Everything you Want To Know and How to Make a Slimline Card.
In this Article:
- What Are Slimline Cards?
- What Size are Slimline Cards?
- What Envelopes Do You Need for Slimline Cards?
- What Supplies Do I Need For Slimline Cards
- What size is 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 and WHY is everyone making them?
- What size are slimline cards?
- How do you Make a Slimline Card Base?
- How much postage is required for a Slimline Card?
- What kind of 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.
How do you Make 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.
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?
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 and I am finding new and fun ways to use my existing products as well as combining them with new slimline products.
What Supplies Do I Need For Slimline Cards?
Slimline cards are a new and exciting shape for card makers. You can use all your existing cardmaking supplies and you can introduce some of the new sized dies 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:
Cardmaking is fun and enjoyable. Whether you do it for fun, or a distraction from life issues, it’s a fabulous hobby that stretches 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.
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
