Welcome to Create With Lorene! I hope to inspire you with creative ideas, share with you tips, tricks, product information or assist you in finding that special product to complete your project.
I have been tossing ideas around for my first blog topic and decided it would be fitting to go, Back to Basics. I will share with you, how to cut your card stock for your card base and measurements for layering pieces.
When creating greeting cards, there are so many variations, the standard side folding card, top folding, gate fold, shadow box, pop up, swing, shaker, and you can go on and on. You may have heard the term “A2” card, well, that is what I will be referring to in today’s blog topic, Back to Basics.
A2 card size = 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ (when folded)
Let’s start with a plain piece of card stock, which is 8 1/2″ x 11 ” (letter size).
Top folding cards
When you put the short side (8 1/2″) on your paper trimmer, cut at 4 1/4″, you will end up with two (2) 4 1/4″ x 11″ pieces of card stock.
Now, put the 11″ side in your paper trimmer and score (light gray) at 5 1/2″ and fold.
You will be left with a top folding card base of:
4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Here is a sample of a top folding card
Side fold or Top fold (landscape) cards
Now, put the long side (11″) on your paper trimmer, cut at 5 1/2″, this will give you two (2)
8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ pieces of card stock.
Put the 8 1/2″ side in your paper trimmer and score at 4 1/4″ and fold
You will have created side folding card bases of 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″.
Sample of side folding card
*note:
put the fold on the top and you will have a landscape top folding card as shown in the flower card
Why 4 1/4" and 5 1/2"?
You might be wondering why I informed you to cut or score at 4 1/4″ and/or 5 1/2″. That is because it is the exact half of your plain piece of card stock.
4 1/4″ + 4 1/4″ = 8 1/2″
5 1/2″ + 5 1/2″ = 11″
Layering
When cutting your layering pieces, we normally use the 1/4″ increment measurements.
Let’s say your card base (when folded) is
4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
your layering pieces would be as follows.
4″ x 5 1/4″ because
(4″ + 1/4″ = 4 1/4″)
(5 1/4″ + 1/4″ = 5 1/2″)
your next layering piece will be
3 3/4″ x 5″ because
(3 3/4″ + 1/4″ = 4″)
(5″ + 1/4″ = 5 1/4″)
In this card sample, the base
(Rose Red) is 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
than the layering pieces
(Old Olive) 4″ x 5 1/4″
(Delightful Dijon) is cut at
3 3/4″ x 5″
You do not have to use the 1/4″ border for all your card creations. Play around with different widths for a different design/look. I will save the different border widths for another day/blog topic.
I hope you have found this post helpful.
Happy Crafting!
Lorene
