Card Stock Cutting Tips

Do you hate it as much as I do when you cut into a piece of paper to realize that you measured (or eyeballed it wrong?).  Here's a handy set of tips to post in your craft area to avoid wasting your paper in the future. 

Download a PDF here to print and save. Download Common Card Sizes

Enjoy!

 

Common Card Sizes & Cutting Measurements

 

• Standard Size Card – 5 ½ inches by 4 ¼ inches (half of an 8 ½ by 11 piece of card stock)
• 3x3 Cards – Cut card stock to 6 inches by 3 inches
• Square cards are usually 5 ¼ by 5 ¼ as this is the size of the envelopes.  Cut card stock to 5 ½ by 10 ½  inches
• For a square card that fits in a standard sized envelope cut cardstock to 4 1/4 by 8 1/2

Scoring and Folding Card Stock

• To get a crisp fold, fold in half and use a bone folder to get a crisp edge
• Use the scoring blade on your paper cutter at your halfway point for precision

 

Card Stock Cutting Tips

 

*   To measure card stock to fit a stamped image, first measure the image, then round up to the next measurement on your ruler for your card stock. For example, if the measurement of a tree image is a little more than 3", cut your card stock to 3-1/4". Then, when you cut multiple pieces, you will easily be able to measure the next piece on your cutter.

 

*   Use wood block size to determine what size card stock to cut. Using our tree example, measure the size of the wood block the tree is on, then cut your card stock that size. You should then be able to place the wood block over the card stock to center your image.

 

*   To mat a piece of card stock, add 1/4" to the size you are matting. If the image is on a 3" x 3" piece, your mat will be 3-1/4" x 3-1/4".

 

 

*   To make an standard size card with a matted front, cut your card stock to 4" x 5-1/4". The front will be slightly smaller than the base of the card (half a sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" card stock). This follows for other sizes – cut ¼ or ½ inch smaller than your card base.

 

*    Don’t glue anything down until all stamping is done unless technique requires it. Then you can turn it over and try again if you mess up!