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I guess I'm puzzled by not wanting to send out a card with someone else's signature on it because that's what everyone who purchases a card is doing. A lot of the commercial cards have the illustrator or author's name if not both on them.
just for me personally, as i can't speak for others who have commented [or not] on this thread, but it's embarrassing for me to send cards with other's signatures. everyone knows i stamp and create cards. so, if i'm crunched for time, or have a card from a swap that i think fits the recipient well, i'll use that card. if i'm asked, i would say that i didn't make it. but if i gave a card signed by someone else, i feel the first thought from the recipient would be "she didn't make one for me?", "i'm not special enough to make a card for?" maybe it's silly... but, it is what it is. i don't want to let anyone down or have them think that they aren't special enough for one of my own creations. but, i'm very thrifty too - and i don't just hang on to cards to look at them. for one, i'm not a demo needing samples, and for two, i just don't have the room.
i don't disagree with the other comments in this thread. if you're proud of your work, and want to sign it, then do so. i only posted my original comment as a means for helping others understand that i prefer 'unsigned' cards [or discretely signed cards] in swaps and it isn't for a deceitful reason [like, i want to sell them or something].
I always sign the back of my cards out of habit right when I'm finished with it. I sign my cards for swaps too and I like it when cards I receive are signed as well. But I hoard all of the cards I receive in swaps and I never send them away. I make cards for all occasions and keep them around so if a birthday or something comes up and I don't have time to make a card I can pull one out of my stash. Just my opinion. I wouldn't mind if someone sent a card I made for a swap out but I would hope that they would want my name on the back.
All the swaps I have participated in, we put our names/stamps, etc.on the back. That said, we generally swap only card fronts. They are intended to share ideas, etc.
Since they are fronts, if I want to send one of them out for personal use, I have to mount them on another piece of cardstock to create a card, thereby covering up the signature anyway. But I don't EVER then put my name on the back of it.
Just an option I thought I'd share.
__________________ Shan
-Never get so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life-
All the swaps I have participated in, we put our names/stamps, etc.on the back. That said, we generally swap only card fronts. They are intended to share ideas, etc.
Since they are fronts, if I want to send one of them out for personal use, I have to mount them on another piece of cardstock to create a card, thereby covering up the signature anyway. But I don't EVER then put my name on the back of it.
Just an option I thought I'd share.
oh, i never put my name on it either! i will use a generic handmade stamp if i remount a card front for use tho.
Honestly, I think it is very very strange not to sign your work, and I have to be truthful almost impolite to ask someone not to sign their work. People say they send them with back unsigned - but truthfully if you are sending it with the back unsigned you must be implying that you created the card to the receipient.
Maybe there is a gap in the market for a "handmade with love - swap card" stamp.
I truthfully understand the argument about someone could feel hurt if they received a handmade card that wasn't handmade by the sender - surely there is a way of saying "this is a fabulous card I received in a card swap by another paper artist and I thought of you and knew how much you would enjoy it."
I prefer swapping unsigned cards, and I think it's because I'm a card sender, not a demo. Since I've started stamping, certain people seem to get offended if they get a store-bought card from me. Sending a handmade card--clearly handmade by somebody else--would be even more offensive. And, as a stamper, I wouldn't get the warm fuzzies if my stamping friend sent me something she'd gotten in a swap.
I wouldn't stamp somebody else's card with my stamp. Maybe leaving it with no stamp is a sin of omission--*implying* that I made the card, but seeing somebody else's name there just seems like a bit of a slap to the recipient.
__________________ ~Wendy
Air Force wife and homeschooling mama to two
In my spare time (ha!) I love to stamp, scrapbook,
{blog} and eat chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.
I prefer swapping unsigned cards, and I think it's because I'm a card sender, not a demo. Since I've started stamping, certain people seem to get offended if they get a store-bought card from me. Sending a handmade card--clearly handmade by somebody else--would be even more offensive. And, as a stamper, I wouldn't get the warm fuzzies if my stamping friend sent me something she'd gotten in a swap.
I wouldn't stamp somebody else's card with my stamp. Maybe leaving it with no stamp is a sin of omission--*implying* that I made the card, but seeing somebody else's name there just seems like a bit of a slap to the recipient.
My dad's not the most outspoken type, but a few years ago he acted disappointed when my mom had gotten stamped cards for her birthday and for Mother's Day, but his card was storebought. He felt a little left out. I never knew he cared about that kind of stuff, but you can bet that he gets a handcrafted creation every time now!
__________________ Rachel Proud SU! demo and Sci-Fi Geek!
My Stampin' Up! blog "I'm a time traveler -- I point and laugh at archaeologists." 10th Doctor, "Silence in the Library"
Well, I don't usually sign the back of my cards ~ I really don't know why. But I never send cards to be reused ~ I always write in & sign my cards & frankly hope that the recipient enjoys it, if a fellow stamper cannibalizes anything useful & recycles the rest when the time is right.
That said ~ I've participated in swaps ~ used to be in a monthly group & got, well, a ton more cards than I ever would need to send ~ I am just not a social person & therefore have very few friends. Then I found SCS & the RAK subgroup ~ viola!! a place to send my cards ~ except I found that I was very hesitant to send the 'swap' cards because I don't want the card put in the gallery & credited to me if it isn't signed ~ so I now do use my swaps but I always put a note on the card that it was made by a member of a very talented group of ladies ~ since I now have no clue who actually made it. I am hoping that the card will do the job of bringing some good cheer & that no will be 'upset' that I did not actually make the card ~cause frankly I did make cards for the swap & that hopefully someone out there is getting one on my creations & is enjoying it.
I guess for me, if I send it & it's not signed, then I made it otherwise I will not take credit for someone else's work & will make note of it. I guess I can understand why I have few friends ~~
This is a very interesting thread. I like to sign the backs of my cards usually with one of the SU angel policy stamps then my signature stamp. It is at the bottom on the back and doesn't look any different than a company's logo of a store bought card. I also send cards to friends and family that I may have not made and are signed by other people. I have a talented friend "cannontc" that does beautiful work and I love sharing it. I even bought some Christmas cards from her one year. They were left overs from a craft show and everybody raved about them. I also don't mind receiving cards from friends that were made by other people, it still lets me know that my friend or family member is thinking of me and took the time to write me something and send me a nice work of art instead of emailing me a message.
I have never done a swap, but would think that if this was the request, they are doing one of two things: either sending them to someone and making it look like they made it, or selling them as their own. I would definitely be leary!
i would definitely send a card out with someone else's signature on it - it is like going into a foo-foo boutique shop and buying a handmade artist's card to put with your gift, or send as the birthday card. no different to me than that. even though i could surely make a card myself, i think it also shows love by wanting to give someone "art" instead of Hallmark, however you do it - by making it yourself, or buying someone else's art. (or using someone else's art that you received in a swap.) i would never credit myself with the work, and i would hope that the recipient wouldn't be offended by not receiving one of MY creations that time.
this is very interesting to think about - you have all made me think about this topic. there are definitely different points of view on it, aren't there?!
thanks everyone for sharing your different ideas...
__________________
Marni - SCS #14788 and SU Demo
My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate. Thornton Wilder
I've never used a swap card, I keep them for ideas or just to keep.
I also think it's weird that anyone would want to do a swap without knowing who made what. I 've always been instructed to sign, number and also use my SCS name.
I wouldn't participate in a swap that asked for a naked card.
I would and do send out cards that I get from swaps. To me, sending a swap card with the artists signature is no different than picking a card out in the store.
I've noticed the absence of sigs on card backs lately in swaps and it bugs me..just a pet peeve of mine I guess.
I would not participate in a swap that said "no sigs" either, and I don't do swaps that have too many "restrictions" on them either...it just sucks the fun out of it for me.
I am a fairly new poster to SCS. There are many valid perspectives on this issue. As for me, my work remains unsigned. Perhaps when the quality of my work improves dramatically, they will be signed Actually had no idea that it would offend anyone if the card had no signature.
Jeannie
To me, sending a swap card with the artists signature is no different than picking a card out in the store.
I completely agree. To not want a stamper's signed card is like going to Hallmark and asking them for cards without their logo on the back. Every artist has the right to identify their creation as their own. I wouldn't do a swap where I couldn't stamp my info on the back.
__________________ Debra ---artist * teacher * designer Say yes. Be generous. Speak up. Love more. Trust yourself. Slow down. ---Patti Digh
I would and do send out cards that I get from swaps. To me, sending a swap card with the artists signature is no different than picking a card out in the store.
I completely agree...And on the same note, people who know I stamp don't like to get a storebought card from me. So sending a card made by someone else--Hallmark or Suzy Stamper--hurts their feelings a little. (Maybe I need friends with thicker skin! ;) )
I seem to get cards with BIG stamps on the back. They've overpowering. A small, tasteful stamp bothers me less than one that says: HANDMADE BY: Suzy Stamper
__________________ ~Wendy
Air Force wife and homeschooling mama to two
In my spare time (ha!) I love to stamp, scrapbook,
{blog} and eat chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.
Same here. I don't think that's any more strange than handing out cards with the name of a card company on back.
If I receive swap cards that are not signed but have a paper inside with the creator's name, I will write who made it on the back of the card. I want to give credit where it's due. If someone were to ask, I'd happily explain that I got the card in a swap
Me too. I always sign the back of mine. A little "handmade by" stamp with a little heart and "Aimee", and the year.
I used to have a stamp with mny email addy, etc, on it that I used but all that info changed. I need to get a new one made.
I send out cards that are mine or from swaps. if I like it, I like it, and will use it.
Every year for Christmas I give my MIL 20 cards (she send cards to everyonen for everything), some are from swaps and some are ones I've made. If they are other people's, I always tell her about them. she thinks is kewl.
Halmark, etc, all have barcodes and junk onn the back, my lil siggy isnt any different.
However I agree about the big honkin labels on the back. I don't send those out.
Location: rockin' the pink mojo wig in Ottawa, Canada
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Interesting thread!
I just received back some swap check book covers from a swap I joined - a lot of them were not signed. I felt a little annoyed, I love knowing who did the artwork. Usually I send the creator of such pieces a little note to say how much I enjoyed their art. Now I can not give credit where credit is due.
I do save all of my swap cards for inspiration. If I ever have the heart to part with them, or run out of storage space I think donating them to a retirement home is a fabulous idea. I'm sure the elderly who can not get out as much would greatly appreciate them.
I say sign your work and be proud!
__________________ Some call me Pinky, some call me Lori - I answer to both Pinky's Pictorial DREAM as if you could live forever, LIVE as if you only have today.
Just to put a funny light on this subject - how many people get storebought cards from their relatives with all the "company" information crossed out (still readable) and then "handpicked by" and the sender's signature - or do I just have weird family and friends? oh and the prices of some of those creations are astronomical ;), hundred of thousands or dollars/pounds stirling!
Just remember if you aren't signing your early work - some of the works of art of the greatests painters in the world is highly sought after. Don't undersell yourself in any way - monetarily or creatively! You took the time and effort to do it and you did your best - what more could anyone want?
