ThePowerOfACard: Scoring Board Techniques for Card Makers

A scoring board is a wonderful tool, and one that I often forget to use! There is a scoring blade on my trimmer and I usually us this to score my cards, particularly for fun folds. But what I love about using a scoring board is the depth of the impression when using it! This is particularly useful when using it for decorative purposes, like I show you in the video. I also like the ability to use a triangle in conjunction with the scoring board to easily get scored lines at different angles on my card panels.

When scoring, using a stylus is helpful. I typically use my Take Your Pick tool because it has two sizes of stylus tips. For heavier weight paper, like our colored cardstock, I use the smaller end. For lighter weight papers, I like the larger end because I am less likely to press too hard and break through the paper. In the video, I also share quite a few tips on different ways to use the scoring board to get a variety of looks (which you'll see in my other samples below). Let's get started making a very classic looking Christmas card!

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Night of Navy 4-1/4" x 11" (scored at 5-1/2" and 4-1/4"), Very Vanilla 4" x 4", 3-3/4" x 3-3/4", Distressed Gold DSP 4" x 4", Shining Brightly Specialty DSP 1" x 4", 1/2" x 4"
Stamp: Night Divine
Ink: Night of Navy
Optional Die: Stylish Shapes
Ribbon: Gold Satin Edged 13"
Embellishment: Neutrals Adhesive Backed Sequins or Brushed Metallic Adhesive Backed Dots
Simply Scored Scoring Tool
Adhesive and Tools

For this card, I am making a scored border on my smaller vanilla square. Because it is a square, if you draw a pencil line on the back side from corner to corner, this will show you where to stop scoring when you get to the corner. Start scoring 1/4" from the edge, near the middle of the side and go up to the pencil line and down to the other pencil line. Repeat for the opposite side. Then rotate the piece 90 degrees and repeat. My second score line is just one notch, or 1/8", over. By stopping at the pencil lines, the scored lines will meet and not intersect. Flip the scored piece over so the embossed lines are raised and stamp the sentiment with Night of Navy ink.

The rest of the card is super simple to assemble. Fold the card base in half, then fold the flap backwards. Adhere the larger piece of DSP to the right side. Tie the ribbon in a knot over this panel and glue it shut. Before adhering the vanilla panel to the gold, I cut out a shape from the middle - I figured I could always use it on another card and nobody can see that it's missing from under the vanilla square! Add the small piece of DSP to the side of the 4" square of vanilla for the inside, then stamp your interior sentiment.

The last part is the part where I had trouble deciding which embellishment to use. The sequins are a little more shiny and flatter, but the dots are more elegant! For my sample card, I used the sequins and popped up the gold/vanilla layer, but in the video, I used the dots and didn't pop up that layer, since the dots are thicker. Which one do you prefer? Of course, your answer may depend on if you have to mail these cards or not.

Before I get into my other card samples and examples of how I used the scoring board, I did want to explain how to get a border on a rectangle (because drawing diagonal lines will not work). I used a little plastic triangle (like those used for drafting), and drew small 45 degree lines from each corner toward the middle. Now you will score the same way - start in the middle and work up and down to these pencil lines. You could also use a quilter's ruler to draw the borders on the underneath side.

My first example has a sentiment label that has scored lines that cross each other at the corners. This one is super simple - just score all four sides the full length of the label. I used the Meandering Meadows DSP for the front of the card - this on-line pack of paper is filled with gorgeous scenes and backgrounds that were painted by SU artists, then photographed to make the paper. A little ribbon and a tiny butterfly are all the extra touches needed.

For my next card, I embossed a panel of Basic White. I started in the middle of each side and then scored at 1" increments to get a tiled look. For my other cards, I had the scored lines with the raised part up, but for this card, you want the lines to be indented. Then I stamped leaves from the All About Autumn stamp set in a variety of colors. Because these are bold, nearly solid images, they are perfect for this tiled technique. You will see that the ink does not fill the valleys of where you scored, making this look like a lovely tiled panel. For my ribbon, I used the In-Color Jute Trim and unraveled it (there are three pieces) to get a softer, more textured accent. I also placed my tiled panel at an angle - something I must force myself to do from time to time because my engineering mind likes even borders! lol

A great way to jazz up a card with a strip of DSP is to add scored lines above and below it. Score your first two lines, then place the strip of DSP next to is so you can see where to score the other two lines. Flip the panel over and adhere the DSP. Embellish with a punch, circles, or other die cut shapes and add a quick sentiment to finish up the card. I showed a card we made at a recent team retreat I went to in Iowa that was designed by my friend, Greta McDonald as my inspiration (and it also is a sneak peek at new products!!).

I adore the Trucking Along bundle and featured it for my next sample. On a panel of Pebbled Path, I made a plaid design. To make this pleasing to the eye, start your scoring in the middle of the panel sides and work outwards in whatever repeating pattern of lines you want. Although it makes a subtle texture, the lines are quite visible and pairs so well with the Farm Fresh Truck!

Here's another Christmas card featuring the Joy of Noel bundle (obviously a favorite of mine!). For this card, I scored two opposite corners. To do this, I used a right triangle (as mentioned above) in the corner of my scoring board. This allowed me to get the five parallel lines of scoring at each corner. A simple mat in Real Red looks great when placed on the Crumb Cake card base. For the NOEL, I stamped and cut out the letters, then cut out the letters four more times from Basic White so that I could stack the letters for superb dimension. The greenery piece was colored with blends, then cut out, popped up, and finished with a Lemon Lime Twist ribbon accent.

My last card is also scored on the diagonal, but at every half inch across the entire panel. I used some of the new Glimmer paper from my on-line store and the Wanted to Say dies to make a very blinged up Happy Birthday. To continue the bling, I added Rhinestones at intersecting scored lines. This is great way to get a tufted look to your card panel.

So which technique will you try first? And don't forget, a score board is helpful for making three dimensional projects, fun folds, envelopes and boxes too! Have fun learning how to get the most of this fabulous tool!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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