got my fabric.  Now I just had to cut it up.   Cut them out with my rotary cutter and mat, then scissors for the rest.  It took a while.  Then I had put mini scissors (found them on Ebay) and a clip ( Hobby Lobby) in each one and fold it.  That took several nights of watching TV and folding up cards.

The last thing I did make video showing how to put the flower together.

I handed out my cards at the conference.  Everyone I handed them to was surprised to find them covered in fleece!  Some friends told me that they heard other people talking about my card – eek!  At the end of the conference they announced the winners and…… I didn’t even place.  But the fact that my card was memorable, was true to my brand, and clever made  it a winner.  When people go through their pile of cards mine will stick out. 😉