Cardmaking 101 Lesson 3: Paper and How to Prepare a Card Base

Welcome to Cardmaking 101 Lesson 3! Today, we will be talking all about paper! We’ve already talked about the basics of cardmaking and learned more about stamps. Now we’ll move on to paper! The paper you choose for your project has a huge effect on the outcome of your card, so let’s get down to business!

Paper Sizes

When shopping for paper, you will likely find 3 sizes – 8 1/2″ x 11″, 12″ x 12″, and 6″ x 6″. Often, cardstock comes in 8 1/2″ x 11″ which is perfect for making card bases, and 12″ x 12″ which is great for scrapbook pages or cutting down for cards. Printed designer papers are available in 12″ x 12″ and 6″ x 6″, both of which can also be cut into various sizes for cardmaking.

Types of Paper for Cardmaking

Cardstock

Cardstock provides a strong base for cards, and you’ll want to make sure to use a high quality cardstock. Lower quality papers and lighter weight cardstock makes for lightweight cards that often won’t even sit up to be displayed without sagging. If you’re putting time into making a handmade card, you’ll want the result to be a quality card that can be set on a shelf or desk without bending or sagging. Use quality cardstock! Stampin’ Up! cardstock is the best I have used, and I often hear the same thing from other papercrafters. I highly suggest it!

Designer Paper

Stampin’ Up! designer series paper comes in 12″ x 12″ and 6″ x 6″ sizes. It is heavier than most printed papers on the market, and all designer papers are double sided. Double sided may not sound like a big benefit, but when you happen to come across a design you’re not crazy about, the other side may be a life saver to avoid wasting that paper. In addition, many of our papers are considered ‘specialty’ which means they have some type of special accents. It may be glitter, foil, raised areas, or something else, but these specialty papers are one of a kind and add a special pop to handmade projects.

Paper Weights

The weight of Stampin’ Up! standard cardstock is 80 lb. This is an excellent weight for making high quality cards. In addition to our standard cardstock, we also offer thick cardstock in whisper white and very vanilla. When making a card base from one of these colors, I strongly suggest using thick cardstock so that the card doesn’t sag when set upright. Our thick cardstock weight is 100 lb.

How to Prepare a Card Base

Let’s talk about how to prepare a card base! To prepare a standard sized card (4 1/2″ x 5 1/2″) which fits in an A2 envelope, you can either purchase prepackaged cards and envelopes, or follow the instructions shown below.

Begin with an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of cardstock. Lay it horizontally on your paper cutter, and cut at the 5 1/2″ mark, which will divide the paper exactly in half, giving you two card bases.

Next you’ll want to score a centerline onto one of the card bases. Lay one card base horizontally on the Stampin’ Up! Simply Scored scoring board, and score it at the 4 1/2″ mark.

Next, fold the card in half by first lining up the corners, then creasing it along the centerline.

Next, run a bone folder along the crease to help it lay flat.

Here you can see the card base, opened back up, which is ready to be used!

How to Prepare a Card Front

The ‘card front’ is what you will attach to the front of the card. Below it is the piece of designer paper. The measurements for a card front like the one shown below are 4″ x 5 1/4″. I cut this one from a piece of 12″ x 12″ Perennial Essence designer series paper, then attached it with Snail adhesive.

I don’t want to leave you hanging with an unfinished card, so let’s finish it! I cut a piece of 1″ x 4″ whisper white cardstock, and stamped a greeting on it from the Path of Petals stamp set.

Below you can see the greeting after it was attached.

I wanted to put a mat on the inside of the card as well, so I cut a piece of white cardstock in the same size as the front – 4″ x 5 1/4″. I stamped a greeting on it, and then attached it.

The Finished Card

Here is the finished card! Very simple and very easy!

Hopefully this post helped you learn more about paper, in relation to your papercrafting projects! Order the products I used using the links below, and contact me anytime with questions! Stop back in for my next Cardmaking 101 post which will be all about ink!

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