Scoring Paper for Card Making

From LoveToKnow Crafts

Scoring paper for card making is the first step in creating unique handmade greeting cards. Before you can add embellishments, quotes, or poems to your card, you must start with a solid foundation for the project.

Scoring paper helps to create handmade greeting cards with a professional look.

Scoring Paper for Card Making

Scoring involves creating a line or depression in the paper that will help you create a nice even crease when you fold the card. This technique is most often used when working with cardstock or other thick paper. This includes cover weights of 65 lb, 80 lb, 100 lb, 120 lb, 130 lb, and up. If you simply fold the card without scoring, the paper may crack and the crease may look sloppy. Learning how to score paper correctly is a necessary skill for anyone who is interested in card making, especially if you want to start your own card making business.

There are several different techniques you can use when scoring paper for card making, so choosing the right scoring method is primarily a matter of personal preference. Scoring options include:

Use a butter knife and a ruler.
Buy a bone folder from your local craft store. These simple tools are generally found in the paper crafting section near the card making supplies.
Buy a scoring blade for your paper trimmer. For example, the CutterBee from EK Success has optional blades for scoring, perforating, and cutting decorative edges.
Use a rotating blade scoring tool such as the EK Success CutterBee Bug or the Rotary Scorer with Folding Handle by Tonic Studios.
Use the Scor-it, a specialized tool designed to replicate the score produced on a letterpress machine.

Scoring paper for card making isn’t a difficult task, but it does require practice. It takes a great deal of patience to learn how to evenly crease and fold your cards. However, the task will be easier if you remember the following tips:

Thicker papers should have a wider score.
If your paper is correctly scored and folded, there will be a "ridge" created by the scoring element on the inside of the card. This helps to minimize the stretch of the paper fibers.
Paper is more difficult to fold when it’s very humid. Ideally, the ambient relative humidity in your work area should be roughly 50%.
When you are folding your cardstock, try to make the final fold parallel to the grain.

Buying Blank Pre-Made Cards and Envelopes

If you’re having trouble making even folds in your homemade cards, you may want to consider simply purchasing blank pre-made cards and envelopes. Although this is slightly more expensive than using paper from your supply stash, it’s a great timesaving shortcut. Buying pre-made cards and envelopes also allows you to focus more on the creative aspect of designing your cards instead of worrying about the mechanics of the project.

Blank cards in a variety of sizes are available at stores such as Hobby Lobby, Michaels Crafts, or Joann Crafts. If you prefer to shop online, however, you can purchase card and envelope packages from the following retailers: