Friday, February 23, 2007

My Cardmaking Process- Part 2

One of the reasons I decided to publish my cardmaking process online is because I would like to have a resource for new cardmaking students. I had to give up teaching rubber stamping and cardmaking a few years ago because I bruised my vocal chords. I hope to resume teaching now that my voice problems seem to be under control.

Before I go any further, please be aware that I am not claiming that this is not the only way to make cards. It is the way I do it. If you have published your cardmaking process on your blog, feel free to provide a link in the comment section.

Having said all that, let's move on to today's installment.

The Card: I almost always start with a white or light colored card base. Most often, the cardstock is 8 1/2 x 11 Georgia Pacific that I purchase by the package at Walmart in the home office section. I also tend to make cards that fit standard size envelopes. This card will be 5 x 7 and fit into the 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 envelope. This is what I call a greeting card size. I intend to have all the kids write a small note inside so an A2 note card (5 1 /2 x 4 1/4 ) might be too small.

The Card Base I cut an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of cardstock down to 7 x 10. I score it at 5 inches.

The Card Front. --Link to my cutting template ----(As a visual learner, I make charts and take pictures of everything.) I almost always use printed paper or cardstock on the front of the white card.

For this card, I chose a striped 12 x 12 inch piece of pattern paper from Stampin Up. I like to get the most of this kind of paper for cardmaking so I am going to cut it into four 5 x 7 pieces.

Step 1: Put the 12 x 12 paper into the trimmer, lining it up at the 7 inch mark. ( 7 is the magic number)















Step 2. Start the blade at 7 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.











Step 3 .Turn the paper one quarter turn to the right and repeat. (Line it up at 7 inches, start the blade at 7 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.)











Step 4. Set aside the first 5 x 7 piece.












Step 5. Quarter turn to the right repeat (Line up at 7, start the blade at the 7 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.)Remove second 5 x 7 piece.















Step 6. Quarter turn again to the right and repeat.(Line up at 7, start the blade at 7 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.)















Step 7. Remove all.












Once again this took much longer than the time I had for today. I promise you, it doesn't always take me days to make a card. I am hoping to post the completed card next time. I'm off to be a mom!

ETA: I'm adding the template.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, that's a GENIUS way to cut!! I'm going to have to try that out. I need to look at it visually with the diagram and the paper in my hand.

Jacki Marie said...

I'm just trying to be like you Staci! YOU know how cheap...oops I meant "thrifty" I am. When I am going to cut into a 12 x 12 for cardmaking, I may as well get the most out of the sheet as well as making the "scraps" easier to store.

Allison Rankin said...

Nope...can't say I have seen a template like that...of course, I think a number of company products tend to focus on the note size card...

This is a very neat idea (esp. in dealing with paper wastage which I hate but cannot seem to avoid!).