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1,000 Cards milestone

Last weekend at Crafternoon Tea, The Little Card Factory hit a bit of a milestone, selling the 1000th card for 2012!  This is very exciting, and I am so grateful for all the support that has come my way over the past year.

To celebrate, we are going to have a little giveaway, (you may have seen this on Facebook earlier, but we are moving it to the blog now.)  All you have to do is comment below with a phrase or message you would like to see on a card.  The winner will have that card made, plus 5 other cards of your choice.  Packed up and posted to your door.  If you have already entered on Facebook, then your entry will still be counted.

Entries will be closed on Friday evening, so have a little think about it.... xx

Back to the classroom...

Last month, a lovely couple who I have come to be friends with through Crafternoon Tea, opened a cute little shop in Kingsland;  Love Vintage & Retro.  I popped in to say hello and see what treasures I could find, and one particular item took me right back to my childhood....

When I was younger, my brother and I both had one of these.  And just like this one, it was covered in stickers and pen marks.  We used to keep all our colouring books inside and sit at our little chairs colouring in and writing stories.  From talking to others about my find, it would seem a lot of my friends had these as their school desks. LUCKY!!  We were on to big open tables when I started school, and books were kept in drawers.  BORING!!  So I am glad that my mum had two for my brother and me at home.  


Anyway, needless to say, I ran home to pick up the car and bought the desk.  Daniel(you will find him at Love Vinatge & Retro from Wednesday - Saturday) and I spoke about turning it to in a card display for my market table and I couldn't wait to get started.  I loved all the scratches and dents it has gained over the years, but I did want to get rid of the stickers.  So with a bit of elbow grease and a metal brush, off came the stickers (and the legs!!)

All it needed now was a coat of matte varnish for protection and I would be ready to turn it in to a card holder.

I envisioned the cards being stacked in the desk, allowing customers to flick through and select the ones that caught their eye, and wanted a few pegged on the lid just as a fun way to display them.  So off I went to Mitre10 to find some doweling.  It was cut (wedged!) in to place and here we go...

And now, filled with cards with a little extra decoration to brighten it up, I have a beautiful childhood desk converted in to a card display.

One year on....

After umming and arring about whether to share this or whether to hide it in a box where it would never be seen again, I have decided to share it...on 18 March 2011 I played around a produced what was going to be the start of The Little Card Factory, here it is....

It didn't even have an envelope, so goodness knows what I was hoping would come of it!!   These are the 'tiles' that I originally produced to use as blocks to create a 3D effect.  I decided to experiment and add letters to the tiles, and do you know what, I was so chuffed with this card!! So chuffed in fact, that I decided to make some more.  Apologies for the photo; at the time of taking it I didn't realise that a year later I would have my own business making cards!! You get the idea though!

So that is how it all started!  Luckily, I quickly developed the tiles so they were all the same size and straightened them out a bit!!

Now, one year on, I am proud to have a growing collection of designs and some very happy customers!  This year has been fantastic, and I am so lucky to be part of such a happy arty crafty community.  So thank you to all of you that have helped me this year!  

As a special Thank You to everyone for their support, I am offering 40% off all cards on Etsy until the end of March.  Just enter Coupon Code TLCF1BIRTHDAY at the checkout to receive your discount.  xx

An extra special market..

Next Saturday 17 March is St Patrick's day, not only that but it also The Kingsland Festival, so what better way to celebrate and be part of it than bring two great markets together to join forces!  From 2-7 Crafternoon Tea AND Love Vintage & Retro will be teaming up to bring you a fantastic collection of arty crafty goodness from around Auckland.  Be sure to come and check it out.  

The Little Card Factory will be there with a growing collection of handmade cards, so come and say hello.  I leave you with this new, and very appropriate card for the summer we have had.  xx 

Taking a little break from cards

I have to say, the rubbish weather over Christmas was quite a blessing for me, as it gave me a lot of rainy days to make cards and increase my stock levels for the start of the 2012 markets.
  
Having lots of cards ready and waiting has given me the chance to enjoy a bit of painting.  I haven`t picked up a paintbrush for 3 years and had a craving to throw some paint around.


We have a blue signature wall in our kitchen that is in desperate need of some colour, and so on Saturday morning, I woke up early and got painting...and boy did I enjoy it.  

So that brightens up our kitchen a little!  My university work was always very abstract and I very rarely worked with colour so I really enjoyed creating something so vibrant yet simple.


So that's a little side of me that I haven't explored recently, but as I found it so therapeutic, I may well make a habit of it... xx


PS.  A busy weekend ahead for The Little Card Factory, on Friday evening, you will find me at The Silo Park Markets, followed by Saturday morning at the newest market to hit Auckland, The Titirangi Handmade Market.  And don't forget, you have 2 more days left to get FREE SHIPPING on your Valentines card orders.  

Is everyone enjoying the summer?

I sure am...better late than ever as they say!  This weekend The Little Card Factory is back in action with the first market of 2012.  Come down to the Wynyard Quarter for the Silo Park Market on Saturday 28th January from 12-5pm.  Not only will there be some beautiful arty crafty goodies from Auckland's finest, but also some bands to keep you entertained, and a beer garden too.  Throw that all in to a mixing bowl with a large helping of sunshine and I think you've got yourselves a pretty good Saturday afternoon!!  Valentines cards will be on sale, for only $5...and for those of you that can't make the markets, I am offering FREE shipping on all Valentines orders across New Zealand available from my Etsy shop.

See you all on Saturday xx

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!  The Little Card Factory has had a little break but is back in action now!! We have an exciting new market this month down in Central Auckland at the Wynyard Quarter.  Come check out Silo Park Markets on January 28th from 12-5.

And of course Valentines Day is fast approaching.  Let the special someone in your life let them know how much you love them with a card from The Little Card Factory - a special offer is on too - FREE SHIPPING to all of New Zealand on Valentines Cards.  Just visit my Etsy Shop or Photos tab to see the collection.  As always, if there are photos on Facebook or Flikr that aren't on Etsy, just message me and I will happily add them.

Have a lovely weekend and we will see you at a market soon xx

The last market of 2011...

Where has the year gone?!  I cannot believe that we are counting the days until 2012 hit us.  So to finish the year, The Little Card Factory will be at Crafternoon Tea's final Christmas market.  So pop in and say hello and if you haven't finished yet, you are sure to find come gorgeous presents to fill those stockings or put under the tree.  See you all on Saturday in Kingsland from 10-3.  Please keep your fingers crossed for this awful weather to disappear!!

Etsy launch - you can now buy online!

The Little Card Factory cards are now available to buy online.  Please check them out, shipping is available world wide and with Etsy you can shop in your local currency so you know exactly what it will cost.  If you have spotted any cards on the Facebook page that you can not see on Etsy, please just email me and I can add them for you.  So please check it out and get in quick if you would like Christmas Cards, time is running out!

A busy weekend ahead....

The Little Card Factory is going to be a busy busy bee this weekend with 3 markets across Auckland.  Please check out the links and come and say hello.  Christmas cards are on sale with 5 different designs available.  $5 each or 5 for $20.

So to start the weekend, on Friday evening, you can find me at the Forrest Hill School Artisan Craft Market from 4pm.
Saturday, you will find me at my usual spot at Crafternoon Tea.  Please come and say hello.
Any finally, Sunday I will be over in Devonport for The Devonport Craft Market. Please all keep your fingers crossed for the sun to shine, and I will see you at the weekend!

A weekend of celebrations...

First off, a big Congratulations to the All Blacks for showing the Wallabies how it is done! What a fabulous performance!!  

Now back to the The Little Card Factory...

Happy 2nd Birthday to Crafternoon Tea.  Crafternoon Tea was The Little Card Factory's first ever market, and every month I meet more and more lovely customers.  A big thank you to Lisa and Daniel for all their hard work organising every market, we really do appreciate it. 

All customers from the market went in to a draw to win prizes from all the stall holders.  There were some beautiful prizes out there.  I hope the winner of my draw is happy with their collection of The Little Card Factory Christmas Cards.

Finally a huge huge Congratulations to my gorgeous Grandparents.  This weekend they celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.  Unfortunately it was a bit far to travel home to join the family for the celebrations, so I opted for making an extra special card.

Congratulations Granny and Grandpa!  I hope you enjoyed your day with your beautiful family, sorry I couldn't be there to join you. xx

I know it is a little early but.....

The days are getting longer, and occasionally we are being treated to a warm sunny day which means Summer can't be too far away! Being from England, and only having had one Christmas in New Zealand so far, I am still getting used to the whole 'shorts and t-shirt, where's the BBQ?' Christmas thing.  It just doesn't feel quite right.  However, Christmas is still Christmas, no matter how hot or cold it is.  It may seem early, but before you know it, The All Blacks (or maybe England) will have lifted the Rugby World Cup and it will be the end of October and for those of you like me that need to send cards abroad, it is time to start thinking about Christmas...so here is a little preview of things to come at the craft markets over the next months building up to Christmas.... As always, they are all 100% hand made.  Each card individually drawn and coloured in!

Rather than selling packs of the same card, you will be able to 'mix and match' your own pack of 6 for a set price or buy them individually.  More designs are on their way, I just thought you all might like a little preview!

The Little Card Factory will be back in Kingsland this Saturday 17th September, so pop along to check out all the arty crafty goodness that Auckland has to offer...see you all soon.

The Devenport Craft Market - Sunday 4 September

The Little Card Factory will be be at The Devenport Craft Market on Sunday 4 September.   This is Fathers Day and The Little Card Factory will have Fathers Day cards for those of you that like to leave things to the last minute!  There will be lots of stalls inside and out, so come along and check out all the arty crafty goodness that Auckland has to offer and let's hope for some sunshine!

Crafternoon Tea - Saturday 20 August

The Little Card Factory is lucky enough to have a table at Crafternoon Tea again! Come along to Kingsland next Saturday 20 August and check out the arty crafty goodness that Auckland has to offer!
And don't forget...Fathers Day is Sunday 4th September.  All Fathers Day cards from The Little Card Factory are only $5, all cards are hand drawn and typed on a typewriter.  (Who needs computers?!)  See you all next Saturday. 

Happy 103rd Birthday!

The Little Card Factory had their second craft market this weekend at The Auckland Artisan Market - Parnell.  A big thank you to all my new customers.  Especially the lovely lady that bought a Happy Birthday button flower card for her friend turning 103! 

These cards are limited, but any message can be typed at the top, just email me if you would like one.


Also, don't forget Fathers Day, Sunday 4 September - all Fathers Day cards are only $5.  Come along to Crafternoon Tea on Saturday 20th August in Kingsland to get yours.

And finally...

Please check out Big Little.  Lisa makes the most gorgeous baby booties, capes and other bits and pieces.  I had the pleasure of sharing my table with Lisa, and her gorgeous baby poppet, who was a fabulous model for the capes.  Keep an eye out for her doll collection...

A Rainy Saturday

When it is cold, wet and windy outside, there is nothing better than spending the day working on some new ideas.  Fathers Day is Sunday 4 September this year, so I hope to get a nice collection out there for you to give to your lovely Dads.  A few photos below...more to come soon!

For those of you who like to leave little notes for people, or write lists or even just notes for yourself, I have been making little note cards that come in a 10 pack.  Each card is plain white with a small drawn rose in the corner, leaving plenty of space for your notes and lists!  They also come with pegs for attaching them to whatever you like, or just sticking up on the wall.

And if you like the design, it also comes as a card...

Crafternoon Tea

So after an extremely busy week preparing everything for my first craft market, it turned out all to be worth it. Crafternoon Tea was a huge success!  

Time to get back to the typewriter and stock up on some new cards!  Keep an eye out for new designs coming soon.

My Very First Craft Market

The Little Card Factory is very excited to be having a table at the July Crafternoon Tea in Kingsland.  My very first Craft Fair.  Please come along if you are in the area to check out some beautifully crafted bits and pieces from around Auckland.