This is a really interesting thread, just reading your thoughts Sasha, regarding the selection criteria for greeting cards. I have pondered on why mostly commercially printed greeting cards are featured. It’s very disappointing to note that printed cards are very much more likely to feature, over a individually hand-crafted card. I don’t understand your comment however, that when a card is commercially printed the ‘creative input’ happens earlier in the design. Surely where in the process the ‘creative input’ happens, should not, in my opinion, be a criteria for selection. I fully understand that Folksy staff make their own decisions, but why is creative input earlier in the design for printed cards regarded as more advantageous to being selected? When I create a card I come up with the design first, to ensure it is cohesive and pleasing, which surely is ‘creative input’ at an early stage. The creative process then continues with the physical making, which can include multiple techniques, such as stamping, inking, die-cutting, hand-painting and heat-embossing for texture. Surely there should be diversity and inclusion for all manner of greeting cards and for the opportunity for them to be featured in the Folksy Favourites selection. Whether I am featured or not will not influence the style of cards that I enjoy creating and I hope others feel the same too, regarding their work. 
Not been promoted either and I am the ONLY shop that sells bed spring ornaments. I realise that not many people would look for bed springs but with all the pushing I do and #folksy on every posting they must be seeing them.
I’ve phrased it badly - where I say ‘creative input’ I mean where the production step (be it printing of cards by a commercial printer /casting of jewellery after the jeweller has carved the initial wax / screen printing of designs onto tote bags / casting of metal sculptures at a foundry / printing designs onto mugs etc) has been out sourced after the initial design work because people might not have the specialist equipment to do it themselves due to costs/ safety/ space. Cards were just the first example that came to mind when I wanted to clarify what I meant.
I wouldn’t consider a commercially printed card having a high level of ‘handmadeness’ but they have had ‘creative input’ at the beginning when the artist came up with the design, your cards on the other hand have a high level of ‘handmadeness’ (and with it creative input) as you have done every stage of the process.
Is ‘creative input’ advantageous to ‘handmadeness’ not just in cards but in any category? I certainly didn’t mean to imply that I thought it was, I think it is just part of the decision making process when picking. If I was picking my first decision in the process would be - is this item attractively presented? Y/N second decision - is it handmade? Y/N. if no has it had lots of creative input? Y/N and so on down the decision tree.
Seriously wishing I had never said anything in this thread but I do get picked for folksy favourites and to be in gift guides so thought maybe I’ve gained some insight over the years that would help. But its just turning into a headache now.
Hello Adam @OutOfCornwall
I felt lucky to have an item included, but I have no idea why that paticular image was chosen. I did not do anything that I can think of, although I do try and get involved in ‘theme of the day’ if i have anything that fits the theme.
Ive noticed your items in the ‘gift guide’ I was searching in, which is also good place to be and were I would probably look rather than Folksy favourites. Im currently trying to find an appropriate 60th card for my brother-in-law but not having much luck
Thanks for the reply Christine. I guess I must be doing something 
right then
Thanks for your reply to my posting Sasha. I am sorry that I have added to a headache for you. That really was not my intention at all. I found this thread interesting and joined in because I have previously noticed a lack of hand-crafted greeting cards among the Favourites and I was interested in yours and everyone else’s comments in the thread.
Thanks Debbie, I’ll have a look later, I do already use flat lay for some of my photos and have seen some awesome ones here on Folksy, so maybe that’s the new way to go, it’s surprising how quickly different styles change though, it isn’t that long ago when white backgrounds were the latest thing.
I use white backgrounds as I sell on Amazon, and they wont accept anything else 
I have also noticed new sellers seem to be featured regularly which does help to get them noticed but there are some sellers whose work is chosen regularly and a lot more often than others.
I know how important good photography is (I have seen some images that are not great being featured) to make it into the favourite on the front page but I’m not sure what else they look for, I think it just comes down to whatever the person choosing the items actually likes themselves.
I rarely have anything chosen for Folksy favourite and I do Tag Folksy on my instagram posts so they are seeing new products, I also know the high standard of my own work, sell plenty on Folksy and mention Folksy in posts so doing everything I need to, at the end of the day it does just come down to personal choices and is a bonus when or if an item is chosen.
Obviously we would all like our work to be recognised and shared by Folksy so perhaps they just need to look a little further and find some more talented sellers who rarely make it to the front page.
Folksy favourites is the first thing customers see so it needs to show a good selection of products and sellers and needs updating constantly.
EDIT…One thing mentioned somewhere in the thread was that items need to have a high volume (or something like that) of handmade to them…I’m not sure all the items chosen meet that criteria !
Lol 
agree, I can’t keep up. 
My philosophy is the same as yours Lynne, I just do my best, keep creating what I love and enjoy the process along the way. If I wasn’t on Folksy I would still be creating my cards regardless. Your art work is lovely btw 
Thank you, as are your cards 
I’m with you Debby, I think looking at the current Folksy Favourites, it doesn’t have anything to do with “Handmadeness” or white backgrounds to pictures. It could be based on social media posts ( I would definitely be excluded if it is this) or simply whoever the staff decide they like.
Your leather bracelets are lovely and I think my son would love one. I’ve added it as a favourite and a great idea as a Christmas gift.
I have noticed that Folksy are proritising Plus accounts. I’d suspected it for a while so a couple of days ago I checked every item on the home page. Of 73 items, only 4 were not Plus accounts. Now the new Christmas showcase is limited to Plus accounts. Not good.
I’m not sure you can go by the items on the homepage as only the ‘Folksy Favourites’ and gift guide items are picked by Folksy staff (and the featured sellers)
I just checked the first 60 items in ‘Folksy Favourites’ and 23 were not Folksy Plus accounts, so more than a third.
Thanks for that Inga, much appreciated and I’m so pleased that you like them
I know good photography is one of the main criteria for having items chosen and of course if Folksy are to favourite things they need to be clear and represent the site but I did mention it because recently I saw an item and I had absolutely no idea what it was, the photo was very dark and the item didn’t stand out against the background. I saw another and thought the handmade item in the background was the item for sale which I loved, I love lifestyle photos and have been trying to use some recently and admittedly they are nicer than plain backgrounds so i’m learning how to make my images better but I think if handmade items are used as props it can be difficult to tell which item is for sale which then makes me think it does depend whether Folksy see peoples work in order to favourite and whether it sings to them. I suppose if there are on average 4000 sellers on Folksy it must be difficult to see everything that is for sale and to only choose say 50 items from them. Just do a happy dance when one gets through
I agree Debby, I’ve seen some lovely ones and thought ‘oh I love that’ and it ends up being one of the props!
Another reason I struggle with lifestyle shots I guess, I also worry should I add a disclaimer saying certain items in the image are not included in the sale? I haven’t so far as I assume folk will know that they won’t be getting a small bunch of flowers and a pot plant with their purchase.
Hi, if it helps and I know what your saying, as it would seem obvious, but was told you can’t always assume that, so put - additional items in photos for illustration purposes only - in my description text.
Judy
I always put at the end the sentence “Accessories are not included, you will receive 1 card with 1 envelope”, and change the item accordingly eg. “… you will receive 1 chopping board” etc.