With just a little practice you will soon be making your own Birthday cards, opening up further possibilities, saving money and enhancing your sense of achievement.
Selecting the Right Card
The ideal weight of your card is 240/280gsm. If the weight of the card is not given, hold the card in one hand and gently shake it. The resistance that you feel should help you decide whether it will be suitable, too flimsy to stand up or too heavy to fold.
The Grain of the Card
Like fabric and wood, paper and card have a grain. The neatest folds are made when they run in the direction of the grain rather than across it. When a fold is made across the grain the top layer can split and look ragged. This can be a particular problem with double-sided colored card or card that has a special finish, such as pearlized card. Ideally you should cut your card so that the fold will run along the grain. It would be helpful if the grain on letter-size card and paper always ran from top to bottom. Unfortunately this cannot be guaranteed and you will need to check the direction of the grain for yourself. To find the grain use one of the following methods.
- Partly fold the card first width
- and then lengthways without forming a crease. Whichever bends more easily is the direction of the grain.
- Alternatively, cut a small piece
- the card and score and fold it from top to bottom and then from side to side. The fold made with the grain will be much neater than the one made across it.
Valleys and Mountains
You may have heard card manufacturers refer to mountain or valley folds. Quite simply in a valley fold the bend of the fold points downward and in a mountain fold it points upward, resembling a mountain.
Cutting Card
A paper trimmer or guillotine provides the quickest and neatest means of cutting card accurately. This is a worthwhile investment if you are making all your own Birthday cards. Alternatively, measure the card stock to the required dimensions and mark with pencil, using a set square to keep the corners true. Trim the card to size on a cutting mat using a craft knife and metal ruler. Ideally use one continuous cutting movement for each side that you cut.
Scoring Card
Scoring card prior to folding breaks the surface fibers of the card, allowing it to be folded neatly and precisely. If you have a guillotine use a scoring blade or run a stylus embossing tool along a cutting guide. Alternatively, find the position of the fold with a ruler, use a set square to position it accurately and draw a stylus along the edge.
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