Let your business cards reflect how special your business is.
Even in this digital age the business card is still important. They can be left just about anywhere, tucked into orders, given out to potential customers or clients, etc. They are your advertising introduction to people you meet.
So be creative with your business cards, design something special. Especially if you work in a creative business such as art, design, or crafts. You should have business cards as unique as your business.
More Handmade Business Lenses
-
Branding Your Handmade Products
-
Learn about building a brand as an indie artist or designer. Branding helps create an image for you and your business. It helps generate repeat business and word of mouth which is so important for small business.
-
Using Squidoo to Promote Your Handmade Business
-
Squidoo is a great, easy way for anyone selling handmade items to promote their creations. Display your knitting, painting, sculpting, jewelry making, etc. and generate more visits (and hopefully sales) on your website or webstore.
-
Running a Handmade Business
-
So you're an artist, designer, or craftsperson and want to take your first steps into making money from your talent and skills? This lens is full of advice for anyone starting a handmade business.
-
Preparing for an Art or Craft Festival
-
Art and craft festivals are a lot of work but worth it for the exposure you get and the great people you meet. Here is a guide to preparing for a show and having a great time. Oh yeah, and did I mention selling your creations?
-
Selling Handmade Jewelry Online
-
The internet gives jewelry artisans so many new opportunities to sell their work and reach a far larger number of people. This lens gives an overview of things to consider before selling your jewelry online.
Designing Your Cards
Essential Contact Information:
Your name or business name (or both)
Phone Number
Email
Website for online business, physical address of offline business, both if necessary.
Okay so you know you need that information so what about making your cards special? Your business card should reflect your business, if you are an artist or crafter use an image of your work or maybe the tools you use.
Business cards don't have to be plain black on white, don't be afraid to use color. Maybe vary the shape a little, use an oval, round the edges, punch holes, etc. Above all, be creative.
Free Software to Design a Card With
- OpenOffice
- OpenOffice.org: The Free, Open Source Office Suite
- GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program
- GNU Image Manipulation Program
- Businesscardland - The Free Online Business Card Maker
- Free Business Card Maker, Free Business Card Templates, and Free Gift Tag Maker. Easy way to make free printable business cards that work with Avery and other brand pre-cut business card papers. After you have designed your cards, you can create a PDF file to print, save, or take to a printshop to have printed.
Free Business Card Templates
- Free Business Card Templates Design
- Free Business Card Templates for personal or commercial use. Templates are well categorized according to business nature and downloadable in compressed zip file. Easily editable with most design softwares.
Book on DIY Design
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byPrinting Your Cards at Home
Paper
You can get pre-cut business card sheets just abotu anywhere that sells office supplies. They typically come in white, ivory, or gray and once you've printed your cards you just punch them out of the sheet.
If you want something a bit different and don't mind cutting your business cards yourself there's a big range of card stocks and art papers in just about every color and texture you could want. A paper cutter works best but a good straight edge and sharp x-acto style craft knife will work as well. If you want a different shape than the plain rectangle you can find large shape punches in most crafts stores.
Printing
Printing should be done with a good quality setting. Normal is fine for black and white but you'll want higher print quality for images. Make sure your print cartridge has plenty of ink and all the printer settings are aligned well.
Business Card Paper and Card Stock
You can by perforated business card paper that you don't need to cut to print cards onto or get heavy card stock such as bristol.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOr Try Art Papers
Canson Mi-Teintes Drawing Papers
Hahnemühle Premium Velour Paper
Having Someone Else Do the Printing
Print Shops: Most good sized towns have a print shop, either a small independent business or one of the large chain printers like Kinkos. They can usually print you off some cards for a reasonable price.
Online Printers: There are a number of companies online that will print your cards for you and usually for around the same amount as a printshop or less.
MOO does some really beautiful photo business cards and I recently had some printed by Zazzle that I really love. If you're budget is really tight you could try out VistaPrint's Free Business Cards
Printing with Zazzle
Lime Flowers Business Cards by KrispysKingdom
Make custom business card Designs on www.zazzle.com
Browse Business Card Templates
Make your own business card from scratch.
Making a card is very easy, use one of Zazzle's templates or upload your own images and then add text.
Creative Business Card Examples from Flickr
ID / Business Card design. Cardstock with Spot Gloss UV Varnish on transparent ...
homemade...they take a while but people seem to like them and they're unique..
we made these to promote our new site and our blog specifically - they're repurp...
Business cards for a nightclub events promotional company
This ultra-hip advertising agency designed two different covers to distinguish b...
Every surface is printable in vivid full-color. The more, the merrier.
Yay! This is one of the coolest business cards prints I've had. Thanks to Moo! &...
just wanna save my favourite card design from
just wanna save my favourite card design from
A back and front view of my business cards after being "opened up&q...
Love This Lens?
- Rate this lens:
- Email it
- Favorite it
- Lensroll it
Leave a Card
Comments, questions, etc.
PizmoBeach wrote...
This is really useful. I wish I had discovered this lens before I ordered my business cards (which, unfortunately looked a lot better at the digital proof stage than in final print version).
Posted June 22, 2009
Tiddledeewinks wrote...
Wow! Some of these cards are really creative originals! 5 *'s
Posted June 05, 2009
Rick_S
Great lens.....I also make my own cards for my several websites and I use the Avery design online and just print from there.
Posted April 30, 2009
Become_A_Professional_Organizer wrote...
Another great lens - definitely 5 stars!
Posted April 16, 2009
chefkeem wrote...
Grrreat tips! Just what I needed right now. 5*s and a hearty SquidAngel Blessing. :-)
Posted April 12, 2009
BisDak wrote...
I used MS Publisher in doing business card you can download some templates on microsoft site for free. Your site gave me another idea. 5* and favorited your site.
Posted April 10, 2009
aj2008 wrote...
This lens is a very helpful resource for anyone setting up a business or working from home. I like the way you tell people what has worked for you as well as giving links to free resources. Blessings to you!
Posted April 10, 2009
henzy wrote...
i made my business cards at Moo...think they turned out pretty good.
Posted January 09, 2009
danbradster wrote...
Here's another tool for creating business cards - http://www.thinkstationery.com/tools/make-your-own-business-cards/
Posted December 09, 2008
gr3tch3n wrote...
Recently, I used Vista, but paid, since I added personalized pens, and used a special template which cost me. But the cost was little, and I am very happy with the results. These will be around for ages! They look really keen. I'm an artist, so the visual impact is essential for me.
Good ideas here. I might try Avery Clean Edge for fun sometime.
Posted October 01, 2008
This handmade business lens is a creation of Noadi's Art
This Lens Constructed By A Bonafide Giant Squid! Look For The Giant Squid Badge of Honor- Your Assurance Of Quality On Squidoo
Click here to start building your own lenses on Squidoo!
by Noadi
I'm obsesse...
(more)
