Have You Tried Slimming Down? It's a New Year

I bet that got your attention!

Of course I am talking about Slimline Cards. They are new shape and style of handmade cards.

The finished size measures 3 1/2 x 8 1/2"

They fit in a #9 or #10 envelope. You know the kind, You buy a box of 50 every few years to mail letters. If you didn't know a #9 envelope is just slightly smaller than a #10 and will fit inside the #10. Consider yourself educated!

I tried the slimline for the first time today and I want to share with you what I learned. For the record, I had a lot of fun with this new format.

Take a standard sheet of cardstock for the card base. Cut it to 7 x 8 1/2". Score on the long direction at 3 1/2". Don't make the mistake I did. I thought the finished size was 4 1/4 x 7. I cut the right way, scored the wrong direction. It was only when I was trying to use one of Stampin' Up!s new dies did I realize what I had done. No harm, no foul.

I found it was easier to just cut 4" off the paper rather than swing the arm on the trimmer up.

Cut off 4" Finished size 7 x 8 1/2"

Score at 3 1/2" with the long edge parallel to the score track

You will end up with a 4" x 8 1/2" piece left. Which is perfect for trimming for a layer.

In realizing that I planned to make 2 cards at once, with the extra from each being the layer for the other.

Finished cuts

Next I ran the extra from each sheet of cardstock, the 4 x 8 1/2" pieces, through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine or the Big Shot using the new Slimline Dies - item Slim Card Dies 157965, bundle it with the coordinating stamp set - item Slim Sayings 157963 (bundle and save 10% item 157966)

We sell envelopes to fit the slimline cards also - item 157981 Slimline Envelopes.

You get these great extra pieces! Use them on these projects or save for another project for another day. I had an idea as soon as I saw these.

And what I am seeing is this format, while it is a bigger card, is super efficient with paper usage. And I am all about "waste not, want not". ha ha

I wanted to layer some patterned DSP paper behind those big cutout dies. I used the Friendly Hello which is a FREE item with a $100 order during Sale-A-Bration

The dies cut out 3 1/4 x 8 1/4". I trimmed my paper just slightly smaller, not quite an 1/8" off so there wouldn't be a possible edge peeking out.

Trim no more than an 1/8" off from 3 1/4 x 8 1/4"

Back side

Front side

Then the rest was just figuring out how or what I would use to finish my cards. In other words, the fun part!

I do have to give credit to my friend Kim, who boldly tried this format first and encouraged me to try the format. She has created some bomb cards using this format. Visit my Instagram page or Facebook to see her versions. She nailed it!

See below for other pictures. I just love the perspective shots of these long narrow cards. Really shows the "slimline".

Let me know if you have tried this format or are going to try them. I will definitely be making more slimline cards in the near future.

Keep being creative, Sandy

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