Do-It-Your-Self Jewelry Card and Hole Punches
by Michelle Griffin.
(Long Beach, California, USA)
I just bought some earring card hole punchers and one broke the first time I used it. I was wary over buying another, so I searched online everywhere to find other ideas for making my jewelry cards.
I ran across an info site of a woman who uses scrap book hole punches for her earring cards. Her jewelry cards looked one of a kind, professional and above all cute! For her dangle earrings she would use the border hole punches and just bend the top of the card over for the dangle to hang freely and the earring hook had plenty of room not to bend.
Stud earrings go right through your punched hole design and with bigger hole punch designs such as stars and hearts can be used to hold bracelets, necklaces and hair accessories.
I have business cards printed, two jewelry cards on one (you can tell the printer to cut the cards for you), which you just need to specify where they need to be cut. Or you can just cut them yourself. I paid $30 for 1,000 business cards which make 2,000 cards when cut. Scrap book hole punches are anywhere from $6 and up. Just take your cut jewelry cards to the store with you to measure the paper punch to your card so you don’t waste money on one that won’t work.
Michelle Griffin
Comments:
I don’t quite understand
by: Joy
Could you send a picture?
Earring Cards
by: Mairby
I made my cards using scrapbooking whole punches 1/8 Inch. I had made different size cards templates but now I am going to use the back of my business card for all my jewelry and not have different cards for different items. Hope this helps someone.
Easy Earring Punch
by: Kathy Weaver
I, too, use business cards for my earring cards. I had a very inexpensive digital artist (on Artfire.com) design my new card. She then made a very simple vertical card that I can also upload and have printed. (and of course, they match!) I am very happy with them. Her whole process cost me about $20.00. I also purchased easy earring cards punch, and don’t know how I lived before it! I have had nothing but good results with it. I also think that having coordinated marketing designs looks more professional.
Displays/packaging
by: Francine
I take a heavier corrugated piece or cardboard colored to match your site or logo. I ordered a stamp with my info on it to stamp on back. I them punch out holes with standard hole punch.
For necklaces I use same concept but instead of whiles I make slits and then “capture” the chain in a plastic bag taped to the back.
Earring cards
by: Leigh-Anne
I just use card stock and a punch that rounds the corners. Then, I stamp my business initials on the top and punch two holes using a leather hole punch and I am done! Maybe someday I will get them professionally printed but for now that is all I can afford!
Photo Required
by: Bonnie
I cannot quite picture what you are describing. Is there any way to post a photo?
Another idea for your cards…
by: Cat
I’m with the rest of the group…I use a plain old single hole punch.
I took my logo, printed it onto a foldable card (slim and not too large), and folded it in half. Then punched the hole in the corner. I used embroidery thread loops to attach to the jewelry.
Not only does your customer go home with your logo on their jewelry (in case they purchased from other vendors that day and mixed everything up), but the folded design serves another useful function.
Over the years, I’ve had so many questions about “what stone” or “is this sterling”…now, I write the name of the piece inside the folded card at the top, and the description of the components on the bottom half. People ask a lot less questions that way!
The best thing to remember is, keep it simple. Don’t go out and buy all the crap “they” tell you you should have for your business. It’s become quite a racket for these companies and the best ideas are the handmade ones from our own noggins!
I have to admit, though, for my earring cards, which I do print myself, I do buy the adhesive earring card backs from Rio Grande. I find it easier, with the amount of earrings I’m always making, to just put the clear bar hook on the back of the card and voila! Done.
Cheers,
Cat
Chatty Cat’s
Creating / Choosing Your Packaging, etc.
by: Rena
In addition to all the excellent tips shared above, I wanted to agree with Cat’s mention of “keep it simple. Don’t go out and buy all the crap ‘they’ tell you you should have for your business” – it’s so true!
I found that it’s best to start out with the bare minimum of business stuff. And then, as you find that you have a need for something, create your own solution for it.
For example, that might mean either creating your own cards, or getting them pre-printed and cut. You’ll have to decide what’s the best fit for your business, your customers, your talents, what you enjoy doing, and your budget.
The important and fun thing (in my experience) is to mindfully come up with solutions that are perfectly suited to your unique situation and business.
It’s really fun when you’ve evolved your own system and supplies that work perfectly for you – and they’re delightful to use because you created or chose every detail about them to suit you!
(And you will probably spend far less money along the way – or splurge only on the things that are really worth it.)
Business card stock
by: Walter
I use a business card program to make mine – which are folded in half afterwards.
On the front side I print our contact information on the left side and our Deez Treasures Logo on the rignt. Oh and I also put two periods spaced about 1/2 inch apart and about 1/4 inch down which is where I use a pin to punch holes for the earwires.
On the back side I leave the left side blank and on the right side I have lines for Size, Color, Item #, and Price.
After I fold them in half I punch an 1/8 inch hole where I feed some fishing line through it with a crimp bead and then through the piece (if necessary) and then crimp it so the card is attached to the piece. Then I put the earrings in.
Crooked Earring Card Holes
by: JBird’s Garden
Pictures would be helpful but as long as it’s a single hole punch, I’m sure to have the earring holes crooked! Does anyone have an easy trick/tip as to how to line up your holes so they are even every time? I really don’t want to pay the ridiculous amount being asked for that fancy brand.
JBird – getting holes even
by: Rena
Hi JBird, like many of our friends here, I print two dots (periods) on my earring cards (whether I print my earring cards at home or have them professionally printed).
Then I can simply use a beading awl, ice pick, or hole-punch to make the holes right where those printed dots are.
That makes it super easy to get them placed perfectly straight every time!
Another idea:
I know a jewelry artist purposely staggers her earring card holes so that one earring intentionally hangs artistically higher than the other. It does look cool, and it also eliminates any issue with holes not being the same height!
Thanks Rena!
by: JBird’s Garden
Thank goodness for the fashionable staggered look!
I like the idea of having the dots pre-printed, but I make my earring cards out of colored card stock and then use the Cuttlebug to create a raised design. Aside from the crooked holes, they really turn out beautifully. 🙂
Why didn’t I think of that?!
by: Margaret Joy
Now why didn’t I think of that?! Thanks for the great suggestion to stagger the earring holes, Rena! I frequently have the same problem JBird does,and I can’t wait to try this. By the way, you’ve been a tremendous help to me over the past few months as I’ve started up my jewelry business. I can’t thank you enough for putting so much great advice together and making it available to us all.
Hole punches
by: Nikki
Personally I use my business cards as earring cards too, but I use a much cheaper hole punch – a simple pin, at point of sale (pardon the pun). I find pin holes in the card make for a more secure hold on the earring hooks so they are less likely to fall off, and the buyer also goes away with my contact details.
Staggered earring card holes
by: Rena
Thank you, Margaret Joy! That’s lovely to hear! I’m so glad everyone’s great ideas here have helped you get off to a good start.
And about the staggered earring-card holes – they also seem to give the carded earrings an extra little touch of style!
Earring cards
by: Judy
I use a “template” to punch my holes straight every time. I have a card that I measured and drew lines on to make the holes perfect, then I place this over the new card, make a small mark with a pen, and use a very small hole punch (that I found in the scrapbook section of AC Moore) to make the holes.
Works great.
Earring Cards
by: Gina
I also use business cards to hang earrings. I use a ribbon punch – the cut looks like an eleven. I punch twice then thread the ear wire in & out across the back of the center piece between the cut out vertical holes. Most earring will hang straight. I wrapped a rubber band around the jaws of the punch where I want the card to stop. You could also mark with a sharpie.
Simple and Versatile Earring Cards
by: Pam
I have always printed my own earrings cards, but have gone thru a few different versions until finding what I use now that works great for me.
I print my business cards, and also use Rio Grande’s adhesive backs that hang from my rotating rack. I use the specific earring to determine where the holes will go for each card, so they fit nicely on the front of the card. I do not use paper punches for the holes, but a simple push pin. Like the earlier poster, (Cat, I think it was) I find that this keeps the earrings more secure on the cards, because the pin hole is just about the same, maybe a tad smaller than my 20-21 gauge earwires.
I have been able to just eyeball where the holes go, without much problem, but for me, a template would not work as I load the earrings at different heights on the card, depending on their length. If I want the holes to go where the adapter on the adapter to be sstuck on the back would block it, I just cut the adapter to fit my needs before attaching it.
I was hesitant about the adhesive backs, but those things stick like crazy – they won’t come off without damaging the cardstock – I am confident in using them even for heavier earrings.
so many ideas!
by: Pauline
I have once again redesigned my business card, necklace and earring cards. AND I’M STILL NOT SATISFIED! hahahaha (manic laughter to cover my frustration)
I’m trying out interesting scrapbooking paper and card stock this time. Good old fashioned hole punch, and a pin for little earring holes. 🙂
What I really would like to do is eliminate the tags on earrings. I love the idea of using display boards and interesting fabric and lace to hang the earrings from. BUT, this means not having a tag to number and catalogue each piece…. It’s possible that cataloging isn’t that important and I may try that next!
As I’ve written the above, my mind is spinning with working on this idea on a small board that is going onto a restaurant wall in the next few days. Maybe this time I’ll get it right! 😀
Great Ideas!
by: JBird’s Garden
So many great ideas here! I am always so amazed at how creative people can be. Is there a way to include photos in comments here? How helpful that would be for us visual creatures.
Earring Cards
by: Anonymous
I also bought the tiny single hole punch in the scrape book section of Hobby Lobby. It makes a hole about two millimeters in diameter. I use blank note cards and trim them according to earring length. Sometimes I punch the holes so they are not exactly side by side – one higher than the other.
I like the idea of having a stamp made of your information. I make labels to stick on the back.
keep it simple
by: waterbeadle
I use printable business cards (made by Avery) and I break them apart at the perforations, round the corners with a punch, mark the holes lining up with a template and punch the holes with an awl. I usually have printed my logo on the cards, but if not, I use the stamp I had made of my logo and stamp the cards. My dilemma has always been, what is the best way to display earrings-on an earring rack that holds many earrings, or on a stand that holds just one pair? The earring cards hang nicely on a rack with the adhesive holder placed on the back, but when earrings are displayed on an earring stand, showing the price is difficult. Any suggestions other than the small barbell type tag, that leaves adhesive residue on the ear wires?
Earring price tags
by: Rena
Waterbeadle, love your idea for rounding the corners of your cards! That gives them a nice, custom look.
About price-tagging the earrings on the stand – could you use the stand for earrings that are all the same price, and simply put a nice sign on or next to the stand saying something like “Earrings – $40”?
You could skip the individual price tags that way.
Earring Displays
by: JBirds Garden
Hanging and displaying earrings has always been a challenge for me. After several different attempts I finally came up with a display that I love and works very well.
I purchased some velcro fabric and wrapped it around a large board which I then attached an antique frame to. I then created earring cards which I added velcro to the back of to stick to the board. After punching holes in the cards I attach the earrings and easily hang to the board.
For pricing I have sweet little hole punch butterflies that I write the price on and slide directly thru the earwire. That way when a pair gets purchased I can take the earrings off the velcro card and reuse it. I either hang the frame from a grind wall at my outdoor shows or use a table top picture frame stand for indoor shows.
This has worked out beautifully and makes for a very attractive display!
