Quick Cards

A Cardmaking Tutorial by Nathalia Castellon



As a scrapbooker and cardmaker I find myself trying to use every scrap and bit of my supplies. I read articles about how to get the most out of your paper to create scrapbook pages, but I have yet to find a tutorial on how to get the most out your supplies to create cards. And since "Necessity is the Mother of Invention", my need for a cardmaking tutorial led me to create my own. My end result being a complete stationary set that was not only suitable for my own personal correspondence but as a quick last minute gift as well! What will surprise you the most is that there will only be three tiny unusable scraps leftover once you’re finished. We’re going to make the most out of the supplies you have.

To create this nine piece stationary set you will need:
three(3) - 12x12 sheets plain cardstock,
two(2) 12 x 12 sheets of coordinating patterned paper (double-sided is best),
bone folder, adhesive and a good paper trimmer.

Additional supplies: cardstock scraps for stamping your card sentiment onto, stamps/stickers/rub-ons, ribbon/fiber, charms or other embellishments of choice.

Let’s get started! We’re going to do all the paper trimming first.
So, please pay careful attention to your measurements
and follow cutting directions carefully!

• Trim All three 12x12 sheets plain cardstock down to 8”x12”.

• Set 4”x12” strip aside.

• Trim the 8”x12” cardstock down to 8” x 9.25”

• Set 2.75”x 8” strip aside.

• Fold and Score the 8”x9.25” cardstock in half to create a tall card measuring 4”x9.25”.

• You will have a total of 3 – 4”x9.25” tall cards.

• Fold and Score the 4”x12” cardstock in half to create a medium sized card measuring 4”x6”.

• You will have a total of 3 – 4x6 medium sized cards.

• Fold and Score the 2.75”x8” cardstock strip in half to create a gift card measuring 2.75”x4”.

• You will have a total of 3 – 2.75”x4” gift cards.

• Take one 12x12 sheet patterned paper and trim to measure 9”x12”.

• Set the 3”x12” paper strip aside.

• Trim the 9”x12” paper at 8.25”, 4.5” and 3.75” measurement marks to give you three tall card panels measuring 3.75”x9”. Place these three panels with your three tall cards.

• You will have a small strip measuring .75”x9” leftover. Set aside. DO NOT DISCARD!

• Take the 3”x12” patterned paper and trim at 8.25”, 4.5” and 3.75” measurement marks to give you three medium card panels measuring 3”x 3.75”. Place these three panels with your three medium sized cards.

• You will have a small scrap of paper leftover from this cut that you can discard.

• Take the second 12x12 sheet of patterned paper and trim a 2.5” strip off. Set the 2.5”x12” paper aside.

• Next, trim off two more strips from the remaining patterned paper to measure 2.75”x12” each.

• You will have a strip of paper measuring 4”x12” leftover. Set aside.

• Take both 2.75”x12” patterned paper strips and trim in half to measure 2.75”x6”.

• Take three of the four 2.75”x6” strips and place with your tall cards.

• Take the fourth remaining 2.75”x6” paper strip and trim into 3 pieces measuring 2”x2.75”. (Cut at the 4” and 2” measuring mark.)

• You will now have three strips of patterned paper measuring 2”x2.75” that you will place with your tall cards.

• You now have all the components to create your tall cards. (See Image 1A)



IMAGE 1A – Tall Card Components (3 each)
-card measuring 4”x9.25”
-1st card panel measuring 3.75”x9”
-2nd card panel measuring 2.75”x6”
-3rd card panel piece measuring 2”x2.75”

• Now take the 2.5”x12 strip of patterned paper and trim into 3 strips measuring 2.5”x3.75” each. (Cut at 8.25”, 4.5”, 3.75”)

• You will have a small scrap leftover that you may discard.

• Take the three strips of paper you just trimmed that measure 2.5”x3.75”, these are the gift card panels.

• Take the remaining 4”x12” patterned paper and trim into three squares each measuring 4”x4”. Cut at the 8” and 4” mark. These are the 2nd panels for the medium cards.

• You will now have all the components to create the medium sized cards. (See Image 1B)


Image 1B – Medium Card Components (3 each)
- card measuring 4”x6”
- 1st panel measuring 4”x4”
- 2nd panel measuring 3”x3.75”

• You should now only have one strip of patterned paper leftover that you were instructed to not discard earlier. This strip should measure .75”x9”. You will trim this strip of paper into 3 strips measuring .75”x2.5”. Cut at the 6.5”, 4” and 1.5” mark.

• There will be a small strip leftover that you can discard.

• Place the three .75”x2.5” strips with the gift cards.

• You will now have all the components to create the gift cards. (See Image 1C)



Image 1C – Gift Card Components (3 each)
- card measuring 2.75”x4”
- 1st panel measuring 2.5”x3.75”
- 2nd panel strip measuring .75”x2.5”


Card Assembly - Now it's time to put your cards together. Add stamped sentiments, stickers, rub-ons, ribbon, brads/eyelets, etcetera... Personalize them to make them uniquely your own card creations!


Tall Card (Before)


Tall Card (After)



Medium Note Card (Before)


Medium Note Card (After)



Small Gift Card (Before)

















Small Gift Card (After)

















Supplies Used: Two Spotted Dogs “Far East” Kit (A2Z Feng Shui, A2Z Gung Ho, Bazzill cardstock, olive ribbon, and stick pins), ClubScrap “Paisley” embossed cardstock, rust-colored grosgrain, turquoise satin ribbon and Asian Coins from ClubScrap, ClubScrap“Thanks you’re very kind” sentiment stamp, Stampin’ Up! “Thinking of You” & “Good Luck” sentiment stamp, and ColorBox Raven Black Ink.