Card Making is Fun

Card making is fun.  Plain and simple.  It's also a great way for beginning paper crafters to get their feet wet.  A first challenge many face when handed a piece of solid cardstock to use for a card base is "how do I cut this?"  While it's mathematically not really a challenge, to envision how one piece of paper can create two cards, and additionally, the cards can have various layout styles, does require some practice before it becomes second nature.

Cut Card Stock is having a great sale on their 12 x 12 cardstock, so I stocked up!  I know I can produce two "regular" A2 cards, plus a couple gift enclosure cards from one piece of 12 x 12 cardstock.  You can also get two larger square cards from a single 12 x 12 piece of cardstock as well, you just need to plan your cuts.  To get two A2 cards and two gift enclosure cards (3 x 3) you make your first cut at 8.5" and set aside the shorter strip.  Now rotate the 8.5" piece a quarter turn and cut at 11".  You now have an 8.5" x 11" piece of cardstock, which is also a standard size easily purchased.  You'll cut this piece in half at 5.5", and score each of those at the halfway point (4.25") to create standard A2 (5.5" x 4.25") cards.  I really like the look of a card base where you cut the 8.5" x 11" piece by laying it Portrait in the cutter and cutting at 4.25", then score the fold at 5.5".


Going back to those gift enclosure cards from our original 12 x 12 sheet, trim down the 3.5" x 12" piece to 3" x 12", then cut that in half to get two 3" x 6" pieces.  Score those at the halfway point and you'll get two lovely little gift cards or tags to hang on a gift bag!  Waste not, want not!


That's a lot of numbers, but remember that practice DOES make perfect!


Before I close I thought I'd share a quick idea with you about the joy of card making.  I dreamed up a fun activity you can do with your fellow crafty friends who also love to make cards -- it's called Sketch It Forward.  Each month I'll gather together four card sketches from all over Bloggyland and use them to create four cards.  I'll put those four cards and the Sketch It Forward sheet into a pretty little package (using one of my 3 x 3 gift enclosure cards!) and give it to a friend.  She'll turn around and use the Sketch It Forward sheet to create four of her own and pass them along to one of her friends and so on, and so on... Wanna play?  Of course you do!  Click here to find out more details...