A Good First Issue For All Cardmakers (Lets Make Cards Magazine)

Member Name: debs_smith101

Product:	Lets Make Cards Magazine
Date:	30/10/06 (821 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good quality embellishments, value for money, few adverts

Disadvantages: None for this issue

Let’s Make Cards magazine is the newest craft magazine to hit the shops. It comes from the publishers of the top craft magazines Crafts Beautiful and Quick and Crafty.


This magazine had been released for a couple of weeks before I decided to bite the bullet and buy. My reluctance stemmed from the magazine’s hefty price of a whopping £7.99, double the price of many of the other craft magazines on the shelves. However, after reading many positive reviews by fellow crafters praising the magazine and its ‘free’ gifts, I decided to give it a go.


I was pleased with my purchase but feel that the ‘freebies’ aren’t actually free, but that the price reflects the goodies included and as such are the reason for the increased price. Therefore, they should be considered as a card making kit. I like to think that I spent £4 on the magazine and £4 on a card making kit, which in my opinion is a good bargain as you can make ten cards (included in the kit) and still have lots of the embellishments leftover, with which at least another 5 cards can be made. In crafts shops you can find card-making kits costing roughly the same price (~£4), but they have far fewer components, so I feel that the magazine offers good value for money.


It comes in a cardboard carrier, which includes the glossy magazine and all the embellishments. This first issue is centred on a Christmas theme.


The magazine itself is jam-packed with inspirational projects on how to use the kit included with step-by-step guides. This is great if, like me you have lots of ideas but as soon as you sit down to make a card you have a complete mind block, or design isn’t your forte. It is also very informative with lots of quick tips, simple guides to… (for this issue glitter, heat embossing and cutting a circle), problem solving… (gold leafing, attaching an insert) and an in depth spotlight on… (glue). There is also a questions page, which in future issues will give a crafty prize to the star letter. Another benefit of this magazine as it does not have as many advertisements as other craft magazines, which is something that I hope does not change in future issues.

The card making kit included with this issue is of a good quality (unlike some other magazines that I won’t mention just lets say it’s fortnightly and only available via subscription). Many of the embellishments are made by Craft Creations a well-known brand. It comprises of:
· 10 Cards (in five colours)
· 10 Envelopes (the only poor quality item)
· DVD (which is informative though mainly promotes other items for sale)
· 8 Packs of ready-made embellishments (4 gold, 4 silver) including gems, toppers, mesh and layering papers and card.
· Small pack of sticky dots
· Small pack of foam squares
· Backing papers in 4 designs (a disappointing A5 size for each design)
· Bonus Vellum (the strips binding the cards and envelopes)


The next issue is released on 22nd December and the third on 16th February and from then onwards monthly. The next issue will again contain over 100 pieces covering birthday, invite, wedding and valentines themes.

Subscribing to this magazine will bring the price of each magazine down you save more if you choose to by in blocks of 3 magazines then if you buy in blocks of 6 or 12, which seems strange to me as I thought that things got cheaper the more you buy. There is no added incentive to subscribe as of yet, unlike many of the other magazines which can offer extra special free gifts.

I will not be subscribing as of yet as I am going to wait to see if the magazine stays the same in terms of ideas, tips, gifts and also value for money.

Summary: A good buy for old and new crafters, good value for money