Center Step Cards or Stepped Cards are perhaps among the oldest fun folds in our cardmaking universe.
You might have noticed a predominant use of scrapbook paper to decorate this type of card, and I wanted to revamp the concept.
Perhaps introducing easy and fun stamping, die cutting, and stencilled ideas to decorate them.
Here I go…
In the videos, you will see me using the Spellbinders 12″ Paper Trimmer & Scorer which is very similar to the new Tim Holtz Precision Trimmer by Tonic Studios.
These tools are ideal for precision cuts but you can also use a craft knife, a ruler, and a stylus to do this.
You also see me masking different areas of the cards to be able to stamp or do stencilling on the stepped panels.
I love background stamps by Simon Says Stamp, these produce a sharp image that can be used to decorate the panels instead of using scrapbook paper.
Center Step Card Template
Note: I used my graphic design skills ( None -lol) to create this visual aid.
So these are not scaled, they only show how to cut and score the paper to make C6 and 5×7 cards.
You can experiment and make this type of card in any size (just bear in mind the formula below)
The Formula
- Cut the paper to create a top-fold card base.
Examples:
11″x 4-1/4″ to create a C6 card
14″ x 5″ to create a 5×7 card. - DO NOT FOLD the paper.
- The first thing you need to do is to cut the sidelines.
Do this along the longest side of the paper and at a proportional distance from the sides and the bottom (see the 2 red lines in the image above) - These cuts should be as long as the card length = half of the length of the paper you cut to create the card base.
Examples:
Make a 5-1/2″ linear cut to make a C6 card ( 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″)
Or a 7” cut for a 7x5 inches card. - If you cut them at 1″ from “the side” and “the bottom” of the panel, the distance between scoring lines and cut lines should be 1″ as well.
- When making larger cards such as a 5×7, you also need wider steps to create a balanced composition so you can increase the spacing between scoring lines. e.g. 1 -1/2″ instead of 1″.
Gosh, this all sounds more complicated than it is… but I hope you can understand me.
I’m confident that if you try this once you will be able to quickly understand the template.
Birds and Flower Card
Card Recipe
- Layered Perky Flower Wafer Dies
- Layered Bird Bunch Wafer
- XOXO background stamp
- Frosty Pines Sequins
- Blending brushes
- Pawsitively Saturated Inks used:
Background: Cheeky
Birds and Florals: Cheeky, Blush, Puker, Lemonade, Sage, Pine.
Gnomes and Mushrooms Card
Card Recipe
- Lil Gnome Wafer Die
- Mushroom Stems Wafer Die
- Bunny Blessings stamp set
- Clean Line XL stamp set
- Clouds for days
- Sun Ray Stencil
- Pawsitively Saturated Inks :
That is all for today!
I hope to be able to inspire you to try this fold if you are like me and by 2023 you haven’t.
Hugs
Bibi
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Janette Nelson says
Bibi…I always love to see you making your cards! I took your butterfly class a few years back and you make card making so fun with your colors and ideas. I always learn something new from you!!
Bibi Cameron says
Aw Janette, thank you very much for your kind comment.