It's "Maker Monday" here on my blog... The day when I post on something I've made or been working on recently.
Lots of you know that I make guitar picks from old recycled store gift cards.
I started making them in 2010-2011; as a series of crafts I was doing that were all eco-friendly.
I wanted (and still do) to feature items in my shop that use recycled materials and scraps of things that would otherwise end up in the trash. I felt like this was something really affordable for folks to get ... that would also enrich their lives with music... and that's important to me.
When I first started making them, I made my own template from a guitar pick that I had on hand... and traced and hand cut each one out. What a tedious process!
I quickly discovered that if I was going to make these in any quantity, I needed to find a simpler, more efficient method. Today... there are several companies online that sell punches (like paper punches) that make all kinds of shapes... and this is one. You have to make sure you get one that can handle thicker materials... and you have to keep them sharp... but it's still a much easier thing to punch them, than to cut each and every one by hand.
One thing I also do... is that I space them to get the best possible designs from each recycled store gift card. This makes them much cuter. Then, I sand the edges of each and every one... to minimize the sharpness and to get rid of excess plastic bumps that may occur when cutting them. I can usually get at least 3 cute picks from a card; which I usually sell as a set (right now I have around 70 different sets available)... and then if I can fit any more picks out of that card, I add them to my jar of "randoms"... which I sell at 5 for $1.
This past week, I've been focusing on Christmas themed items... and getting ready for the holiday season. Envelope sets, guitar picks... and more! will be listed soon in the Etsy shop.
It makes me smile, to see how excited folks get when they see them...
and that makes me happy... and grateful.
See you all tomorrow.