Everything you Want To Know and How to Make a Slimline Card.

In this Article:

• What Are Slimline Cards?
• Tell me the size of a Slimline Cards?
• Are there envelopes for Slimline Cards?
• What Supplies Do I Need For Slimline Cards
• How do I cut a Slimline Card Base:

Everything You Need to Know About Slimline Cards:

Whether you are a seasoned card maker or a beginner, it’s hard not to miss the buzz about SLIMLINE CARDS throughout the crafting community.  For us seasoned veterans, it’s a card shape that’s coming around again.  Back 30 years ago, envelopes came in basically two sizes.  The A2, and the legal sized envelope.  If you are new to cardmaking, then this is a New craze to you.  For both, it’s a fun adventure into a new shape of cardmaking and the stamp companies are coming online with new slimline dies, stencils, envelopes and stamp sets to entice our creativity.  Personally, I’m loving it.

 

Before you dive in you might have a few questions and I’m here to help.  Read on and I’ll try to answer all your questions, but if you still have some, feel free to EMAIL ME

• What are Slimline Cards?
• WHY is everyone making Slimline Cards?
• What size are slimline cards?
• Measurements for a Make a Slimline Card Base?
• How much postage is required for a Slimline Card?
• What size envelopes are needed for Slimline Cards?
• Where can I get dies, stamps and other cardmaking supplies to make slimline cards?
• Why are Slimline Cards so Popular?
• What supplies do I need for Slimline Cards?

What are Slimline Cards?

Slimline cards are just that, long and slim or tall and slender.  You will notice instantly that they are different.  I for one, love the additional real estate a slimline card provides for my art.  The new longer sentiment dies look FABULOUS across a Slimline Card and there’s enough room for stamping your larger stamps too.

 

What Size are Slimline Cards?

Remember we were talking about legal size envelopes or #10 business envelopes?  You probably have a box of them in your closet collecting dust.  They measure 4.125 x 9.5.  This means the slimline card will have to be smaller than this, typically 3-1/2″ x 8-1/2″.  The size can vary slightly, and you may have noticed that different stamp companies have different sizes of dies, so you may want to check your die and stamp size before cutting.

 

Measurements for a Slimline Card Base?

In the carding industry one of the popular sizes for SLIMLINE CARDS is 3-1/2″ x 8-1/2″.  I also make a lot of card bases at 4 x 9-1/4 to accommodate some of the larger dies available out there.

You can use 12 x 12 card or 8-1/2 x 11 card stock.  my illustrations below are using 8-1/2 x 11 card stock.

Cut from an 8-1/2 x 11 piece of card stock in landscape – for the standard 3-1/2 x 8-1/2 card:

 

Cutting the SLIMLINE CARD BASE in the Landscape Orientation:

Cut the card stock to 7 x 8-1/2

With the 7″ side at the top, score down the center at 3-1/2″   fold in half and you have a finished card base.

The resulting scrap (gray area) is two thin pieces the widest being 2-1/2 inches.

Cutting the SLIMLINE CARD BASE in the Portrait orientation:

You are left with a strip 4 x 8-1/2 which could be a mat for another slimline card, or a A2 sized card.

Matting Cuts for SLIMLINE CARDS:

To cut the matting and card fronts I like to layer down 1/4 inch at a time.

For a much thinner mat (which I really like), you can layer down 1/8 Inch at a time, although, these are much harder to adhere straight.

Similarly, one layer I really like is to cut the 1/4″ layer first which leaves a genuinely nice wide outside frame.  Next, cut the 1/8″ small mat for a thinner contrast.

Then you can use your card pieces either in Portrait or Landscape orientation

 

How much postage is required for a Slimline Card?

Great news here.  That slimline envelope is the same as the standard A2 sized envelope for postage.  You know me, I HATE to pay extra postage.  So, unless you loaded up your card with heavy or thick embellishments, a regular stamp will do just fine.

What Envelopes do you Need for a Slimline Card?

You can knock the dust off that box of legal sized envelopes in your closet the #10’s, and you are good.  HOWEVER – you spent all that time making the perfect card for that special someone, maybe you want to step it up a notch.  Simon Says Stamp and Picket Fence Studios are just a couple of the stamp companies that have come out with beautiful colored envelopes for slimline cards.  You can also get Slimline Envelope Dies to make your own from pattern paper or light cardstock.

 

Where can I get dies, stamps and other cardmaking supplies to make slimline cards?

As a result of this Slimline Cardmaking frenzy, almost all the stamping companies have come out with a line of Slimline dies, stamps and accessories.  I’m listing some of my favorites here:

Spellbinders have a huge selection of SLIMLINE dies and often have them in their Large and Small Die of the Month Clubs.

Simon Says Stamp also has a great selection of Dies, not only their own brand, but most of the other stamp companies as well.  So, you can order from all the companies and have it ship in one box with one shipping cost.

 

Picket Fence Studios has an entire Line of SLIMLINE Dies, Slimline Stencils and a SLIMLINE DIE CUTTING SYSTEM.

 

SCRAPBOOK.COM Also has an entire line of Slimline dies, stamps, stencils, patterned paper etc.  They sell most other company’s products too, so again, you can order from everyone, have it come in one box with one shipping fee.

 

Why are Slimline Cards so Popular?

There are many reasons why slimline cards are so popular with card makers.

More space for creating, a difference size of space, no additional postage required.  You can create a super wide landscape, or a tall thin mountain/sky using regular sized cardmaking products as I did below with the Tonic Studios Shoot for the Moon stamp and die bundle.

Whether you are creating vertically or horizontally, the added space really does push you creatively.  I am finding new and fun ways to use my existing products.  You can also combine them with new slimline products.

What Supplies Do I Need For Slimline Cards?

First of all, Slimline cards are a new and exciting shape for card makers.  But, you can use all your existing cardmaking supplies to create them and you can introduce some of the new sized dies, stencils and stamps too.  A few basics I like to have on hand:

BASIC Slimline Card Making Supplies:

• Card bases and envelopes
• Stamps
• Stencils
• Dies
• Pattern paper

The Bottom-Line:

Finally, cardmaking is fun and enjoyable.  Whether you do it for fun, or a distraction from life issues, paper crafting is a fabulous hobby.  It can eliminate stress and stretch you creativity to new heights.  Slimline cards have become very popular and learning to make them will give your creativity a boost.

I have many cardmaking tutorials and Videos to help you.  My PDF Gallery files are organized and easy to read and my Youtube videos are straight forward and easy to understand.

With 30+ years of experience in cardmaking I have lots of tips, tricks and shortcuts to share with you to help you make beautiful professional looking cards.

In closing, This post contains affiliate links where possible.  Meaning,  if you click on a link and shop from the site, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  I place this income back into my business to continue bringing you new card ideas and cardmaking videos.

Happy cardmaking and I hope you will give Slimline cards a try, I know you will love them.

PS – I have a Pinterest SLIMLINE CARD PAGE – subscribe and follow it as I add to it all the time

Additional SLIMLINE Card Ideas:

 

Here are some additional Slimline Card ideas with links to the posts on my blog where you will find the details of each one:

Winter Birthday Card With Distress Mica Sprays

Blissful Butterfly Slimline with Lindy’s Magical Powders

Rainbow Chilly and Freezy Winter Card

Postage Edge Slimline card with Distress Oxide Ink Blending Background

Christmas Birthday card created with the Spellbinders Large Die of the Month Kit –

This beauty was created with new Tracy Evans stamps from AALL & Create

 

Try using a little tiny stamp with a big sentiment to fill up a slimline – Rainbow Slimline Card

A portion of a very large stamp creates a beautiful side art piece for this SLIMLINE SHAKER CARD

Create an entire background of card stock strips for a bright and fun SLIMLINE Card

Even a tiny stamp set can create a beautiful, bright and cheery slimline card as I share here

New Video using Ombre Paper Glazes and stencils – view it in this post:

New Video and New Distress Oxide Ink Color Blend with Bleaching for these cards

created with the Spellbinders Large Die of the Month Kit and shared here

Picket Fence Studios

has a huge selection of dies, stencils, and word dies for Slimline card making

Picket Fence Studios products on this one and a discussion about adding simple backgrounds to enhance your cards – see this blog post

For this Slimline card I used the Spellbinders August 2021 Large Die of the Month.  I combined it with the August Glimmer Hot Foil Kit of the Month  – see this blog post for details

This Slimline Card also used the Spellbinders August 2021 Large Die of the Month Kit – see this blog post for details.

Spellbinders has a New Christmas Blooms die set released in July which I combined with a few other projects to create this Slimline Christmas Card – details in this post.

This Christmas Kaleidoscope Slimline Card was also created with the NEW Slimline Die set from Spellbinders – card details are here:

I used the Picket Fence Studios Slim Line Cutting System to create the base for these cards on the Nativity Slim Line insert,  You can also use these dies on regular A2 sized cards

Card instructions are here:

Next up, in this Slimline cardmaking video I share a embossing technique.  I also share how to use it on three different card sizes.

Seasonal Cards are a great idea too:

Here’s another Slimline Cardmaking Video.  This time some stamping and die cutting fun for Halloween cards.

In this Brayer Ink Blending Video I use the Simon Says Stamp Slimline Scene Builder Christmas Stamp and Die Set.

A Day at the Pond Slimline Card uses some fun new products from Picket Fence Studios.

This Mind Blowing Stencil Video walks you through creating this pretty Slimline Card.

This beautiful Sunflower Slimline Card is created with New Stamp Club stamps from Tonic Studios

Next, how about a Slimline Shaker card with products from SImon Says Stamp.

Bears and Rainbow Slimline Card here, totally adorable and so fun to create.

Ink Blending can make great Slimline Card bases

Ink Blending On a Slimline Card Video here for the fun ocean background for this adorable Whale from Picket Fence Studios.

Try multiple stamped images to create a Slimline Card.  This stamp set is from Ellen Hutson LLC

Simon Says Stamp Stencils

Slimline Stencils are a thing now too.  Create beautiful blended backgrounds for your Slimline cards with Slimline Stencils from SImon Says Stamp.

This Slimline and Mini Slimline Card are created from the June Large Die of the month kit from Spellbinders

Tonic Studios Shoot For the Moon stamp and Die set helped created this lovely Silhouette Slimline Card.

Use a Butterfly Stencil Twice to create a Slimline Card.  Also, Picket Fence Studios has a great selection of Slimline Sentiment Dies.

Spellbinders Arched A2 sized Die set cut twice, makes a Beautiful filigree overlay for a Slimline Card.

More Slimline Card Ideas and Videos

Check out this Video on the Distress Oxide Ink Smooshing Technique for a great Slimline card background

Next, this Cardmaking Slimline Video covers die cutting inlay and repeat stamping with fun products from Picket Fence Studios.

The April Small and Large Die of the Month kits helped to create these two Die Cut and Stitched Slimline Cards.

Try creating a Slimline Shaker Card with a Paper Glaze Background.  All products from Picket Fence Studios.

Large Stamped Images cut into two Slimline Cards

One beautiful Simon Says Stamp.  Two amazing Slimline Cards also using another Slimline Stencil.

SPELLBINDERS has a HUGE selection of DIES

The flowering Slimline Die from Spellbinders creates a beautiful Overlay for this Slimline Card.

Simon Says Stamp Bunny Blessing Slimline Stamp Set was used for this cute card.

You can also use A2 sized stamps and dies to create your cards

Picket Fence studios Slimline Stencils and Paper Glaze make great backgrounds for Slimline Cards

 

Dare 2B Artzy Penguins make a great Holiday Slimline card – Details are here

Honey Bee’s new fall release Slimline Blanket Die is the perfect backdrop for this beautiful fall card – details here:

I love blue pumpkins so I had a blast copic coloring this Unity Stamp image onto my Slimline Card – card details here

Combine Ink Blending Through a Stencil to create a pretty background

Sometimes all you need is a big fat background stencil to create the perfect background.

A bouquet of flowers can look great on a A2 sized  card, as well as a beautiful long and elegant card.

Distress Oxide Ink Blending across the front of a Slimline Card adds some interest.

Get the added real estate of being able to add two watercolor designs to your card fronts.