Tuesday Tips - Folding and Cutting Card Stock

Sometimes I am asked questions regarding card stock cutting and folding.  This is basic information, yet I was making cards for quite a long time until I figured some of it out.  If you already know everything posted here today, then hopefully you will realize that you are doing things right!  If this is new information, I know you will be happy to hear about the basics of cutting and folding card stock for your cards.

What size do I cut my card stock for a greeting card?
There are several  standard sizes for greeting cards.  The most popular size is 4 ¼” x 5 ½”.  The envelope size for this card is commonly known in the paper industry as A2.  One of the reasons this card size is so popular is because standard 8 ½” x 11” card stock can be cut down the center, in either direction, to provide two cards from each sheet of card stock.  You can choose whether to cut your card stock down the long edges or short edges.  Your card fold style will depend on which way you make the cut.

For a long, skinny card stock that will fold at the top, you’ll need to lay the card stock with the short edge along the top of your paper trimmer  and then move the card stock’s left edge over to the 4 ¼” mark on your trimmer’s ruler guide.

For a standard side fold card, you will be laying card stock with the long edge along the top of your paper trimmer and then move the paper’s left edge over to the 5 ½” on the trimmer’s ruler guide.  Note that though this style is called "side fold", the card can be turned so it opens at the top as well. 

Once you slide the cutting blade all the way down the card stock, you should have two perfectly sized card stock pieces.  Fold each one in half for two cards!



I sometimes have trouble getting a nice crease in my card when I fold the card stock.  Any tips?
First of all, using only your hands to fold a piece of card stock may not get you the professional looking results you are looking for.  Have you ever folded a card and ended up with tiny wrinkles around the spine of the card?  Maybe even fissures or a fold that isn’t even straight down the center?   

To avoid this nuisance, I recommend using one of two techniques for card folding:  1) slide a bone folder across the area where you are attempting to fold as  you are folding, 

or (2) lay the card stock on a paper trimmer and either slide a scoring blade down at the exact measurement where you plan to fold the card OR, if you don’t have a scoring blade, pull a stylus down the cutting ridge of the paper trimmer at the exact measurement where your fold will be.

Once  the fold line is scored, you can determine which direction you will bend the card stock when folding your card.  You can use your finger to guide the card stock into a nice crease, but I prefer to guide the fold with a bone folder.  You will end up with a crisp, neat crease this way.

Card stock naturally bends easier in one direction versus another, depending on how you are bending it in relation to the grain of the paper.  Try this…..  Get out a sheet of card stock and attempt to bend it in both directions.  Do you feel a little resistance when you bend in one direction.......

yet the bend feels more natural and cooperative when you bend the paper in the opposite direction?

Try not to fight the grain of the paper – let your card stock bend in the direction that it wants to.  You will have a much more prominent crease on your card, without wrinkles or fissures.




How can I cut 12” x 12” card stock for cards without much waste?
To keep things simplest, I like to cut 12” x 12” card stock into four equal 6” squares.  So, I cut it in half,

then I cut each half in half again...........

Those four card stock pieces can be used to create four cards that can be mailed in Stampin’ Up’s small open-end envelopes.

 

 Well, I hope you learned something new or that you saw something today that confirms what you already do!

Linda