Getting the most from 12 x 12

In My Cardmaking Process- part two, I showed you how I get four 5 x 7 cuts from 12 x 12 inch paper. Today, I'll show you that same process for A2 size (aka Invitation or note card). I make this size card about 75% of the time.

This time 5 1/2 is going to be the magic number and it doesn't matter if your paper isn't true 12 x 12. Start by trimming the paper to 9 3/4" square.

Step 1: Take your 9 3/4 inch square and line it up at 5 1/2 inch mark.

Start the blade at 5 1/2 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.

Step 2 .Turn the paper one quarter turn to the right and repeat. (Start blade at the 5 1/2 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.) Set aside the first piece.

Step 3. Quarter turn to the right repeat (Start blade at the 5 1/2 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.) Remove second piece.

Step 4. Quarter turn again to the right and repeat.( Start blade at the 5 1/2 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.) Remove all.

Truth is, you can still probably get 4 pieces of this size card almost anyway you cut a 12 x 12. The difference is you'll have more sizable scraps.

Barbeque Dude... Done

Choosing the printed paper or cardstock first would be the smart thing to do. Sometimes, I actually do it that way. (This is where I would insert the Yahoo Emoticon that goes"duh") This time, I colored Hambo's "Barbeque Man" several times and once I saw them together in day light, none of the colored images coordinated with the paper I cut yesterday. So, I went back to my paper stash and chose this Chatterbox paper to go with this particular image. The letter stamps are from a Stampin' Up set called Headline Alphabet. The ribbon is Offray. I also used the ticket punch and tag punch from SU.
The kids are having fun writing notes to their dad in this card that he will receive on the first day on his new job.

My Cardmaking Process- Part 2

One of the reasons I decided to publish my cardmaking process online is because I would like to have a resource for new cardmaking students. I had to give up teaching rubber stamping and cardmaking a few years ago because I bruised my vocal chords. I hope to resume teaching now that my voice problems seem to be under control.

Before I go any further, please be aware that I am not claiming that this is not the only way to make cards. It is the way I do it. If you have published your cardmaking process on your blog, feel free to provide a link in the comment section.

Having said all that, let's move on to today's installment.

The Card: I almost always start with a white or light colored card base. Most often, the cardstock is 8 1/2 x 11 Georgia Pacific that I purchase by the package at Walmart in the home office section. I also tend to make cards that fit standard size envelopes. This card will be 5 x 7 and fit into the 5 1/4 x 7 1/4 envelope. This is what I call a greeting card size. I intend to have all the kids write a small note inside so an A2 note card (5 1 /2 x 4 1/4 ) might be too small.

The Card Base I cut an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of cardstock down to 7 x 10. I score it at 5 inches.

The Card Front. --Link to my cutting template ----(As a visual learner, I make charts and take pictures of everything.) I almost always use printed paper or cardstock on the front of the white card.

For this card, I chose a striped 12 x 12 inch piece of pattern paper from Stampin Up. I like to get the most of this kind of paper for cardmaking so I am going to cut it into four 5 x 7 pieces.

Step 1: Put the 12 x 12 paper into the trimmer, lining it up at the 7 inch mark. ( 7 is the magic number)















Step 2. Start the blade at 7 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.











Step 3 .Turn the paper one quarter turn to the right and repeat. (Line it up at 7 inches, start the blade at 7 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.)











Step 4. Set aside the first 5 x 7 piece.












Step 5. Quarter turn to the right repeat (Line up at 7, start the blade at the 7 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.)Remove second 5 x 7 piece.















Step 6. Quarter turn again to the right and repeat.(Line up at 7, start the blade at 7 inch mark and cut by bringing it back to 0.)















Step 7. Remove all.












Once again this took much longer than the time I had for today. I promise you, it doesn't always take me days to make a card. I am hoping to post the completed card next time. I'm off to be a mom!

ETA: I'm adding the template.

My "process". My Cardmaking Process-Part 1

My daughter has to write a "process analysis" for a class. Although she rejected my suggestion to write about card making, I decided to do just that. I am going to take you to a happy joyful place-- a place where there are no dirty dishes or dirty laundry or dirty floors (you get the picture?)-- my creative mind.

I usually don't decide to make cards, it is always in the my mind. Sometimes the process begins with a need for a card. Sometimes inspiration comes to me visually-- an ad or a color scheme. I have been known to dream a color scheme or a card. Periodically, I'll organize my stash, and become inspired my the need to use up some of this "junk" I have. More often for me, the process will begin with a stamp image as inspiration.

This particular journey to a completed card begins with both an image and a need for a card. I am making a card to commemorate my husband's first day on his new job. This image reminds me of him. When he's in the mood, he will cook on the grill -- rain or shine. I'll have to dig up the pictures I took of him standing over the grill with an umbrella.

When I get a new stamp, I stamp it several times on a sheet of white cardstock with Brilliance Graphite Black ink. The images are Hambo Stamps.

Generally every night, I wind down from my day with my clipboard and Prismacolor pencils. I like to get to know the image by coloring it several times to get a feel for it. While I was coloring the images for this card I played with other images too.

Hambo Stamps

My Heart Stamps 4U

Time's up for now. Just like in my real life, I have to do things in bits and pieces as time allows.

My next installment will be about the card base.