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My cardstock breaks, tears, (not sure really the right word to use) along the edge when I fold it. How do I keep this from happening? Also, I am having a hard time keeping everything straight. I have a paper cutter, but it still seems to come out crooked, and whenever I am placing things on the card, it doesn't seem very even. Does anyone have any tips for me? Thanks for your help.
__________________ Leigh
Last edited by leighvip; 03-29-2009 at 10:27 AM..
Reason: misspelled word
If not use a ruler and an old pen that has no ink but a good point.
I also found my card stock wouldn't give a good straight cut.
Finally found out it was simply I wasn't holding it firm when I cut so it moved slightly when I cut. Just place your hand on the section and hold it down a bit tighter.
HI, You should score your paper before folding, that will help with the tearing :p Do you know how to score the paper?
I had the same problem when I first started making cards. I was so frustrated. I tried several cutters, but it would still happen. Finally I purchased the Stampin' Up table cutter. I have not had that problem since. There are other cutters out there that people have mentioned they use and really like. Maybe someone will post aother one.
Sandy O
I use the Fiskars personal cutter, but with the scoring blade, and score all of my cards on this. I use the Fiskars large cutter for cutting all of my large paper, and the Creative memories personal cutter for smaller pieces.
Once I score the paper and fold, if its "off", then I just trim it up! I seem to need it to be perfect!
It seems like a lot of tools, but the CM paper cutter is right next to my work surface, and the Larger Fiskars cutter is on top of one of my rolling carts, with the Scoring one on top of that (with My CM Wavy cutter);)
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Thanks for all your helpful tips. I have a Fiskar's cutter. It has the little grove in it that I use to score the cardstock. I don't have a scoring blade, but I use the boning knife to score it. It still seems to tear though, even when I do this. Most of the cardstock I have is from Wal-Mart or Michael's. I just purchased some from Stampin' Up. Maybe it will work better?
Also when you fold the card after scoring, have the *valley* of the score on the outside, because that is where the fibres are stretched more. If you do a search, there are some more threads on this - I just don't have time right now, dying with a cold and meant to be in bed.
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yup... gotta score the CS when folding.
about the cuts...
when using my fiskar trimmer i have found that i get better results if i pull the blade towards me when cutting. i just have less problem with the CS shifting while cutting.
i think most people push the blade when cutting. the CS always seems to shift a bit.
when using my fiskar trimmer i have found that i get better results if i pull the blade towards me when cutting. i just have less problem with the CS shifting while cutting.
i think most people push the blade when cutting. the CS always seems to shift a bit.
this is my experience with a trimmer.
good luck!
This is interesting. I have always "pulled" from the top down when cutting my paper, too. It never occurred to me to do it from the bottom up. Just lucked into the right way by accident I guess.
And to the OP, I don't have a problem with cheaper cardstock tearing when I score it. And it folds pretty well, too. Maybe you are applying too much pressure to score when it is the thinner paper?
I am the "master of all things cheap" lol. I try very hard to find a way to make things work in an inexpensive way.
__________________ Bugga in OK
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I would suggest using less pressure when you score your cardstock. Thinner paper has a tendency to tear when scoring. I used to have a Fiskar's rotary cutter, and never got straight cuts, so the ends never lined up when I folded the card. I have a Tonic cutter now, and don't have that problem any more.
I read on one of the threads that someone was lightly spritzing their paper with water first to prevent cracking. Made it score and fold easier. It might have been on the Scor-pal thread since I just got one of those and was looking for ideas.
You also need to watch the type of Cardstock you are using. You want to use a nice quality like Stampin Up's Whisper White/ colored cardstock or Papertrey Ink's CS.
The thicker and higher quality the card stock, the more likely it is to crack when folded if you don't score it first and fold away from the indented score line.
I know our card stock requires scoring and you will find that with most card stocks 110lb or over.
Hope that helps.
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The thicker and higher quality the card stock, the more likely it is to crack when folded if you don't score it first and fold away from the indented score line.
I know our card stock requires scoring and you will find that with most card stocks 110lb or over.
Hope that helps.
Yep, that does make all the difference. Just make sure you score on the right line.... had an oops in that department today!
When cutting your paper make sure that you push your paper all the way to the top against the edge if you are pushing the blade away from you. If you are pulling the blade towards you then line up your paper with the bottom ruler and make sure that you keep the edge of the paper tight against the ledge on the paper cutter. This should help keep the paper from slipping.
Machine made paper and card has a grain like wood. Usually it runs along the length of the sheet. You can tell which way it runs by holding it out in front of you with a hand at each side and bowing it round slightly towards you. Then turn it around so you hold the opposite ends and do the same again. When you have the grain on the vertical, it will feel slightly easier to bow the card around and that indicates the direction the fold should go. It is easier with larger pieces of paper. I use very large sheets of card that I buy from the art shop and cut down. I find A4 size sheets very limiting when it comes to deciding what size card I want to make. It does sound correct though that if you score where you want to fold first then it will stretch the fibres so they are more likely to give a clean fold. I just don't happen to use this method.
The thicker and higher quality the card stock, the more likely it is to crack when folded if you don't score it first and fold away from the indented score line.
I know our card stock requires scoring and you will find that with most card stocks 110lb or over.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for saying that! Its always been the case I have found and I always find it rather amusing when people argue "for" a product when it doesn't do this saying the original product must be "cheap"
Also some cardstock is colored all the way through and other cardstock is coated with a color/pattern for a variety of reasons of manufacturing and usage.
Also read his tip on Measuring, Cutting & Scoring because it has some great information about rulers. After taking a class with Michael I checked all my rulers and found that only 3 of my rulers had the same measurements. I tossed out all my oddball rulers. Also check your good rulers against your paper cutter to make sure they are the same measurement.
If the breaks in your cardstock aren't all the way through, lick your finger and run it down the seam. Your saliva will act like a "glue" and smooth out all the bumps and cracks.
BTW, I've had SU and PTI cardstocks crack (or break) on the scoring line. It has something to do with the humidity in your stamping area: the drier the air is, the more likely it is to crack.
Help!
