Card Making - Just the Basics - Weights and Sizes

Anyone new to card making out there? Then this is for you! There might even be some tips for those more experienced.... I know I learned a couple things!  :)

I'm going to start a series on the basics of card-making, which will include using the right paper and size for the job, how to choose your colors, texturing, using mats and layers, creating card stands, how to tie bows, etc. ... even coloring images, either stamped or digital (digi's). I'll also include any relevant information or tips when necessary. I'm calling this series Card Making- Just the Basics.

I'll be using videos by Christina Griffiths from Card-Making-Magic, as there is no need to re-invent the wheel, LOL! And she IS the Queen of Card Making in my book.... she creates lovely cards!

In this first one, Christina covers what papers she herself uses for the different aspects of her cards. Each paper weight has a different function that works very well. I have put some conversion information below the video for the card weights we usually use here in the States.

**** NOTE ***  She also covers what the "leading edge" of a card is and why it's needed, as well as demonstrating a useful way to include sentiment inserts inside the cards.

Now, on to the first video........ Weights and Sizes:

One correction to her video - she says our letter size

here in the USA , is 8.25" x 11.5".... but it is really 8.5" x 11" :)

Watch on YouTube: HERE

Since she didn't know the equivalent weights of paper I did some research.

These paper weights are what I found to be our (USA) closest in equivalence:

1) Tissue Paper is Tissue Paper, LOL!

2) Card insert (inside sentiment) --- 80gsm copy paper is approx 22-lb copy paper

         (I prefer 24-lb)

3) Print digital papers and images to color --- 160gsm smooth is approx 60-lb cover weight cardstock (“card” as she calls it!) …. 65-lb is a more standard weight for us, but 80-lb is more popular… they both come in different colors and textures besides just ‘smooth’

4) Card base and die-cuts --- 270gsm heavy ‘card’ is approx 100-lb heavy cover weight cardstock (I prefer 110-lb)…. BUT.... 80-lb is heavy enough when putting more layers on the front of the card!

5) Mirricard, glittered etc. --- 300+ gsm super heavy ‘card’ is anywhere from  120-lb and up cover weight cardstock

I hope this helped in some way and you enjoyed it enough to follow along with this series.

Let me know if there is something else about card making that you want to know,

and I'll see if I can get you the answers.

Thanks for stopping by.... please come again :) 

Cami's Tri-Fold Card

Beate from SCS does another short video on how to make a 
Cami's Tri-Fold card.... (she'll tell you how it got it's name in the video). 

Watch the YouTube video: Cami's Tri-Fold Card.

This is the cute card Beate made in the video... 

I hope you like it, too.

In the short video, Beate just explains the basic information on how to make the card base, so she covers only what is relevant to the project. The items she uses to decorate with are all pre-made to save time. Of course you can decorate yours however you like! :) 

Magic Slider Card

I just love Christina Griffiths' video tutorials! The videos are very informative and well made. Her instructions are very easy to follow, too. You can find her website using this link... Card-Making-Magic.com. 

She makes some awfully beautiful cards and shares her tutorial videos with all the details, as well as other helpful tutorials like how to color images and how to get the most from your Spellbinder dies. I use many of these video tutorials in my blog posts so I can easily find them again! 

I ran across this video she'd made more than a year ago, on how to make a Magic Slider Card:

Watch on YouTube: HERE

.... This is such a fun card! Now this card may not be new to some of you, but it was new to me! And I am just amazed at what Christina comes up with. I truly would think of her as the Queen of Cards!

I hope you are as inspired as I was while watching :) 

Adorable "My Besties" by Sherri Baldy

I've recently discovered these absolutely adorable "Big-Eyed My Besties" images by Sherri Baldy. They are great to color for cards and come in downloadable digi's or you can purchase stamps to use! 

You will find the clickable blinky links for her Etsy shop and for the Besties Challenge Blog permanently in the sidebar so you don't have to find this post again!

Go check out all her big-eyed beauties..... you won't be able to resist them!!....  I couldn't, LOL! :) 

Telescoping Card

Create an expanding card with three or more layered cardstock shapes - circles, squares, spellbinder labels, even animal body part shapes! 

Beate from SCS shows how to do this in a very short video. 
Watch the video on YouTube by clicking HERE.

A telescoping card looks like the following sample:

This is the card closed:

This is what it looks like open:

This beauty was created by Leonie Schroder,

and you can find her blog here.

Spellbinder Rolled Blossoms

Christina, from Card Making Magic, really gets her money’s worth out of the Spellbinder’s Spiral Blossom dies! She makes 10 distinct-looking flowers, including a bud, from just 3 sets of dies!

If that weren’t enough, they look even more different with all the different centers she chooses, including stamen, pearls, and even the bud for a fuller rose.

She also demonstrates what to do with the cut spirals just prior to rolling them, to get the petals started in taking on their shape!

This video is a great tutorial with loads of ideas…. I’m glad I found it!

Watch on YouTube: HERE

Partial Background Embossing

Gina from Stamp TV does this video, where she uses the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing folder and a score board for the background of this card.
(The focal oval is added on top.)

Gina demonstrates how this is done, and can be done with ANY embossing folder where the design is an all-over one... where the design does not need to oriented in a certain direction to look right. Does that make sense?

Click HERE to watch on YouTube

Makes for an easy, elegantly designed card... just add a stamped sentiment and a
matted focal image... voila!

Two-Toned Background Embossing Technique

I absolutely LOVE the Square Lattice embossing folder from Stampin' Up! I don't know exactly why, but it just "speaks" to me. In fact it was so loud, that I finally broke down and bought it, lol!

Then I ran across this technique video by Catherine Pooler, an SU consultant of course, who uses this unique embossing folder to achieve a two-toned inked and embossed effect on cardstock for the background of her cards. You'll see a couple of her samples in the video:

Click HERE to watch this on YouTube.

Isn't that a great technique? Love it!

Now you could do this same thing with ANY embossing folder and with ANY colors you choose, as well as ink the opposite side of the folder to have the colors reversed! ... *** NOTE: Clean your brayer and embossing folder with stamp cleaner or baby wipe immediately after embossing.