This is part of a four part series on making cards. In this role, we're covering Menu Basics…

Card SIZES

The standard size for handmade cards in the U.s. and Canada is one-quarter of an 8-1/2″ x 11″ sheet of carte stock. 8-1/2″ 10 xi″ is unremarkably called "letter size". Yous tin can achieve the standard size of card base by cutting a letter of the alphabet size piece of card stock in half, so folding it in half.

  • Portrait cards are 4-1/4″ ten five-1/two″
  • Mural cards are v-1/2″ x 4-1/4″

Hither are some options for creating menu bases (click on the image to encounter larger):

  • TIP: For carte makers outside the US and Canada, the aforementioned cutting in half and folding technique achieves like results with an A4 slice of card stock. One-quarter of an A4 sheet of bill of fare stock is besides considered a standard card size.

SCORING CARDS

You volition ofttimes hear nearly scoring carte stock earlier folding. A score line is an indentation in the bill of fare stock that allows information technology to fold more hands. To create a score line, locate where you'd like the score line (or fold line to be), and run a scoring tool or bone binder along the area while pressing lightly. This creates the indentation which is the score line.

  • TIP: To prevent cracking of bill of fare stock while fold your card base, always score the menu stock with a bone folder. I embrace more than most card stock in this video:

Lookout man video below | Sentry at YouTube

ENVELOPES

While you can brand handmade envelopes to fit your cards (no affair what size they are), it is easier to buy envelopes pre-fabricated. The following envelopes fit standard size cards:

  • Cards fabricated from letter size carte du jour stock: A2 envelope (4-3/eight″ x 5-3/four″)
  • Cards made from A4 card stock:C6 envelope (114 mm x 162 mm)
  • NOTE: While it is standard amongst the online card making community to employ Width x Summit for dimensions, the dimenisions of envelopes are given as H x W on virtually envelope websites.

For colorful envelope options, I dear Hero Arts notecards and envelopes (available here).

MAILING CARDS

The standard envelopes mentioned above are large enough to go through the mail. However, sometimes handmade cards can be quite thick or heavy. If y'all are unsure if the standard postage price will cover mailing your card, please be certain to ask your postal service function, or simply add an actress postage stamp stamp. I always keep postcard stamps on manus to add a bit actress to cards I mail.

If your card is especially thick, fragile, or has embellishments that might exist troublesome for mailing, you have a few options. Personally, I tend to reserve a special carte like that for times when I tin can mitt deliver it and therefore don't have to worry about mailing information technology. But if I am mailing the card, I use a photo mailer similar that ones i mention in this post.

I also establish this crawly video from Nancy Taylor and Hero Arts concerning mailing cards:

Watch video beneath | Lookout man at YouTube

Decorating the outside of your envelope tin can also exist really fun! While highly busy envelopes might take a chip longer to exist processed through the post office (the automated machines sometimes have problem "reading" the address), your card will yet attain it'due south destination. Subsequently all, if these cards can arrive, I retrieve annihilation can. :)

Within CARDS

While some papercrafters similar to stamp a message inside their cards, I generally exit mine blank so that I can write a message inside. It's completely up to you lot. Whatever y'all'd like to do. :)

WHAT'S Adjacent?

Next upwardly in Card Making 101 is Part 2 – Gather Your Supplies/Tools. :)

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Cardmaking 101

  • Function 1 – Bill of fare Basics
  • Office ii – Assemble Your Supplies
  • Function 3 – Stretching Your Supplies / Planning Ahead
  • Part iv – Go Involved