What are Mini Slimline Cards and How to make a Mini Slimline Card:
The newest rage is the Mini Slimline Card. The biggest questions seem to be:
What Size is a Mini Slimline Card and How to Make a Mini Slimline Card
You love making cards or you wouldn’t be here, right? So, you have probably heard about Mini Slimline Cards. They are a relatively new size of card that have hit the scene and are gaining popularity. They are fun to make, and the new size opens many opportunities for cardmaking artists.
But What are Mini Slimline Cards?
They are the smaller cousin of the larger and longer Slimline Cards. They are still tall and slender, but on a much smaller scale. You can view them as tall and slender vertically, or long and slim horizontally. Either way, you will notice instantly these cards are different than the standard A2 size cards most of us make regularly.
Topics Covered:
- Benefits of Mini Slimline Cards
- What size are Mini Slimline Cards
- Cutting Measurements for Mini Slimline Cards
- What size Envelopes for Mini Slimline Cards
- Mini Slimline Card Orientation
- Supplies needed to create Mini Slimline Cards
- Where to Shop for Mini Slimline Card products
What are the benefits of a Mini Slimline Card?
The smaller art space is perfect for using your smaller stamps and dies.
Smaller images don’t take as long to color and create so usually making a Mini Slimline Card takes less time, great if you are in a time crunch.
The 3 x 6 mat or card front size (see cutting sizes below), is perfect for using your 6 x 6 pattern paper on these Mini Slimline Cards
Smaller size means using less cardstock.
What Size are Mini Slimline Cards?
Depending on the stamp company you are purchasing from, there are a few answers here:
3 x 6
Great size for using 6 x 6 paper pads or 12 x 12 sheets
Trinity Stamps uses this size.
3.50 x 6
Quite a popular size and Taylored Expressions uses this size
3.25 x 6.25
My favorite size, Simon Says Stamp uses this size as do other companies and this one seems to be most popular.
Measurements for Cutting a Mini Slimline Card:
I’ll use the finished card size of 3.25 x 6.25 to demonstrate the cutting here as it’s the most popular.
- Card base: 6.25 x 6.50 – placing the 6.50 side at the top of your scoring tool, score at 3.25 and fold.
- Mat: 3 x 6 – here is the opportunity to get using all those 6 x 6 patterned paper packs you have been hording, LOL. They are the perfect size for matting.
- Art Piece or Card front: 2.75 x 5.75.
I also like to alter the size of my art piece, so I often cut my card front at 2 – 7/8 x 5 – 7/8 just to change it up.
If you find you have a hard time cutting these sized mats, you can eliminate that problem with a set of Mini slimline Rectangles dies. They are built as nesting dies, specifically for layering on your card fronts. Simon Says Stamp has this Mini Slimline Rectangles die set for example, which I have, and they cut precise mat layers making it quick and simple to create beautiful cards.
Mini Slimline Envelopes:
When starting to make Mini Slimline cards it’s a good idea to check the envelopes you have first, or the size of the ones you want to order. This will determine the maximum size you can achieve in making a slimline card.
I ordered mini slimline envelopes from Simon Says Stamp and they measure 3.50 x 6.50. That means I can confidentially build a 3.25 x 6.25 Mini Slimline Card and be assured it will fit. These envelopes open from the end so your Mini Slimline card slides in narrow end first.
I have more details about Mini Slimline Envelopes and sources for purchasing them near the bottom of this post.
Mini Slimline Card Orientation:
Mini Slimline Card Orientation can be either portrait or landscape, mostly depending on the stamped images you wish to use.
Why are Mini Slimline Cards getting so Popular?
There are many reasons why Mini Slimline Cards are getting so popular with card makers and buyers.
First, they are sleek and new. Secondly, they are easy to make and quite different from the size of card we are used to making.
They are new and challenging, so we must dive in and give them a try. They offer a new theme and method of cardmaking. You can use your creativity to come up with different ways to work your art pieces into the design. A simple die cut word like “Hello” will look completely different on a Mini Slimline Card compared to say an A2 sized card.
Finally, a stamped and colored floral image looks long and slender, or turned, can be short and wide.
What Supplies do you Need to Make a Slimline Card:
- Mini Slimline card bases
- Mini Slimline Envelopes
- Smaller stamps and dies to fit onto the cards
- New sized stencils and masks for backgrounds
That said, you can use almost all your existing products to create Mini Slimline Cards.
What Size Envelopes for Mini Slimline Cards:
#6 -3/4 measures 3 – 5/8″ x 6-1/2″
#7 – measures 3-3/4″ x 6-3/4″
#6 -1/4 measures 3-1/2″ x 6″ (very tight for a slimline).
Shopping for Mini Slimline Card Products:
I usually get my cardmaking supplies through Simon Says Stamp and I’ve learned if you buy from one company, the dies and stencils are usually a standard size and work well together.
So here are some of the products that I LOVE from Simon Says Stamp and other companies. (affiliate links used at no cost to you). (Other companies listed below as well).
Simon Says Stamps sells a variety of colored mini slimline envelopes that are 3.50 x 6.50
They also carry a Mini Slimline Envelope Wafer Die that cuts out an envelope from any type of patterned paper or cardstock.
This die cuts an envelope 3.5 x 6.5 Inches
Simon Also has precut scored and folded mini slimline cards in packages of 10 made from their Ultra Thick Brilliant White 120# cardstock.
They measure 3.125 x 6.25 inches
the Mini Slimline Patterns 1 Stencil pack is a great way to add a fun pattern to your card fronts… There are three stencils in the pack each measures 3.125 x 6.25 inches. Use with sprays, markers, distress oxides inks, journaling pens, you name it.
and finally – how about a Mini Slimline Windows Die. Includes three sentiments and each rectangle cuts 1.5 x 2.5 inches. The perfect size to tuck in flowers or critters.
The sentiments cut out separately, so this die is multi use.
Mini Slimline Products from Other Companies:
Trinity Stamps Mini Slimline Products:
Trinity Stamps has this Mini Slimline Panels Die set containing 4 dies. Three Panel dies ranging from 3 x 6 to 2.5 x 5.5 and one triple rectangle window piece.
each rectangle measures 2.5 x 1.5″
Dare 2B Artsy – Mini Slimline Products:
Slim Mini Birthday Die – Outside dimensions 5-3/4″ x 3″
Slim Mini Wavy Dies – 6 layer banner. Layer the card and layer the sentiment
Works with a card base 3.25 x 6″
Photoplay has a whole new Line out that you can also order through Simon Says Stamp.
They call their mini Slimline Number 6 and they base their size on 3.50 x 6.25
Here is the Photoplay Number 6 Circle Windows Die – fabulous for an overlay on your card front.
Nested Mini Slimline Dies for layering cards.
As noted above, Simon Says Stamps have their Mini Slimline Rectangles Dies:
Pink Fresh Studios has come out with a lovely set: Mini Slimline Essentials Bundle Die Set
You can order them directly through Pink Fresh Studios or you can add them to your orders at Simon Says Stamp.
Next up we have the Photoplay Number 6 Nested Rectangles Die Set – * etched dies sized to fit the 3.5 x 6.25 inch Number 6 cards
Finally, the Photoplay Number 6 Dots Cover Plate. Sixed to fit the new 3.5 x 6.24 inch Number 6 cards
New Mini Slimline Card products are coming online monthly now. As Simon Says Stamps sells most brands of cardmaking supplies, I find doing a Mini Slimline Card search on their website is a great way to find out what is new and available for my cardmaking fun.
Whimsy Stamps – NEW Mini Slim Rounded Dies and Plates
Mini Slimline Card Video Tutorials and PDF downloads:
As you know, I do many cardmaking videos. I have started incorporating Mini Slimline Cards into those videos which you can find on my YouTube Channel.
I also have a FREE CARDMAKING PDF Gallery on my blog. When I create a card, I don’t do a video for, I usually provide a PDF download giving you all the cutting instructions, list of supplies and step by step instructions to create the cards. These are great for learning how to add layers and art pieces to your cards.
Finally, In Closing:
Cardmaking is always enjoyable and fun. I get excited for new and innovate ways to make cards and share card ideas with you so a new Mini Slimline size has me excited. Whether you do cardmaking for fun or sell your cards having a new and exciting layout gets your creative juices flowing. I hope you find today’s information helpful and as always if you have questions, please feel you can EMAIL ME. I’m happy to help and if I don’t know the answer I will try and find it for you.
Below I’m adding small thumbnail images of Mini Slimline Cards I have created and a link to the blog post where you will be able to access the information on creating them. I will add to this list as I create more cards down the road.
Pinkfresh Studio flowers and dies are perfect for decorating a Mini Slimline Card
Visit the Happiest Wishes Card Post for instructions on these two adorable Mini Slimline Cards.
Get instructions for making this pretty MINI SLIMLINE CARD using New Dies from Spellbinders
There is also a FREE PDF File for this card created with the Hero Arts Dahlia Stamp and Die set
Download the FREE PDF File for this card
Get the instructions for this card here:
There is a video here for creating this pretty background
Visit this page for a PDF download for this pretty iris card:
Instructions for this card are included in this post.
This adorable water colored Mini Slimline card is included in this post.
This pretty die cut Mini Slimline card is covered in this post.
These two Mini Slimlines are covered in this post.