Double Sided Step Card Tutorial

-Due to the many requests I'm posting this tutorial. Thank you for the wonderful comments.


This is the card that many requested measurements for.

This particular Double Sided Step Card was designed for A7 envelopes. Since the writing space in the interior of the card is much less than usual I wanted to have it large enough so that a person could have enough space to write a little something.

To begin with the best cardstock to use for the base of these kind of cards is heavyweight 100# cardstock. If you are using a lighter weight cardstock, cut two pieces and after cutting & scoring them both, but before folding, adhere the two together with Scor Tape all around the edges and on either side of the cut lines. This will help give the added stability needed to keep the card standing without the base spreading apart until it practically lies flat. If every fold is pressed well using a bone folder, that will also help the card with stability.

Another hint - if you never have made a step card before you can practice making it with lightweight cardstock before using your good stock.

 
1)Cut the cardstock (heavy) to 7" x 10"


 















 



2)Place length (10") vertically on your paper trimmer and place left edge on the 4 3/4" line with the blade at the 1" mark on the ruler. Press down and cut down to the 8 1/2" mark on the ruler of your trimmer.

 













3)Slide the left side of the paper to the right and position the left side on the 2 1/4" mark, and as the first time, with the blade at the 1" mark on the blade ruler,  press down and cut down to the 8 1/2" mark on the ruler as below.

 


 








4)Now place the piece on your score pad with the 10" horizontally across the top and score between the cut lines at 1" score. Remember to score only between the cut lines.


 

  5) Score only between the cuts at 1", 2", and 3 1/2". At 5" score right through from the top down through to the bottom end. Then back to scoring only between the cut lines at 71/2" and 81/2". 

Using a ruler may help you to get the correct lines when scoring between the cut lines.














 

Here is a photo where I've taken a pen and drawn all the cuts with solid lines, folds with dotted lines, and included all measurements.

6) When folding, DO NOT FOLD the 8 1/2" score line. That is there just for a little give. So the score lines are folded as 1" - mountain, 2" - valley, 3 1/2" - mountain, at 5" the sides are mountain, but middle section is a valley, & 71/2" - mountain.

 

 When all folded, the card should be 7" x 5" (A7).

If you are wondering about how I got the butterflies to float, I cut three clear strips of plastic sheet at 1/4" and attached them at varying heights, trimming the strips accordingly. You could use flowers, dragonflies, numbers, letters, clouds, birds, etc in like manner.

One happy paper crafter that requested the measurements for this Double Sided Step Card is having her birthday in a day or two, so I want to say to her, "Have a very happy birthday!" 

Thank you for joining me today for this tutorial. Let me know something doesn't make sense to you and I'll try to clarify it for you.

Have fun!!

Added February 2, 2014

This tutorial was published in the online magazine at "Through the Craftroom Door".